As I headed out to a client that day, my sister popped into my head as someone I could visit off the cuff on the way back from my job. Yeah, I'll pop into her student accommodation on the way back and surprise her! Now that we both lived in the same city, I was making a good effort to spend more time with her, like we used to do growing up. After all, she is the sweetest girl I know, and a total joy to be around at all times. You don't squander the chance at spending time with someone like that.
My sister and I know a lot about each other. We shared some intimate secrets in the past, and a few misadventures neither of us tell anyone about because we would both look bad. No, we haven't had sex with each other, nothing like that... But silly things, for example, one time we were stuck in a small town near her home, and she was desperate for the bathroom. It was too late for the public bathrooms to be open, and she just couldn't wait any longer. So, I picked her up and ran like hell to the nearby beach that had a high sided stone pointed wall between it and the street. The perfect spot to hide and let her relieve herself. I swept my large jumper off of my chest and wrapped it around her waist which prevented her exposing herself to me as she pulled her trousers down and crouched against the stone wall. Not that I don't know what she looks like down there, we never really cared about being naked in front of each other, but this was a potentially public situation. I remember being protective and keeping an eye out for threats, turning my back and giving her privacy to sort herself out. It was all over quickly, and we weren't embarrassed by each other in the situation, we were just glad to sort out the issue, and she was so grateful for my quick thinking. Although we are siblings, Jenna who is 23, is 12 years younger than me, so at times I did engage parent mode and move past all of my inhibitions towards her as a female, to be the one she needed when she needed me. The point is, we have experiences together that, well, only we understand.
My job was a quick fix, so I arrived at high noon on my sister's apartment complex foyer. I buzzed her dorm and hoped she would be in for my unannounced arrival.
1 minute passes with no answer, which must mean she is out because normally she's quick to answer within seconds. I'll just try one more time in case she was occupied, speaking of needing the bathroom. As I go to press the buzzer once more, she finally answers.
"Hi?!" I here her bit-crushed voice through the probably way more expensive than effective intercom.
"It's me sis!" I respond with excitement at hearing she is home.
"Ohhh, yay!" She responds in kind. The door releases and I rush in and up the stairs to the top floor where her dorm is, and where she has opened the door to stand in the doorway and welcome me.
"Hey! Glad you were here sis!"
"Bro so good to see you, nice surprise haha!" We hug closely and for a silly amount of time as usual. Standard greeting between us. But something's different this time. Jenna smells of tears, and her eyes were a little rubbed looking. Even at the normal (for us) moment of releasing embrace, she continues to hold on with her arms around my back.
"Hey, Jenna?" Her head buries in my chest and she sobs.
"Jenna..." I look down at her pressing her tears into my tshirt, something has happened to her for sure. I say nothing more and pick her up into my arms, keeping her head against my chest so she can hide as much as she feels like. I carry her to her room, a small en suite with a single bed and a shower bathroom. I kick my shoes off, lay on her bed and cradle her while she softly sobs into my torso. Little Jenna, only as tall as my chest, yet the biggest soul in the universe, life has snagged on you somehow. But I am here now.
"Sorry." Jenna finally manages to speak.
"Lil sis, you are allowed to cry, I know life is thorny sometimes."
"It's not even anything serious, I just, it just has been bothering me today, it's so stupid."
"Whatever it is, I'll fix it for you sis. I promise you this."
Jenna pauses to process what I've just said, as if it's contextually illogical.
"Hehe, you know exactly what to say to make me laugh." She muses with a quiet giggle.
"What? Hey you know I'm good for it sis!" I feign some misguided offense to lighten the atmosphere.
"Stop saying that Elpy, aahaha!" She laughs tearfully against my body as I stare with a confused smile, happy to see she is not too upset.
"Heh, okay, wanna tell me about it?" I stroke her back and comfort her as she lays in my arms. Her embrace is soothing and soft.
"No, it's so stupid and embarrassing and I cried about it, ugh." Jenna seems disappointed in what she seems to perceive as a weakness.
"I cried yesterday because I watched A romantic film, what do you wanna do hahah!" I encourage her not to feel shame for crying.
"Elpy, I just am so stupid, I can't seem to, uhh mmm." She stops and thinks. I wait quietly, comforting her with my big hands warming her back and shoulders.
"Like, I haven't, mmh, so last night, a boy asked me back to his place and, I just said no thanks. I always say no. Why did I say that? I need..." She stops again. I continue to let her think, nodding my head gently to silently encourage her.
"I wanted to, but I didn't let myself. I'm... scared." I understood her completely.
"Jenna. You've been bungee jumping. Why is it easier the second time around?" I philosophise.
