Eva - Page 6

“I. Will. NOT! Ever. Go back to that stubborn pig!” Cynthia lashed out, grabbing her sister’s shoulders, “Everything I have here, I gained through my own effort, away from his rules and wishes!” Eva was shocked by her outburst, she didn’t know her sister’s grudge was this deep.

“He would have never allowed any of this for me!” Cynthia gestured to her lavish home, “I am free only because I am away from him,” Cynthia began to soften her tone as she noticed her sister getting more withdrawn.

“And I thought you coming here was because you feel the same…”, Cynthia whispered as she saw Eva beginning to get misty-eyed.

“But… Ma and Pa and I…”, Eva started, but couldn’t finish as tears begins to choke her up.

Always the crybaby. Cynthia thought as she hugged her crying sister, comforting her as she had done many times in their childhood. It seemed I was wrong about her. If she doesn’t wish to stay, then Cynthia won’t force her to. Without further ado, Cynthia gently grabbed her sister, but firmly began to lead her out.

Outside, with the setting sun, the streets outside seemed to turn more ominous. As the day worker’s returned to their homes, the denizens of the night began come out. Cat-calls and whistling seemed to follow them whenever they go, but the experienced Cynthia navigated her way through the darkening streets undisturbed.

They both walked in silence, each working out their failed expectations in their minds. Eva tried to break the ice, but couldn’t muster the courage after witnessing her older sister’s outburst, while Cynthia worked to quell her own disappointment of today’s outcome.

Reaching the bus terminal, Cynthia instead moved on to the taxi counter, using her charms to get a heavily discounted ticket from the flustered staff.

As Cynthia tucked Eva into the cab, she gave her little sister another tight hug before closing the door. Not wanting to say goodbye, Eva blurted out, “I’ll still write to you!”

“Thank you,” Cynthia replied coolly, then signaled the driver to go. Eva clung to the cab window as the taxi drove off, Cynthia waving goodbye from the sidewalk. Only when the taxi receded from view did Cynthia dropped her cold facade, wiping away the beginnings of tears. I’ll need a strong drink tonight, she thought as she blended back into the city crowd.

Artist’s Note:

Well, that didn’t end well for either of them.