Chapter 2:A Sister's Burden
1677 Words
POV: Vivian Carter
The sound of the alarm pierced the quiet apartment long before sunrise.
Vivian reached across the small bedside table, silencing it before it could wake Elena.
For a few seconds she remained still, staring at the cracked ceiling above her. The tiny apartment was cold, the paint peeling near the window and the old fan creaked lazily overhead. It wasn't much, but after ten years, it had become home.
She sat up slowly, rubbing the stiffness from her neck before glancing toward the other side of the room.
Elena was asleep.
A faint smile tugged at Vivian's lips.
Vivian quietly stood, careful not to wake her.
She walked into the tiny kitchen, opening the nearly empty cupboard. Vivian smiled at what remained.
Half a loaf of bread.
Two eggs.
Instant noodles.
She laughed softly to herself.
“We're becoming experts at making miracles out of nothing.”
She boiled water and fried the eggs.
Just as she placed the food on the table, she heard familiar footsteps.
“You're awake already?”
Elena came out from the room, still wearing an oversized T-shirt, her hair tied into a messy bun.
Vivian smiled.
“I was about to ask you the same thing.”
“I have an early tutoring session.”
Elena stretched before noticing the breakfast.
“You used the last eggs again?”
“They were meant to be eaten.”
“They were meant for you.”
Vivian rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Here we go.”
“No, seriously?”
Elena folded her arms.
“You leave before sunrise every day and come home after dark. At least let me cook once in a while.”
“You cooked three days ago.”
“I boiled noodles.”
“You almost burnt the pot.”
Elena burst into laughter.
“I still think that pot overreacted.”
Vivian couldn't help laughing too.
“You know...”
“What is it?”
“You've carried this family on your shoulders for ten years.”
“And I'd do it for another ten.”
“I don't want you to.”
Vivian reached across the table, gently taking Elena's hands.
“My job was never to let you carry my burdens.”
“It’s our burden now.”
Vivian smiled sadly.
“No.”
She squeezed Elena's fingers.
“My burden.”
Elena looked away, blinking rapidly.
“I hate when you say that.”
Vivian stood and brushed a strand of hair behind her sister's ear.
“One day you'll understand.”
“No,” Elena whispered. “I hope I never do.”
Vivian's heart tightened.
If only Elena knew.
Every sacrifice...
Every sleepless night...
Every unpaid bill...
Every dream she had buried...
She would do it again without hesitation.
I need forced to hurry up and leave before I run late for work.
Vivian tapped Elena on the shoulder before leaving the table.
The bus was already half-full by the time Vivian climbed aboard.
She squeezed through the narrow aisle, apologizing politely as she brushed past a few passengers before finding an empty seat near the window.
Outside, Riverdale was waking up.
Street vendors arranged fruits beneath colorful umbrellas.
Office workers hurried along the sidewalks with coffee cups in one hand and briefcases in the other.
Students laughed as they chased one another toward the bus stop.
Vivian rested her forehead against the cool glass.
She loved mornings.
because every sunrise reminded her that she'd made it through another day.
Her phone buzzed.
She smiled before.
By eight o'clock Sterling Grand Hotel was already bustling with guests.
Vivian adjusted her neatly pressed uniform before tying her apron around her waist.
“Morning sunshine.”
Martha appeared beside her carrying a tray of clean glasses.
“You look suspiciously happy today.”
Vivian laughed.
“Do I?”
“Mmm?”
“Maybe I'm just well-rested.”
Martha stared at her.
“...You're a terrible liar.”
Vivian couldn't argue with that.
They had worked together for nearly five years.
Martha knew every fake smile, every forced smile, every laugh, and every excuse Vivian ever made.
She smiled as she picked up her order pad and walked towards her first table.
The morning passed in a blur of smiling faces, steaming coffee and endless orders.
“Table six needs another cappuccino.”
“Coming.”
“Table twelve wants the breakfast special.”
“On my way.”
“Can someone help with table three?”
“I've got it.”
By noon, her feet were already aching.
Still...
She smiled.
She always smiled.
Because customers tipped smiling waitresses more often than tired ones.
Lunch break finally arrived.
Vivian sat alone beneath a flowering tree behind the hotel, opening the lunchbox she packed before dawn.
Two slices of bread.
A banana.
A bottle of water.
She quietly thanked God before taking a bite.
