A light drizzle started as they crossed into Washington State.
From the back seat, Eleanor watched the raindrops splatter against the window, finding a strange comfort in the sound. It was the only thing she could hear besides the radio, which was stuck on some country music station.
Her brothers, Steven and Luke, spoke to each other only to argue. Their relationship wasn't the same anymore. None of theirs were, really. The scars of the past weighed them down, each in their own way. They dealt with it how they could...or didn't, like Steve. He lived in constant denial, acting like everything they'd been through was just some bad dream. But that nightmare became all too real when he published a book about it; it became a success. Now every bookstore in the world carried that book – the one that, according to Nell, should be banned. It was their family secret, their private life, laid bare. And she couldn't help but resent him for it.
Then there was Luke, her twin. Unlike her and Steve, he had piercing blue eyes and a perpetually furrowed brow; the kind of guy you'd expect to see in street fights, vandalizing property, maybe even robbing stores. But he was nothing like that. He was the most caring and gentle person she knew. But she also knew that in his darkest moments, when the past came knocking, a phantom would take his place and inflict harm on himself. Neither Steve nor Eleanor could forget the time they witnessed an overdose that nearly killed him. That's why their first stop before settling in Forks was the psychiatric hospital in Seattle.
— Why'd you do that??— Luke said, frowning as his brother changed the music.
—I don't like country.
He licked his lips before retorting:
—Well, i do.—He switched back to the previous station. They glared at each other for a few seconds, sparks flying.
—Why don't you just sleep for a while before we get there?—Steve suggested, impatiently.
—No thanks, I tried. But someone's driving so badly that I nearly put my head through the windshield.—Luke shot back sarcastically.
Steve navigated a roundabout.
—Maybe that was the intention...—he muttered. Though his brother heard him. Luke was ready to start another argument until he saw Eleanor reach between them to turn off the radio. Her twin looked at her, confused. She crossed her arms.
—My head hurts— she said, by way of explanation, then turned back to the window. It wasn't a complete lie. Their bickering was already giving her a headache.
Thankfully, the rest of the drive only took about ten minutes. Steve made a sharp turn before parking in front of the hospital. He was also the first to get out of the car, but when he noticed Luke and Nell weren't moving, he frowned.
—What's wrong?
—Nothing—she said quickly—.Go ahead and fill out the admission forms. We'll be right in.
Steve sighed.
—Don't take too long.— He turned and headed toward the building.
She went to her brother, worried, and put her hand on his shoulder. She had her gloves on, but wasn't planning on taking them off. Not yet.
—Luke?— she said, but he didn't respond. He was staring at the building with a blank, detached expression until she called his name again.
—What?
She gave him a reassuring smile.
—It's okay to be scared.
—I'm not scared.—he dismissed.
Nell raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.
—I'm serious. I'm not terrified. I'm just...worried.— He looked at the building again, his face serious—People like Mom and Dad end up in places like this...and so do people like me.
—Hey, don't compare yourself to them. You're not like them. You're not going in there because you did something that can't be fixed. You're going in there to save yourself, and of your own will. That's why we're all here. No matter what, we all want a second chance, and we have to fight for it.
Luke smiled and hugged her tightly:
—Let's go.
●●●
In the waiting room, Eleanor settled into one of the chairs, studying the place. It definitely had the feel of a hospital, she had to admit. Though the lemon-yellow walls gave the place a certain brightness. Suddenly, she saw Steve hand his bag to a nurse, and Luke approached her with a half-smile. She knew it was time. She stood up and hugged him again.
—I'm going to miss you—she said.
—Me too.
—I'll come to all the visiting hours.
—I think they'll be available starting the second month. You know, because of the detox.
She nodded.
—Excuse me...— a voice interrupted. It was the nurse—I need to take him inside.
—Yeah, I understand, just a minute.—Nell pleaded. The nurse nodded and gave them some space.
—Do me a favor...—Luke asked, lowering his voice—Take your gloves off sometimes. Just for a few hours.
Nell grimaced.
—Luke...
—You have a gift, Nell—he insisted—And I know you think you'll lose control if you do it, but you'll never learn how to use it if you don't start practicing. So promise me.
She glanced at Steve for a second, to see if he'd overheard. He definitely wouldn't have agreed with that. Seeing that he hadn't, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She couldn't believe what she was about to do.
—Okay— Luke smiled— And you, bring my brother back.
They shook hands to seal their promise and as a goodbye. Steve came over and told him to take care. Seconds later, they watched their brother walk down the hallway until he disappeared around the corner.
●●●
When Steve opened the door to the house, Nell felt a cloud of dust greet her. She closed her eyes involuntarily and waved away what was left in the air with her hand. A few seconds later, she stared at it.
It was empty; the furniture wouldn't arrive until next week. Besides that, there were cobwebs in every corner, and a white staircase stood right next to the door. Perfect for hitting someone in the forehead. The walls, white and bare, were full of nail holes where pictures had once hung.
But despite all that, the house was still just that: a house. An empty shell, ready to be filled with life like a deflated balloon. It was a house ready to become a home.
But neither of them had any idea how to make it one. The only home they'd ever known could barely be called that, at least not anymore. Not in retrospect.
Nell went to the toolbox her brother had bought and took out a hammer and a nail.
—What are you doing?—Steven asked, curious and cautious.
She went to the wall next to the door, picked up the nail, and, with the help of the hammer, drove it into the wall. She didn't have anything to hang, no pictures, no decorations. So she hung the metal ring with the house key on it. A single key and nothing else. It felt like progress.
She turned to face her brother:
—Starting to turn this place into a home.
Then, she grabbed her suitcase and went upstairs.