Chapter 6


    Returning to her childhood home after three long years filled Sylvia withplicated emotions.


    She had assumed this door closed to her forever when she left. How naive andughable her


    younger self seemed now.


    Hovering uncertainly on the doorstep, Sylvia wondered if she should just turn back around.


    Before she could make up her mind, someone shoved her forcefully from behind right through the


    entrance.


    "What are you waiting for? Do you know we''ve been waiting three years for you toe back? If


    Uncle hadn''t stopped me, I would have dragged you home long ago myself!"


    Whipping around, Sylvia came face to face with her childhood best friend Juliet - inseparable since


    the cradle, privy to every secret and dream.


    Juliet was also the first person Sylvia confessed her love for Cyril to. And vehemently rejected the


    idea, much to Sylvia''s irritation. She stubbornly vowed to marry Cyril anyway.


    Their ensuing fight soon involved both their families. Sylvia med Juliet for theck of privacy and


    refused to speak to her again. Three long years of total silence followed despite having each other''s


    numbers.


    Seeing Juliet now brought tears to Sylvia''s eyes. She never imagined reconciling with both family


    and friend after so long.


    Juliet too cried as she clutched Sylvia''s hand tightly. "Come on, Uncle and your brother have been


    waiting for you!"


    Unable to speak, Sylvia simply nodded and let herself be guided further inside.


    There on the familiar couch sat her beloved brother Bruce and father Stanford. At the sight of them,


    her lips trembled uncontrobly.


    Stanford immediately stood with open arms and a tender smile. Sylvia broke down entirely and flew


    into her father''s embrace.


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    To her, he had always seemed so tall and strong - her shelter against all storms who indulged her


    every whim. But three years had aged him with new lines of weariness that wrenched her heart with


    guilt. If not for her stubbornness, they would never have endured such painful separation.


    Bruce watched them quietly from the side, not interrupting the poignant reunion.


    "Dad..." Sylvia finally sobbed out. She felt her father''s arms tighten with his own surge of emotions.


    When their tears finally slowed, Sylvia approached Bruce awkwardly. "I''m sorry, brother. I was too


    willful back then but I''m home now."


    She half expected Bruce to still be furious over theirst argument where he swore to disown her if


    she married Cyril. Yet here he was, the one who had called her back.


    As the baby of the family, they had all doted on Sylvia. Naturally her choice of husband roused their


    intense protectiveness. Thankfully time and forgiveness had seen her safely home.


    "As long as you''re back, that''s all that matters. We''ve been waiting for you." Bruce smiled gently.


    Family was home and hearth - no matter the mistakes, they would always wee their lost child


    back with open arms. Sylvia now realized how foolish she had been to endure her struggles alone


    for so long.


    "I promise I''ll never leave any of you again," she pledged fervently.


    Bruce ruffled her hair just like when she was little. "Don''t worry, your second brother loves you most


    of all. He''lle around even if he''s still sulking a bit. You''ll just have to coax him."


    Sylvia understood his hint. She and her second brother had always been closest until their huge


    fight right before she left with Cyril. The thought of facing him now made her uncharacteristically


    anxious.


    Seeing her apprehension, Bruce reassured her again. No matter what, she would always be their


    beloved little sister.


    Exhausted from her ordeals, Sylvia soon retired to her unchanged childhood bedroom. Aside from


    new seasonal clothing and jewelry that showed she was often in their thoughts, everything


    remained just as she had left it.


    The realization made her eyes burn anew. She couldn''t begin to articte her remorse and


    gratitude.


    Her phone chose that moment to ring with her sister-inw Bonnie''s name shing. Sylvia


    answered warily.


    "Where are you right now? I heard you walked out on my brother. What did you do with the


    ne he gifted me, you thief? I don''t care what excuses you have - stealing is still a crime! If you


    don''t return that ne immediately, I''m calling the cops on you!" Bonnie shrilled nastily.


    Furrowing her brow, Sylvia wracked her brains about said ne. Drawing a nk, she decided it


    wouldn''t hurt to collect back all the extravagant gifts she had showered Bonnie and the others with


    when she was still infatuated enough to view them as family.


    Her past self''s foolish generosity clearly needed amending.