My parents encouraged me to go to therapy, even stressing that it wasn’t healthy to cut off everyone. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help it. Any mention of Acacia Falls had fear knocking on the protective walls I had so carefully constructed in my head.

The city was the perfect place to escape to and bury all my sorrows. If only that was a failsafe barrier in all ways.

Owen tried to contest the divorce, requesting mediation, wanting to have one last conversation before we settled things. His stalling took a toll on my mental health, anxiety surfacing every time I received contact from my lawyer.

It all came to a head when I arrived home early to overhear Alicia in her room, talking on the phone. That wouldn’t have been an issue in itself—except she said my name. I had no choice but to eavesdrop.

Alicia sighed. “I miss you too, but that doesn’t change anything. You were my brother once. Now, you are a stranger. I only answered you this one time to tell you to stop calling. I will not hurt Alexis, and you have no right to ask about her. She is trying to move on with her life, Owen. It’s time you moved on with yours.”

I silently backed away, thinking over Alicia’s words.

Trying to move on with my life? I was barely surviving. But I respected her take on things. Although I felt conflicted with her talking on the phone with him, I understood her stance. I wasn’t the only one to lose him.

My parents had lost a son, and my sister had lost a brother. I was so caught up in my own grief that I’d failed to see and acknowledge theirs.

So, when Alicia came into the lounge area, I pulled her into a hug. “Let’s go out tonight. Dinner and drinks. My shout?”

Alicia smiled. “There she is.”

Our night started off promising, then, it turned into a disaster.

We enjoyed a fancy dinner at some high-end restaurant. I should have ventured out earlier instead of wallowing in my room. A change of atmosphere was good for me, and being with my sister felt light and airy. There was no pressure to maintain a façade.

For the first time since the collapse of my marriage, I managed to laugh—genuinely laugh. Alicia and I shared old memories, teased each other and I even made her blush by pointing out the late-night booty calls she regularly slipped out for.

“You know we’re adults now, right? I know you’re having S-E-X.”

Alicia gaped. “We’re still related, so no. I will forever believe we’re both virgins and will be forever.”