A slight drizzle began to fall when they reached Washington state.
Eleanor appreciated from the back seat as the drops splashed against the window. It was the only sound that was heard, besides the radio stalled in some kind of country music.
His brothers, Steve and Luke, spoke only to discuss. The relationship between them was no longer the same. For none of the three, really. The stigmas of the past took their toll. Each, without exception. They faced it the way they could or could not, just like Steve. He lived in constant denial. As if everything they went through was just a simple nightmare. But that nightmare came true: he wrote it all down and published it. Sooner rather than later, it became a hit. Now, every bookstore in the world had that book, which, according to Nell, should be banned. It was his family secret, his private life. But no more. And that made her feel a certain suspicion towards him.
On the other hand, there was Luke. His twin. Unlike her and Steve, he had blue eyes and a well-marked brow; the kind of boy one expects to see in street fights, breaking the law with vandalism, or even raiding shops. But it was nothing like that. In fact, he was the most attentive and affable person she had ever met. But Nell also knew that in the low moments, when the past touched the door, a specter took its place to do much harm. Neither Steve nor Eleanor could forget the time they witnessed an overdose that nearly took him to his grave. Therefore, the first stop before settling in Forks, would be the psychiatric hospital of Seattle.
— Why did you do that?— Luke said frowning as his brother changed the music.
— I don't like country music.
He relaxed his lips before speaking:
—Well, i do.—he put it back on the previous transmission. They both looked at each other for a few seconds with sparks.
—Why don't you sleep a few minutes before arriving?— suggested Steve impatient.
—No thanks, I already tried. But a certain person drives so badly that my head almost went through the glass. —replied Luke sarcastically.
Steve turned into a roundabout.
—Perhaps that was his intention...—he whispered. Although his brother heard him.
Luke was willing to start another argument, until he sees Eleanor stretch between them to turn off the radio. Her twin looked at her in confusion. She folded her arms.
—My head hurts—justified, and then looked back at the window. Actually, it wasn't a lie. The quarrels between them already gave her a migraine.
Fortunately, their remaining journey lasted no more than ten minutes. Steve did a maneuver before parking in front of the hospital parking lot. He was also the first to get out of the car, but seeing that Luke and Nell were not moving, he frowned.
—What is it?
—Nothing—she said, quickly—. Go ahead first. We'll be right there in a minute.
Steve sighed.
—Don't be long.—He turned around and headed towards the building.
She approached her brother worried and took him by the shoulder. She had his gloves on, but she didn't plan on taking them off. Not yet.
—Luke?— called, but did not answer. He looked at the building with an absent expression, dismissive, until Nell called again.
—What?
She looked at him with a reassuring smile.
—It is normal to be afraid.
—I am not afraid—dismissed.
Nell raised an eyebrow. Not believing him.
—I'm serious. I'm not afraid. I'm just...worried. People like Mom and Dad end up in places like this... and also 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 under your own will. That's why we're all here. No matter what, we all want a second chance and we have to fight to get it.
Luke smiled and hugged her tightly:
—Come on.
●●●
In the waiting room, Eleanor sat down in one of the seats while studying the place. It looked like a hospital, she admitted. Although the walls painted a lemon yellow gave the place some joy. Suddenly, sees Steve hand his bag to a nurse, and Luke approaches her with a half smile. It was time. She stood up and hugged him again.
—I will come to all visits.
—I think they will be available from the second month. You know, about abstinence.
She nodded.
—Excuse me...—interrupted a voice. It was the nurse—I have to take him inside.
—Yes, I understand, just a moment—pleaded Nell. The nurse nodded and gave them some space.
—Do me a favor...—Luke begged, softly—Take off your gloves. Just a few hours each day.
Nell made a face.
—Luke...
—You have a gift, Nell—insisted— I know you think if you do you'll get out of control, but you'll never get it if you don't start practicing. So promise me that.
She looked at Steve for a second, in case it heard the conversation. He definitely wouldn't have agreed to that. She took a deep breath before closing her eyes. Nell couldn't believe what she was about to do.
—Okay— Luke smiled— And you bring my brother back.
Both decided to shake hands to make their promise and also in farewell mode. Steve approached and told her to take care. Seconds later, they watched as their brother walked down the corridor until he disappeared around the corner.
●●●
When Steve opened the door of the house, Nell felt a cloud of dust welcoming her. She closed her eyes unconsciously and shook what was in the air with his hand. Later, stared at.
It was empty, and the furniture arrived only next week. Apart from that, there were cobwebs in every corner; and a white staircase was located exactly by the door. Perfect for hitting someone on the forehead. The walls, white and bare, were filled with nail marks where paintings used to hang.
However, despite all that, the house was still just that: a house. A shell ready to breathe life into it like a deflated balloon. It was a house ready to become a home.
But none of them had any idea how to make it a home. The one they had met could hardly be called home, at least not anymore. Not in retrospect.
Nell approached the toolbox her brother had bought and took a hammer and nail.
—What are you doing?— asked his brother with curiosity and caution.
She approached the wall by the door, took the nail and, with the help of the hammer, embedded it in the wall. He had nothing to hang, no pictures, no ornaments. So he hung the metal ring with the key to the house. One key and nothing else. He thought it was progress.
Nell turned to face his brother:
—Turning this place into a home.
She then took his suitcase and left upstairs.