Page 61 of Five Years

“I’m sorry about all that,” Grace said softly.

“About celebrating your sister’s engagement? You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I know. I just think Hannah could’ve chosen a better time, that’s all. That was never going to be easy for you.”

“Whether I saw it on social media or in person, it would sting the same.” Leah forced a smile.

Grace put her arm around Leah’s shoulder. They snuggled beneath a thick wool blanket, her elbows pressing against the wooden balcony rail. The air was cool enough that she could see her breath in the light spilling from the living room windows.

“Thank you for always being there for me,” Leah said, resting her head against Grace’s.

“It goes without saying.”

“I know, but she’s your sister—and technically Hannah is your almost sister-in-law—but you still make me feel valued and understood. I love you for that,” Leah confessed.

“Yeah, well, I can always get another sister.” Grace teased.

“Hey! What’s this about another sister?” a voice called out.

Grace and Leah jumped, spinning to find Ariana wrapped in a blanket similar to theirs.

“Stop ear-wigging, dip-shit,” Grace fired back.

“Dip-shit.” Leah burst out laughing. “I haven’t heard you call her that in years.”

“The childhood trauma. I’m getting flashbacks,” Ariana joked.

“Do you mind if I have a chat with Leah?” Ariana asked.

Grace nodded. “I was just about to check on Ezra.”

She kissed her sister on the cheek as she walked by—a sweet gesture.

“Where’s Hannah?” Leah asked.

“She’s gone to bed. Long day of traveling.”

“Have you had a nice night?”

“It’s been wonderful.”

Ariana shivered, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. She removed a folded piece of paper from her pocket. As she turned into the light, Leah realised it was the card.

“I wanted to ask you about this—” Ariana unfolded it lengthways, revealing a sweet hand-drawn picture on the front, clearly coloured by Ezra.

“Yeah, about that—”

“I feel the same,” Ariana said.

“Erm...okay, can I just—” Leah took the card from her. She didn’t want to let on that it wasn’t from her until she read the inside. The first part was generic—no weird pet names, just a simple birthday message and a joke about needing Ezra to do the artwork because Leah couldn’t. All above board.

Until—

The last paragraph.

I never thought we would share the same space

again with such comfortable familiarity.