3

"So, what did they say?"

"Probably tomorrow."

Grace chewed lazily on a piece of sandwich that Lisa made for her. She was barely hungry after returning from the agency. Her mind was elsewhere and her thoughts were scattered.

"Do you need more?"

Lisa asked purposely, she has been discerning the younger woman for the past few minutes. It was absurd how long it was taking for her to even finish one single piece of sandwich. Lisa knew she was stressed after what happened last night but she shouldn't avoid her health like this.

Grace shook her head and Lisa placed a glass of warm milk beside her plate.

"Drink it. It'll help to sleep."

Grace giggled at her kindness.

"Well, don't worry. You can live with me until the situation calms down." Lisa offered and Grace immediately ratified. After everything that happened, she didn't want to be deserted.

Lisa smiled and grabbed empty dishes and placed them in the sink. Grace noticed how Lisa was trying hard to keep Grace calm and composed in this situation.

After visiting the agency, Lisa called her and ask her to wait for her. And by the time Lisa reached there, it was already past afternoon. So, they went out for lunch and after that Grace brought groceries and by the time they reached home, it was time for dinner. Since Grace brought groceries, Lisa offered to make them dinner.

Grace helped her clean the table and wiped the shelves as Lisa cleaned the dishes. It was comfortable in a way. It was after so long, that Grace had finally warmed up to someone. A stranger. But it was nice in a soothing way.

"How old are you, Grace?"

Grace was stunned by a sudden question as she stopped wiping the shelf and looked her way.

"Twenty-one."

Lisa nodded.

"You know, you remind me of my little sister."

Grace smiled.

"How old is she?"

Lisa laughed before a look of devastation plastered over her face and she looked away with a sad smile.

"Surprisingly, she would've been twenty-one."

Grace was stunned to see the sadness in Lisa's eyes and gulped down.

"Where's she? Does she live with your parents?"

Grace knew she had crossed the line. She shouldn't ask.

Lisa stopped mid-action. Taking a deep breath, she turned around with a small smile that barely reached her eyes, Grace.

"I don't know if my parents are alive or not. The day my little sister died, I ran away. It was hard for me to live there, constrained by her memories."

Grace couldn't believe, the woman who looked taciturn, was holding so much sorrow within herself. Grace was at a loss for words, her hands had stilled, her heartbeat was shortened and her eyes widened. Just when Lisa chuckled lowly, nothing humorous about it, Grace find herself slipping through the shock.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to"

"It's alright. That barely affects me any more."

Grace knew she lying. She could see unshed tears in her eyes, tremble of her fingers as she tried to clean plates, clenching of her jaw and paling of her skin.

It was strange how Grace felt pity for the woman when she barely knew her story.

****

The night was hard, the bed was colder and the night seemed to be lengthier than normal days. Either it was the fact that she felt pity for Lisa or there was this sudden rush of memories that she had buried years ago. Grace knew it was unthinkable, but Lisa reminded her so much of her sister. Unexpectedly, Grace could recollect everything that took years to forget.

Serena was everything Grace could find in a sister. Born into a wealthy family, Grace never had to whine for anything. Riches, goods, necessities, amenities, she was incarcerated by every glamour of the world. So, that's probably the reason why Grace never desired those. Serene and she were the only children out of their five siblings with loved each other. Since Grace was a middle child, she barely get any affection from her parents and Irene made sure she was loved.

And as Grace grew up, she find a sudden detachment in their relationship. Not because Serene was getting distant but because she was getting married, to one of her father's friend's sons. Grace was indeed happy for her sister but also a little sad that now no one was there to keep her company.

Serene gave her love, care, and affection until the day when she was married. And probably that was the worst day of Grace's life. She not only watched her only sister leaving her but also a demon entered her life.

Grace believed nothing could be eviler than that man, from the way he carried himself to the way his eyes never left her. He made her uncomfortable in many ways and he wasn't even ashamed about that. Grace caught his attention and he captured the reigns of her life. Not only did she lose her sister that day but she ratified her life to him.

He tormented her, assaulted her jeopardized Serene’s life to get what he wanted until one day in a car crash she died.

Grace was unwilling at first, it was hard for her to absorb that. Gradually, shock turned into reality and only she knew how many endless, sleepless nights she had spent, crying till morning, came to wipe her tears away.

And that's probably was the reason why she ran from home, but only to caught by him again. Running away from him had only caused her trouble, endless nights of torture, restless days of anxiousness. He was not an easy person to read and Grace was tired. So, she ran away, of course, with some help.

Grace tightened her hold on the blanket. Memories were always meant to leave a bitter taste. As old as the memories were, the more clearly she remembered them. She tossed and turned until she found a comfortable sleeping position and looked at Lisa's sleeping face. Though Irene and Lisa were different, Grace couldn't help but connect to her in a sisterly way. She reminded her of Serene. The care, the love, the adoration Grace had come to miss all these years, Lisa was now providing her with that. How ironic, the one who lost her little sister helping the one who lost her elder sister.

Grace smiled.

It indeed felt like a long night.