#scmaple

The years became easier to manage after a while, but there was always a day that was much too quiet, or a moment where she would want to dial her sister’s number and wait for her to pick up only to listen to the voice of her sister saying words she had long since memorized.

"Bonjour, Amelia…" She said, sitting down next to the gravestone. It was a warm summer’s day which often reminded the Canadian nation of her sister. "It’s been… A long time since I came here… How have you been? I’ve gotten better with the drinking… When you left I was a mess… Alfred had to practically get a whole new bed for me since mine smelled too much like alcohol…"

A laugh came from her as she looked down at the grass, bright and green. “I thought of how upset I must have made you… Looking down at me and seeing your big sister in such a mess… But I am better now, I promise! I’ve been drinking in moderation now… Just when a good game comes on…” The blonde began to play with the grass idly, unable to keep her hands still anymore. “I realized that… I can’t bring you back… It’s not possible… Not for me anyways, but— Goodness I thought I was done crying!” She giggled out, wiping a stray tear with the back of her hand.

"I… I want to be happy, Amy. Just like you used to be… I want to be able to keep your memory alive not by drinking it away, but by doing things that… I think would cherish your memory. I haven’t forgotten about you, not for a moment.. I know how much it hurts… To feel as if you’re forgotten… But you’re not. I promise you’re not… I like to think that you are looking down at us… That you’re still watching over us… And I… I want you to know that I’m sorry for saying the things I did so many years ago…"

She looked up from the ground and at the stone, giving her that soft smile that she always had on her face. “And… I miss you. I know I can’t do anything to bring you back, but I want you to know that… You are missed…”

Carefully, she stood up from the grave and placed her hand on the stone before kissing the air just above the head of it. “Stay brave, my dear sister…”

Ten Years Later—

"Hard to believe it’s been a decade since you’ve been asleep, eh?" Madeline being her protective self had never failed to visit the grave of her little sister every year, cleaning it up and watching as flowers always seemed to have laid on her grave, no doubt from other loved ones who must have come earlier that year. 

A light laugh came from the Canadian nation as she sat down in her regular spot in front of the grave, knowing that Amelia probably would not have liked the formalities of standing up and keeping her hands by her sides. “Seems like only yesterday we were running through the forest and swimming in the rivers…” Madeline folded her hands together and set them in her lap. “Do you remember those days? It must’ve been centuries ago by now… We were so young…” 

"The world misses you… I miss you… But it’s okay… I know you’re looking out for me from above… Telling me to sleep.. Telling me to loosen up a little…" A smile spread across her face. "I even picked up a beer the other day and I remembered the time you helped me when I was too drunk to function… And I like to think I have a pretty high tolerance to alcohol."

The laugh lightened up as her smile fell a bit, feeling the tears prickle against her eyes. Even now, so many years later, the loss of her little sister would never be something to cope with. Not to her. Not with Amelia. Quickly acting, Madeline looked up at the sky, trying to keep the tears at bay until she realized that the blue was the same shade as the eyes of her dear soeur. 

"Can you see me, Amelia? If you can see me, give me a sign… Any sign… Anything to let me know you’re okay… I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything to help you… I’m sorry I didn’t protect you, and I didn’t visit you… I’m sorry for ambushing you with snowballs and for never being there enough for you, but please… Just… One sign… For your selfish big sister…"

Silence filled the graveyard. A minute passed. Two. Five. Soon enough,  a few stray tears fell from the Canadian nation’s Aurora-violet eyes as she gave out a shaky breath. “Right…” With a sturdy grip, Madeline pushed herself off of the ground and set the flowers from her garden next to the stone before looking down. “I love you, ma petite soeur…”