Chapter 2: Homecoming
-Trust in time, which usually gives you sweet exits from many bitter difficulties-
-Miguel de Cervantes-
It's been seven months since Lincoln left Royal Woods, and his sisters have only seen him during Christmas and New Year's of the same year. On subsequent vacations and vacations in the following years, they did not hear anything from him. They tried to call Pop Pop, but in the cabin there was no phone, and Lincoln's cell phone did not have international coverage, so they had to communicate by letter. Which often arrived late, but one day, under mysterious circumstances, the letters stopped arriving.
Lisa was in her room, awake two weeks after Lincoln had gone to live with his grandfather in Canada, and could hardly hear what her brother had done to save her and what he had pushed through his sense of sight. Long ago, the little genius had dragged the contempt of her sisters, every one of them from Lori to Lola, who treated her worse than Lincoln ever did in what they called it -accident of bad luck- a few very dark days for all of them, which were scarcely resolved only a week before the new accident cost Lincoln his sight.
Lola and Lana also take action against her by asking their parents to let Lily sleep with them, leaving the little scientist literally and emotionally alone. The moment she saw how all her little sister's belongings had been taken away, she felt something pressing against her chest, a pain many call grief, and she saw the possibility of now having so much space in her own room as was welcome if she had to pay with being an outcast of the family. Since then, the girl has learned to be more humble, so much so that she has stopped thinking only about science, the obsession that led her to perform that unfortunate experiment, and not a day goes by that she does not regret causing the accident that led to it.
Three years had already passed since their brother departure, three years without seeing him or receiving a single letter. The sisters had also changed—both physically and in their clothing. Lori was now 20 years old and wore a light blue shirt with short cufflinks and long brown trousers.
Leni, 19, wore a mint green long-sleeved top and a dark green skirt. Her hair was tied up in a bun. She attended college with Luna, who was 18. Leni often performed at a coffee shop near campus, where she served as the entertainment. Luan, 17, wore a yellow jacket, thigh-high shorts, and had her hair down, she planned to attend the same university as her older sisters and pursue a career as a stand-up comedian at the coffee shop. Lynn, 16, wore a red tracksuit consisting of pants and a sweatshirt, she had just won the sports scholarship from the same university, allowing them to all study together.
Lucy was around 11 years old, and she was wearing a calf-length dress that she wore over a black jacket. Her hair was tied up in two pigtails, revealing her medium but visible breasts and pronounced hips with a slender waist that had developed. She was the envy of her peers, as well as her friend, Haiku, who had also developed like Lucy.
Lola and Lana were only nine years old, and they didn't have much to change other than their clothes like the rest of their sisters. Lola was wearing a knee-length pink skirt and a softer pink shirt under a short-sleeved white jacket, plus she wore a more fanciful tiara, while Lana wore long pants and a white and black jacket with some oil and mud stains on it, her hair was braided and she still wore her hat as well as a bandage on her cheek.
4-year-old Lily showed she had great taste in video games and comics, just like her brother Lincoln. She wore a light purple skirt and jacket over a short-sleeved black T-shirt.
Lisa wore the same clothes as before, but in a larger size. The only change in her clothes was a lab coat, which she wore open and had her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She was already 7 years old and already a little taller than before, and now she was devoted to the science of peace, and no longer saw any being inferior in intelligence, though she continued to refer to them as Homo sapiens out of habit.
One morning a message arrived that caused an uproar throughout the entire household, and that Lincoln would be returning to town with pop pop.
It's a good time, as the super long winter break will be starting soon, and the older sisters will be back home.
"Will Linky come back?" Leni asked excitedly.
"So it is, daughter," said Rita, drying her tears as she felt the warmth of their reunion.
"Why, after nearly three years, did he decide to send us this message?" Lynn asked, annoyed.
"I'm sure he had a very good reason," said Luna, without wiping the smile from her face.
"Anyway, we will see him again in a while" Lori said as she put on some lipstick.
"Well, at least we'll be able to see him" Luan said, but she stopped talking when she realized that making that joke wasn't a good idea. "I'm sorry," she said, shyly lowering her head.
"Don't worry, I know you didn't mean any harm" Mr. Loud said as he left the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready soon, let lisa know."
This made the sisters look dissatisfied, except for Lily, who couldn't understand why, since she could remember, her sisters had avoided talking to Lisa and did so only out of obligation.
"Whose turn to go talk to her?" Lola asked.
Lucy raised her head, stopped reading her book, and said "I went last time." She then returned to her reading.
"Damn it. It's my turn now" Lynn complained as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
The girl walked to the door and saw her little sister at her desk. "hey, Come for dinner or I'll give it to Charles Jr."
The girl stopped whatever she was doing and left her room. Her sisters had distanced themselves from her over the past three years. How could you blame them? Because of her own negligence and selfish desire, she caused her brother to lose his sight permanently and was sent to live in another country.
Lisa whispered "I never wanted any of this."
In the kitchen, a little puppy that resembled a cocker spaniel but had Charles's features was jumping up to play with Lana and Lily.
"Catch it CJ" Lana said as she tossed a small rubber ball.
"How was my brother? They told me a lot about him, since I was too young to remember him" the girl asked.
"Don't worry Lily, you'll see him soon" said Lucy, suddenly appearing next to Lily.
"Ahhhhh" The girl screamed, placing her hand over her heart with Charles.
"Really Lucy?" "You're really too old to scare people," Lori said a little annoyed.
Lucy turns to lori and replies "You're never too old to be a little afraid, Sister."