The Storm between Us

Chapter 1

The moment Amber stepped out of the airport, the Georgia heat wrapped around her like a heavy blanket. It felt different from California, thicker, louder, alive in a way that made her chest tighten. She held onto the handle of her suitcase a little too tightly, scanning the crowd even though she already knew who she was looking for.

"M! Over here!" She smiled when she recognized someone from the crowd of people waiting. One of her cousins waving both arms like they were trying to guide a plane in.

Amber's shoulders eased just slightly. Her smile dropped slighty when she remembered why she was there and a sad emotion took over when she remembered how she was forced to cut contact with her favorite cousin. She slowly walked towards xasso. Her favorite cousin, same age, her twin as people like to say. They were the same person different gender.

She walked slowly but her cousins rushed her, pulling her into a tight hug that almost made her drop her bag.

"We got you now," xasso said softly.

Amber nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She looked behind at the rest of her cousins who all had a concern yet excited look on their faces. "Yeah... I'm here."

No one asked too many questions. Not yet. They just helped her with her luggage and guided her toward the car like they understood that silence was sometimes the only thing a person could offer.

The drive into Atlanta felt like a blur of highways, tall buildings and music playing low in the background. Her cousins talked here and there, trying to fill the space, but Amber mostly looked out the window. Every mile felt like she was leaving something behind that she never wanted to return to.

Eventually, xasso glanced at her.

"You hungry? We can stop and eat before we get you home."

Amber hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Yeah... I'm fine with that."

They pulled up to a small restaurant in Atlanta, not too fancy, not too loud. Just warm lights and the smell of comfort food drifting through the air. Amber followed them inside, staying slightly behind like she always did in new spaces.

She ordered something simple. Nothing too heavy. She picked at her food more than she ate, mostly listening, observing. She liked listening. It made her feel safer.

Grapes. She thought randomly. I wish they had grapes.

She didn't like strawberries. Too sour. Too unpredictable.

After eating, they headed to the new place she will be calling home for a while.

When they arrived, Amber paused at the front door for a moment. This was it. A new home. A new start. A place that was supposed to be safe.

Her cousins opened the door for her. Inside, everything was already waiting. Her room was very spacious. Her cousins did tell her she was lucky because she was going to get the biggest room in the house.

Boxes stacked neatly. All the packages she set there for her room decoration. A bed already set up. Soft lights strung along the wall. Gifts labeled with her name in neat handwriting.

Amber stood still for a moment, taking it all in.

"You didn't have to do all this..." she said quietly.

"We wanted to," her cousin replied.

Slowly, Amber walked into her room. It was simple but warm. A space that felt like it was trying its best to be gentle with her. She sat on the edge of the bed first, just breathing. Then she started unpacking.

Clothes folded carefully. Books stacked. Small decorations she had forgotten she even liked. Music posters. A little speaker already plugged in. She turned it on softly, letting something from Lana Del Rey drift through the room. That was her kind of comfort. Soft sadness. Calm chaos. Familiar feelings that didn't demand too much from her.

For the first time in a long time, Amber felt like she could slow down.

Not heal yet.

Just... breathe.

And that was enough for now.