The Miracle of You

“What is it?” Michael asked, puzzled. It was really out of the blue.

“You used to pester me all the time even before the accident, right?” Joanna shook her head. “You were so annoying at that time. Like a brat who just wouldn’t stop.”

Michael hesitated. “That was…” He raised a hand to rub his temples. He could feel the heat creeping up his neck from embarrassment. “I just wanted your attention. You were always avoiding me and just holed up in your room. Even though Will played with me whenever he was there, I longed for your attention, too. I also wanted to play with you.”

She scoffed, but there was a soft look in her eyes that she couldn’t conceal. “Not a chance. Even then, I was not interested in playing with a kid.”

“I figured as much after all the yelling you directed at me.”

“You deserved it. Annoying little brat.”

Michael couldn’t help the small, amused smile that curved his lips.

Joanna turned her eyes to him, and now any trace of coldness was gone from her expression. “I remember feeling so isolated,” she admitted quietly. “I felt like no one saw me. Everyone was so worried about you, and even before that, when I was accomplishing so much, you were still the apple of everyone’s eye. I didn’t know how to deal with it. I resented you for being the center of attention, even though I knew deep down that it wasn’t your fault. That’s it.”

“I never wanted that attention,” Michael clarified. “I just wanted to do my own thing and be a normal kid. After the accident, I felt like I had lost everything, and I rebelled. But looking back now, I can see how it must’ve felt for you. I’m sorry. I think I should’ve understood you more.”

She met his gaze at that moment, her eyes glistening.

They had never apologized to each other before.

“I’m sorry, too,” she said sincerely. “For being so bitter, so angry, and so distant. We both had our struggles. I only focused on myself, and I was selfish. I let my tunnel vision get the better of me. I should’ve been mature enough to deal with things.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their words hanging in the air.

Finally, Michael spoke again.

“We’ll… start small. Maybe try to spend more time together and talk more often. We don’t have to fix everything overnight, but we can take small steps. Just one at a time.”

Joanna laughed, but not unkindly. “I’m the big sister here. I’m supposed to be proposing a solution, but here you are. A showoff as always.” She shook her head. “But it’s a good idea. We can start by not avoiding each other at family gatherings. I won’t yell at you again, too.”

“I can visit more often and see the boys,” he added. “And be more of an uncle to them.”

A tentative smile played on Joanna’s lips. “I think they would like that. And so would I.”

And for the first time in years, Michael felt a sense of hope. Although they still had a long way to go, this conversation had effectively broken the heavy tension. They were no longer the distant, resentful siblings that they had been.

Now, they were two people who were trying to heal and reconnect.

And for now, that was enough.

“Speaking of your first love…”This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Michael’s head snapped towards her in surprise. Of all things that he expected to come out of her mouth, it certainly wasn’t this.

He wasn’t sure what to feel about discussing his love life with his older sister.

“When you were in high school,” Joanna said, locking eyes with him. “I remember you being a quiet and grumpy kid after your accident, but there were some… noticeable moments when you seemed happier. And most of it seemed to be rooted in your teenage years, starting when you were a freshman.”

“Oh…”

A small, amused smile played on Joanna’s lips. “I remember you used to get up early every morning to make an extra lunch box for some reason. You wouldn’t even let the chefs do it for you. You wanted to do the cooking yourself. I wonder what that was about?”

Michael could feel the heat creeping up the back of his neck, and this time it was stronger.

If his sister was going to start teasing him about this…

“You never mentioned anything to us, or even to Will,” Joanna continued. “You never talked about what made you happy and willing to go to school for a change. I thought maybe you found a new hobby or a new friend who understood you and made you feel comfortable.”

With her words came gentle, precious memories that Michael held close to his heart.

He felt a warmth in his chest that he couldn’t put into words.

“Yes,” he said softly. “I did find a friend.”

“And that friend was Camille Parker, just like I said on the phone a week ago,” she supplied. “The one who made you want to learn about the business in the first place. Correct?”

Michael nodded.

“And Camille Parker is also your first love. The woman that you love until now.”

“Yes.”

Joanna leaned back against the couch and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’ve been doing some investigating of my own. I hope you won’t get mad,” she said. “I checked the records of your school at the time, and I couldn’t find anyone named Camille Parker.”

Michael was silent for a moment. At this point, there was no reason to keep something like this from his sister. She had to know about it soon anyway.

Besides, he had made up his mind to try and reach out to his family after all these years and really make an effort.

And clearly, Joanna was making an effort of her own, too.

“That’s because she didn’t go by the name Camille Parker back then,” he admitted. “Her former name… was Hailey van Gowen.”