"A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life."
~Isadora James
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Elsa

I swear I felt the brush of Spencer's lips on my forehead, but when I opened my eyes, he was nowhere to be seen. Exhaustion overtook me, and I fell back asleep, enduring a relentless barrage of nightmares. When I finally woke up fully, I had a severe emotional hangover. The light hurt my eyes, the faint sound of my packmates outside sent my headache spiraling, and the thought of Spencer nearby sent my heart into overdrive.

I desperately wanted to see him, but did he want to see me? Last night had been hard on him, and I kind of understood why he kept it a secret from me this whole time after seeing him tell his story. I'm still glad I made him tell me, but I wasn't wholly devoid of understanding.

His phone still rested in my bed, a text from Lily lighting it up. Reading it, I discovered it was actually meant for me, simply saying she and Spencer were on patrol and that he'd be back later. I responded with a simple 'OK.' Then, taking a deep breath and going back to his camera roll. I started from the beginning, staring at every photo and watching every video with the same curiosity as last night. No memories came with them, just like last night, only the all-too-familiar knot lodging itself in my throat.

In the middle of it all, I sensed a comforting presence on the other side of my door, and I called out for them to come in. Anna hesitantly poked her head in, looking sheepish. She said, "Sorry, I was trying to debate whether or not you would want to see me. I can leave... if you want me to."

"No, no, come in," I replied, motioning for her to join me. Anna sat at the foot of my bed, a conservative distance away, and fiddled with her bracelet. I took the opportunity to speak. "I'm sorry for what I said to you last night. It was out of line, especially to you. I don't know much about our relationship other than we're twins and practically the same person sometimes, but I know you just got me back after being gone for so long. I know you're afraid of losing me, the same way I was probably afraid of losing you during the war. I'm really sorry, Anna."

She smiled understandingly. "It's okay. You're right. I am afraid of losing you because I just got you back not too long ago, and you were the only thing keeping me going during my time with the Hunters. I always knew I needed you to help me get home. On the flip side of that, you thought I was dead. You grew up learning how to live without me and fend for yourself and take care of yourself, and I think it hit me last night that you don't need me the way I need you."

"Anna, listen to me," I said firmly, scooting closer to her and taking her hands in mine, "you are my twin, my literal other half. I may not remember what it was like living without you right now, but I can assure you, I needed you back then, too, whether I knew you were alive or not. I need you now too. I know I haven't really acted like it lately, but I do."

"You've got a lot on your plate."

"So does everyone else. You don't see them snapping at those around them..." I sighed, feeling my cheeks flaming from embarrassment. "My behavior was totally out of line last night. I want you to know how grateful I am for what you and the others have been doing for me. I may not be showing it like I should, but I am. I'm frustrated with myself that I haven't been able to remember everything after all of your exhaustive efforts to help me, but that's not an excuse to take it out on you."

Anna wiped a tear off her face. "Yeah, well, we have been smothering you. I'd go nuts too."

"Do you forgive me?"

"If you forgive me."

I nodded, and the two of us pulled each other into a tight hug. I could barely breathe from Anna squeezing me so hard, but I let her. She needed it.

"How long have you been holding that in?" I asked when she pulled away.

"About what?"

"All of it."

"A while, especially the part about needing you. I always liked to think I only needed myself, but the day I saw you in the wreck, it hit me how untrue that was. It took me a while to verbally admit it, too, as in it took your outburst last night for me to admit it aloud to Dom. So, only you two know."

"It's going to take more than a wreck and some crappy Hunters to get rid of me, so you're stuck with me." I squeezed her shoulder. "Can we go grab coffee downtown? I need something to wake me up, and I don't think the coffee downstairs will do it."

"Yeah, of course!"

"Bring Dom if you want to," I offered, getting up. "I like him. You chose well."

Anna smiled brightly. "I did, didn't I?"

"I even heard what he said last night after I shut the door!" I said as I entered my bathroom to get dressed.

"Oh god." Anna groaned. "I chose well, but he has no tact sometimes."

"Yeah, well, most guys don't. If it helps, now that I'm not so pissed off, I find it hysterical. Especially after you hit him for it."

"You heard that?"

"Yeah."

"Sorry..."

I laughed. "You're fine."

"How did things go with you and Spencer? I see his phone is here."

I sighed and then delved into the chaos of last night, starting from the object flying at my head when I opened the door to the make-out session in the kitchen to the viewing of his phone's camera roll and how I reacted to it in the end.

Anan whistled. "Damn. Dom was closer to being right than he realized."

"Yeah, so that's where we're at."

"Do you want to invite him to coffee today?"

"I would, actually, but he's on patrol with Lily." I stepped out of the bathroom and threw on a jacket. "Ready?"

"Let's go!"