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Tera shakes her head and smiles.
Dustin pats my shoulder and says, “Nah, that’s okay.” “We have work to do. Victor just got some new members today, and they need us.”
My shoulders are drooping. I can’t stop thinking about Victor. I haven’t met him, but it’s evident that he hired most of the people that live in the mansion.
“I’ll be back next week to get you,” he says, patting Liam on the shoulder.
Liam merely nods, and I watch as they get in the car.
Liam and I go into the cabin after they depart. I can’t help but look around in astonishment.
There is nice furniture and a fireplace in the living room. I can see why Liam’s family loves to rest there. The deck includes an outside area with a view of the lake, so the whole family may eat there if they want to. Even if it’s not very big, it has enough room for everyone to sit.
There’s also a well-stocked kitchen. I can see Liam’s mum using it to make everyone memorable meals and snacks.
“This place is so pretty,” I whisper.
I look at Liam and think about how he feels about this. He can’t see what’s around him anymore, but I wonder whether he can recall how it felt to be here.
He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. “It still smells the same. The air, the trees, and the lake,” he stops in the middle of his statement, as if he’s remembering everything, “the feel of the hardwood floor beneath my feet. I still remember that Ethan, Sophie, and I used to run about here. I recall
Ethan and I were mean to one other, Sophie laughed, and our mother yelled at us. My father isn’t very loving, but he would listen to all of us.
When he opens his eyes, they are sorrowful. I can’t help but take his hand.
“It’s all a memory, but it feels good,” Liam adds, and I feel better right away. “It feels good to be back here.”
“This place doesn’t feel empty,” I say quietly.
Even though it hasn’t been used in years, the cabin is quite tidy.
Liam lets out a sigh. “Ethan always makes sure this place is clean. He paid someone to do it.”
Liam walks towards the terrace. I follow him and help him get there since he still has to get used to his surroundings after all these years.
The wind hits us as soon as we step outside the cabin and onto the back porch. The terrace that looks out over the lake has a path that lets us get closer to the water, and the view is so lovely that it makes me want to cry.
I look at Liam and wish he could see this again.
“Will you help me walk to the end of the deck?” he says.
“Of course,” I answer, and I do as he says.
He asks, “It’s about time for sunset, isn’t it?” as we stroll down the wooden concrete.
I look up at the sky, and indeed, it’s time for the sun to set.
As we get near to the end of the deck, I clutch Liam’s hand tightly. The water is already on our sides, so I have to be careful not to let him fall.
At the conclusion, we stop and sit down to savour the moment. I put my toe in the water. It’s not too chilly; it’s exactly right.
I rested my head on Liam’s shoulder and looked out at the scenery in front of us. I wished again that a miracle would happen so that he could see again. I didn’t want to, but I let a tear fall from my eye since I felt so strongly about it. I’m frightened he’ll see it because it falls on his shoulder.
“Tell me about it,” he asks as I covertly wipe my eye and sit up straight. “Tell me about the sunset. What do you see? Is it still as pretty as I remember it?”
Liam had never spoken the word “beautiful” before; it sounds too flowery for someone like him who is frigid on the outside. So this sunset must be truly special for him. Of course, he used to watch it with his family, the people he loved.
“It still is,” I say as I look at the sunset.
I’m doing my best to explain it to him since he can’t see it.
I remark, “The sky is changing colours, and the sun is getting closer to the horizon.” “The golden disc is almost touching the water. The sky is a mix of orange, yellow, and bright pink. It’s bright but not too bright. Just looking at it makes me feel warm.”
I breathe in the air surrounding me, and my chest gets constricted. Liam looks up at the sky in the same direction as me, but I don’t know what he’s thinking. He doesn’t seem sad. Instead, he appears happy. I think he’ll smile any second now, but he doesn’t.
“I’ve been seeing black for a long time,” he adds. “I can’t remember the colours anymore.”
It seems like my heart is plunging into a hole. Tears start to fill my eyes again.
Liam puts his hand on my cheek and shakes his head, as if he knows how sad I feel after hearing that.
“Don’t feel sorry for me,” he says in a gruff voice as he glances at me. “I brought you here so you could see how beautiful it is. I want you to see it, Emily. I want you to see it for me.”
I put his hand on my cheek. “Do you miss it?” I murmur in a weak voice.
He gives a nod. “Yes, I miss the sunset that I can’t see anymore. But I don’t need it anymore, especially now.”
His lips curl up at the corners, and I wonder if I’m seeing things.
But Liam does appear happy. He doesn’t look as sad as I do.
He looks at the water. “I always wanted to come back here, but Ethan was always busy. I didn’t want to come alone. But now I’m here with you.”
I look at him and think about how lonely he must have been during those years he waited for Ethan.
“Emily,” he murmurs.
“Hm?”
He turns to face me again. “Will my brother ever come back home?”
I can feel the heaviness of his inquiry pushing me down. I know I only have one response, even though it’s hard to say what it is. I still have hope. I still believe that Ethan is alive.
“Yes. I’m sure he’ll come back home,” I respond.
Liam looks to the sky again, even though he can’t see anything. We sit quiet for a long time, enjoying the soothing wind on our skin. I sigh and let myself enjoy every second we have here before we head back inside.
“You know,” Liam says, hesitantly, making me worry what he’s going to say. “I would kill to see it again if I could only remember one colour.”
He turns his head towards me, and for some reason, I can feel the grief in his eyes.
“It’s blue.”
Liam grumbles, “I’m f*****g hungry,” while he waits for his supper to be brought.
He is seated at the table, and the smell of the truffle I’m creating for him is making him even hungrier.
As I cook his food in the kitchen, I laugh at how cranky he is. “Just a little bit more. I told you to wait in the bedroom or somewhere else. You don’t have to sit there and hurt yourself.”
“I can still smell it from any room in this house,” he says.
I shake my head in disbelief.
“God, I’m f*****g leaving.” He gets up from the chair and rushes out to the terrace.
I turn my attention back to the mushroom soup I’m making. The other dishes are already on the kitchen counter, so this one will be ready very soon.
I look at the honey-glazed chicken and potato gnocchi I cooked before. A smile of pride spreads over my lips.
I switch off the stove after I’m done cooking. It’s best if we have supper on the terrace since Liam has already relocated there.
When I deliver the meal to the back patio eating area, Liam straightens up in his seat right away.
He growls, “I’m literally drooling.” “Why did it take you so long?”