Remembered by E. D. Brady

casually. “It belonged to my grandfather. My
parents tell me that he was quite wealthy, and at the time the house was built,
it was the largest in West Vistira. My father became the owner after my
grandfather died. But it’s not the building that makes a home; it’s the people
who live in it. In that area, we seem equally blessed.”
    “How so?” she asked.
    “You, Max, and Cora share much love, I can tell, as do I
with my parents and my brother and sister,” he smiled warmly. “Coincidently, I
have one brother and one sister also, just like you.”
    “Your father is very nice,” Annie said.
    “Father is a great man,” he agreed proudly, “and my mother
is an angel.” He handed Annie a cup of tea and sat in the other upholstered
chair next to her. He looked at her pensively for some time before speaking
again. “I can’t help being impressed when I think of what you have accomplished
with the twins,” he said. “It must have been hard for you, giving up your
childhood prematurely.”
    “Please, don’t be impressed. What choice did I have? This was
thrust upon me, so I simply did what anyone would do in the same position. I
had two twelve-year-old siblings to care for. They were so young, so scared
that they would be left completely alone.”
    Kellus stared into her face with a mixture of pity and awe.
“You are truly amazing,” he murmured, “so selfless, and yet, unaware that you
are.”
    “I don’t know if that’s true,” she replied, feeling her face
flush.
    “What do you complain about, then?” he questioned.
    “Complain? I don’t understand the question.”
    “What bothers you?” he rephrased.
    “Nothing,” she replied, still not understanding his
question. “I have nothing to complain about. We have enough to eat, we have
each other, and we have a warm home—”
    “It’s as I thought,” he broke in, shaking his head. “You are
a good person. I knew that you were. A face that beautiful could only be a
reflection of what’s inside.”
    She looked down at her hands, feeling her face turn warmer,
embarrassed by the compliment.
    Kellus suggested they play cards, so they settled at the
kitchen table and talked the night away. They told each other everything about
their lives, their childhoods, and their families. He explained that his
brother Markum was ten months younger than he, and his sister Zifini was eighteen.
    By the end of the night, she felt that she’d known him for
years, and loved everything she knew.
    As the sun began to rise, she stood over the stove making
another cup of tea.
    A blood curling scream came from where Cora slept.
    Annie froze.
    Kellus ran to the bedroom.
    Lack of sleep took over her body and she started shaking all
over. She could feel tears building in her eyes. She didn’t know if she had the
strength to deal with any more bad fortune in her family.
    Moments later, she felt a strong hand slide down her arm and
fold over her right hand that still held the handle of the pot. Another strong
hand rested on her left hand that gripped the side of the stove.
    Kellus leaned over her left shoulder; his chest pressed up
against her back. “Nothing’s wrong. It was merely a nightmare,” he murmured.
    Without thinking, she leaned back into his chest, tears
rolling down her cheeks. He moved her right and left hands, wrapping her arms
around her waist, his arms on top. “Please don’t cry,” he whispered soothingly into
her ear. “Cora had a bad dream, nothing more.” He pulled her backward onto his
lap, sitting down on a chair. She placed her head on his shoulder. “Shush,” he
cooed, rubbing circles on her back. “Shush, Annie,” he repeated.
    She must have fallen asleep because she suddenly became
aware of him calling her name repeatedly. She lifted her head up quickly. “How
long was I sleeping?” she asked, covering her mouth to hide a yawn.
    “An hour or so,” he answered. “I regret having to wake you,
but I’m expected back at the Citadom