The Best Part of the Movie

I can feel it. I can feel his absence. Even if no one else can. It doesn’t fit, it just isn’t right. He’s supposed to be here. But he isn’t. He’s gone. If I had just stepped in maybe this wouldn’t have happened. I could’ve done something. Instead, I sat back and watched. “He can take care of himself,” I thought, “I don’t need to protect my older brother.” But I was wrong. The sound of laughter startles me out of my musings. It’s my dad, laughing at the movie. Chris had loved that part. I could see him now. Rolling on the ground, laughing so hard he was almost crying. I always laughed right along with him. If we had guests over Mom would scold us. “Chris, Kayla, be quiet, we’re trying to watch a movie.” Now that would never happen again. The phone rings in the other room. I suck in a breath and cross my fingers.

“Please please, please,” I whisper to myself. I hear Mom from the other room,

“Hello? Hi! That was fast. Are you there already?” She talks for a few more minutes before I hear her say. “Yes, she’s in here. Hold on just a second.” Mom walks into the room.

“Kayla, it’s for you,” she says holding out the phone. I pull myself over the back of the couch and snatch the phone from her hand. “Kayla, how many times have I told you-”

“Hello?” I say to the phone, cutting her off. “Kayla! How are you?” My eyes fill with tears.

“Chris! I miss you so much!!” I burst into tears and quickly leave the room with my parents staring after me.

“I’ve only been gone a day,” he says “If you can’t handle that I don’t know if you can handle a whole school year.”

“You’re right,” I say, wiping my eyes “You should quit college and come home.” He laughs,

“No, I meant you should stay with me here at the dorms.” I snort, “Yeah right, like I’m gonna come live with you and your roommate in those smelly dorms. I bet it’s already a disaster.”

“Haha,” he says, “don’t worry, my half of the room is clean.” I roll my eyes. I don’t believe it for a second.  We chat for at least an hour till Dad comes in and says it’s his turn. I hand over the phone but before I do I have to say one more thing.

“Chris?” “Yeah?” “I love you,” I say. “I love you too Kayla,” he says, and I can hear it in his voice, he means it. No matter how many fights we have, no matter how many times we disagree, even if he leaves and never comes back. He’s my brother, I will always love him. And I know he’ll always love me too. “Oh, I also wanna see a picture of your room. I want proof that you’re keeping it clean.” His laugh fades as I take the phone from my ear and pass it to Dad. As I settle on the couch next to Mom I can hear still hear that laugh ringing in my ears. And I laugh too. Together, Chris and I laugh as I watch the best part of the movie.

Hope you like it!
-Daughter

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