“You call that lunch?”
Martha dropped onto the bench beside her.
Vivian laughed.
“It fills my stomach.”
“Barely.”
“I'll survive.”
Martha handed her a small paper bag.
“I bought too much.”
Vivian looked inside.
A chicken pie.
Her favorite.
“You didn't have to.”
“I know.”
“Thank you.”
As Martha walked away, Vivian looked down at the warm pastry in her hands and smiled.
Martha had been so nice to her over the years.
After lunch break, the restaurant became unusually quiet.
Vivian wiped down a nearby table when Mr. Collins, the hotel manager, approached.
“Vivian.”
She looked up immediately.
“Sir.”
“I've noticed you've accepted every overtime shift this month.”
She smiled politely.
“We've been busy.”
“You've also covered for three employees.”
“They needed help.”
“You're one of the hardest workers I've ever managed.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“But hard work means nothing if you collapse from exhaustion.”
“I'm fine.”
He reached into his pocket and handed her a small envelope.
“What's this?”
“Your performance bonus.”
Her eyes widened.
“Sir... I wasn't expecting…”
“You earned it.”
She slowly opened the envelope.
Her breath caught.
It was more money than she imagined.
“This is too much.” “Thank you.”
As he walked away, she looked at the envelope again.
Tears trickled from the corners of her eyes. This will go a long way for us.
By the time Vivian clocked out, the sky had already begun to darken.
She stepped outside the hotel and paused beneath the entrance canopy.
The air smelled of rain.
Heavy clouds rolled across the evening sky, swallowing the last rays of sunlight.
“Looks like we're in for a storm,” Martha said as she joined her, opening a small umbrella.
Vivian nodded.
“I should get going before it gets worse.”
“You're smiling.”
Vivian nodded again.
She reached into her handbag and carefully pulled out a small velvet box.
Martha's eyes widened.
“You bought it?”
Vivian nodded proudly.
“I finally finished paying for it this afternoon.”
Martha gently opened the box.
Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with tiny sapphire charms that sparkled beneath the hotel lights.
“It's beautiful.”
“I saw Elena looking at it months ago.”
“You've been paying for this all that time?”
“A little every month.”
Martha looked at her in disbelief.
“And you never told her?”
Vivian shook her head.
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Martha pulled her into a hug.
“You have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met.”
Vivian hugged her back.
“I don't know about that.”
“I do.”
They stayed that way for a few seconds before Martha stepped away.
“Go home.”
“I will.”
“And tell Elena she's lucky to have you.”
Vivian smiled.
“I don't have to.”
“Why?”
“Because she already knows.”
The first raindrop landed on her shoulder just as she reached the bus stop.
Within seconds...
The drizzle became a downpour.
“Perfect timing.”
She checked the arrival board.
The next bus had been delayed.
She looked at her phone.
No new messages.
A smile tugged at her lips as she opened Elena's contact anyway.
Without thinking too much, she typed:
Viv: Running a little late. Don't worry about me.
She hit send.
Almost immediately, Elena replied.
Lena: I was just about to call you.
Vivian chuckled.
Viv: See? I know you too well.
Another message.
Lena: Can you stop somewhere on your way home?
Vivian frowned.
Viv: Of course. What do you need?
The reply came a few seconds later.
Lena: Nothing
Vivian smiled.
Viv: You're a terrible liar.
Another pause.
Lena: Fine... just come home safely.
Her smile softened as she typed.
Viv: I promise.
She stared at that last word for a while before locking her phone.
The bus finally arrived.
By the time Vivian stepped off near her neighborhood, the rain had become relentless.
Water rushed across the gutters, reflecting the glow of streetlights.
She hugged her handbag close to her chest, making sure the velvet box stayed dry.
“Just a few more minutes,” she murmured.
She imagined Elena waiting by the window, pretending not to worry.
Probably checking the time every five minutes.
Vivian laughed quietly.
“That girl...”
She crossed one street.
Then another.
The familiar bakery came into view.
The apartment was only across the main road.
She reached into her bag to check if the bracelet was still there.
It was.
She would finally surprise Elena.
She looked up.
The pedestrian signal flashed green.
Cars slowed as the traffic lights changed.
Vivian took one step off the curb.
Then another.
Rain blurred the world around her.
She never saw the headlights cutting through the storm.
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