Still, she wanted me to tell her everything was okay between us. I couldn’t hate her anymore. It was the one thing, I knew I had to voice yet didn’t.

I should though.

Almost as if we both guessed the next part of the conversation – and why wouldn’t we? We were blood. Her voice lowered, “I’m sorry for what I did Peter. I would say, I didn’t mean it…” She stared directly into the camera. Due to the wall sized monitor, I could see every bit of red within her eyes.

She breathed in deep. “I meant to do it… the test you know.” She looked away yet continued. “You were my irritating brother. I know plenty of brothers and sisters don’t get along, but a lot do.” She wiped off a tear. “It wasn’t that we weren’t friendly, but we were always at each other’s throats. We were vicious… hateful.”

I heard this before and I didn’t argue. We actively tried to make each other miserable. Her sadness was my happiness and vice versa. She stepped over a line. That’s for damn sure.

Brother and sister should never live like that. The day would come where my children would be grown. The thought of them fighting like we did was almost impossible to imagine.

At the very least horrific.

She swallowed hard and her voice cracked. “Pa was always giving you a pass since you were the ‘Man of the House’. He wouldn’t let me do things you did when you were younger.” It was several more deep breaths before she spoke. I suspected she was remembering all those times. “I know you can get revenge if you want… maybe it’s what I deserve.”

Perhaps, that’s what she expected. My intuition was growing, but there was guilt in those eyes. Maybe she wanted the Volardi to do something, even if she simultaneously wished they wouldn’t. She bit the end of her lip and laughed. Although, anyone could sense the sadness within. “Figured it was the best way to take my brother down a few pegs. You know… the one that got away with things just because he was male. Before, that guy would never know what we women went through. And then,” she pointed up, “they came.”

I thought about that day. We assumed it was the end of the world, and in some ways, it was.

She continued. “Never figured you would join their program, but I put it in your head to take the test.” Her voice shook with a slight quiver. “I don’t think I decided at that point. Maybe something deep and dark within did… This was the perfect revenge. Make him pregnant. At least you’d have some understanding, especially after what you tried to do.”

There was another tear, but it was from me.

“You had your part in it too,” she said.