The Sister

The drive was long.

Ned drove. He didn't talk much. He just watched the road.

They stopped at a small house with a tin roof. Chickens pecked at the dirt in the yard.

An older woman stood on the porch. Beside her was a girl. Young. Thin. Alive.

-Reshma! Meerka screamed.

She scrambled out of the car before it stopped moving.

Ned stayed in the driver’s seat. He watched through the windshield.

He watched the sisters collide. He watched the tears. He watched the aunt bring out tea.

He waited an hour. Maybe two.

Eventually, Meerka came back to the car. Her eyes were red, but she was smiling.

-She is staying? Ned asked.

-She is happy, Meerka said. Anika is happy. They have the money. They have each other.

-Good.

-She asked why I am not staying.

-Do you want to?

-No, I want to go home.

She closed the car door.

-Home, Ned said, laughing.

-Back to the city, Meerka said. Into the kitchen.

Ned put the car in gear.

-Okay then, he said. Let’s go home.