THE SISTERS
The café was the same one from before. Neutral ground. Same corner table. Same gray light filtering through the windows. Vanessa arrived first. She ordered a coffee she didn't drink and sat with her hands folded, her back straight, her face calm. Inside, her heart was pounding. Nina walked in at 2:03. She saw Vanessa. Hesitated. Then walked to the table and sat down. Neither of them spoke for a long moment. "You look tired," Vanessa said. "So do you." The waitress came. Nina ordered tea. The waitress left. "Adrian knows," Vanessa said. Nina nodded. "I know." "About you being my sister?" "Yes." "Did you tell him, or did he figure it out?" "He figured it out." Nina paused. "I should have told him. I wanted to. But I was scared." Vanessa laughed — a short, bitter sound. "Scared o
- Writer
