not falling apart

a short story.

(not professionally edited lolll)

Annie’s fingers caressed the worn, blue walls of her old living room. She splayed her fingers out, placing her palm flat onto the eggshell paint.

Closing her eyes, her bottom lip trembled as one, two…three tears trickled down her cheeks and splattered onto the scratched-up wooden floors.

Those four walls of her beloved studio apartment were her only friends the last year. They supported her, while others abandoned. They listened, while others accused.

Annie fell to her knees, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes as her world finally came undone. A grief so deep, Annie’s body trembled under the weight of it. She clutched the fabric over her heart as her mouth opened to scream, but pain had wrapped its ruthless hands over her lungs and refused to let her breathe.

It made sense that after a year of everyone leaving her, she would be forced to leave. Leave her home, her job. Her four friends that stayed as loyal and as consistent as the rising and setting sun.

Annie found herself on the floor, looking up at the ceiling fan that wasn’t moving because she had already cut the power off. Another tear slipped out of her eye and wiggled down her cheekbone, settling into her ear.

How does one start over?

This zip code was where Annie grew up. Where she graduated high school. Where she got her first job and had her first kiss. Where she buried her childhood dog and got her first apartment and graduated college.

It ached to leave, but it hurt more to stay.

The best thing she could do for herself, because God knew it was her against the world, was to leave.

Picking herself up off the floor, Annie exhaled and kissed her fingertips, affectionately placing them on the wall. “Goodbye, 1414 September Boulevard. Thank you. For everything.” She whispered, blinking back the tears fighting relentlessly to get out. 

She paused at the front door and looked over her shoulder. It was harder to say goodbye to her four walls than the friends she had known for fifteen years, the same friends who shared every major life moment with her, and Annie didn’t know how to cut them out of her life as easily as they did to her.

That thought choked up more emotions that she wasn’t ready to feel, so Annie quickly threw open the front door and—slammed straight into somebody’s chest.

“Oh, my gosh!” A man yelled as she felt strong arms wrap around her waist and kept her body from slamming onto the ground. “Oh, my gosh, are you okay?”

Even though nothing hurt Annie in that dramatic and physical exchange, she burst into tears as wave after wave of grief washed over her.

“Oh, God. Oh, my gosh. Ma’am?”

Annie’s knees grew weak as her body trembled in agony and could no longer support her. The man’s hands gently lowered her to the ground. Annie curled into fetal position and wept loudly, grasping at her clothes to try and channel the pain of emptiness engulfing her.

“Can you come over here really quick? I literally just body slammed a woman on accident and I literally think I broke her. Of course it was an accident!”

Annie heard the man talking, but she didn’t care whatever he was saying. She stayed curled up, her temple resting against the frozen ground, staring at the man’s black Vans as tears silently dripped onto the concrete.

A blink later, Annie saw red lights flashing in her peripheral. A pair of black boots joined the black Vans. The black boots got closer and knelt next to her. She felt numb, like she had cried every last ounce of emotion she had left.

“Ma’am?” Black Boots asked. She smelled the latex on the gloved hand that gently touched her shoulder.

A sudden and urgent feeling shot her upright. She gasped, looking directly into a beautiful set of blue eyes. “What are you doing here?”

The man with the blue eyes smiled patiently, resting a forearm on his knelt leg. “My brother says he, ‘body slammed you’ and asked me to come take a look. You were curled up on the ground and weeping; he was very concerned.”

Annie covered her face, feeling embarrassment and shame flood to her cheeks, burning her palms. “Oh, my gosh.” She whispered, trying not to cry again.

“Are you okay?” The paramedic asked quietly.

She nodded furiously, removing her hands from her face and looked between the paramedic and his brother. “I’m so, sorry. You caught me at a horrible—an absolutely awful—time in my life and I promise I am in need of zero medical attention.”

“Are you sure?” His eyes searched hers and she felt immediate peace looking into his eyes. It felt wonderful, almost like a hopeful dream, to feel calm again.

She exhaled softly, wishing the world would swallow her whole. “I promise.” The paramedic stood and offered her his hand. She took it and he effortlessly pulled her to her feet. “Thank you.” She tucked her hands into her jean pockets awkwardly. Annie turned to the man she ran in to, but paused in surprise. She narrowed her eyes, looking between the blonde, blue-eyed brother and the Asian, brown-eyed brother.

They both started laughing in amusement and Annie felt her cheeks grow warm again.

“We’re both adopted.” The Asian brother said, answering the question in her eyes. “I’m Japanese, my name is Minato. That’s Jackson, he’s American. That’s why we look so different.”

“Ah, yes. I see.” Annie laughed lightly, twisting her fingers absentmindedly. “W-well. I’ll just be on my way, I suppose. Thank you..Jackson,” She nodded to him. “And thank you, um…?” She forgot his unique name already.

“Minato.” He chuckled, revealing a beautiful dimple in his cheek.

“Minato.” Annie nodded, pulling her jacket closer against her body, and stepped towards the parking lot. She paused and turned around, a question weighing on her shoulders. “What were you doing here anyways, Minato?”

He looked up from his cell phone, his thumbs hovering over the screen mid-text. “I think I’m at the wrong place, actually. I was looking for 1441.”

Jackson laughed and smacked his brother playfully on the shoulder. “This is apartment 1414 you dyslexic nerd.”

He laughed with his brother and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, obviously I see that.”

“Oh.” Annie mumbled to herself, unsure what answer she was expecting, but feeling defeated like that wasn’t the right answer. Maybe she wanted him to rescue or something. With a stiff shake of her head to erase the wild notion, she turned around to continue the walk to her blue Santa Fe, loaded with whatever she could keep from her apartment.

“Hey, wait!”Annie’s chin turned over her shoulder. Minato took a step towards her and her heart lodged itself in her throat. “I didn’t get your name.” He smiled, tucking his hands into his hoodie pocket. A puff of vapor left his mouth, disappearing in the chilly air.

“Annie.” She whispered, unsure why her voice was barely audible.

“Well, Annie,” He smiled and Annie forgot how to breathe. “Can I buy you a coffee or something? I feel really bad.” He chuckled nervously again, his cheeks and the tip of his nose rosy red.

Annie blinked. “What about 1441?”

“I just need to go feed their cats. I’ll do that first. That is, of course, if I can find apartment 1441!” Minato’s brown eyes danced with amusement as a wonderful laugh came from his mouth.

Jackson approached them and wrapped his arm around his brother’s neck. “Gotta get back to work, pal. See you later! And Annie,” He paused as his arm was next to hers walking towards the ambulance. She looked up into his eyes. “Whatever it is that’s going on, I hope you find peace.” He smiled kindly as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

She looked at the ground, trying to shove them back so she wouldn’t embarrass herself again. Jackson continued his long strides to his vehicle.

“Are you okay? For real?” Minato inquired.

Sadness bubbled to the surface and overflowed. She looked up into the overcast sky, blinking furiously to try and control the fresh round of emotions. “Yeah, well, no. But, that’s life I guess.” She choked.

“Do you need a hug?”

Annie repeated his question in her mind a hundred times as she slowly looked from the moody clouds to the guy standing arms distance away. Gravity pulled the tears down onto the crunchy, brown grass.

Her lips trembled against her will. “I might fall apart.” She whispered, one breath away from bursting at the seams.

The corner of Minato’s mouth curled up into a soft, tender smile. “I’m a soft place to land.”

Annie was already crying as Minato took a step forward. “I’m afraid I might break.” She breathed as he slowly wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her against his firm chest.

“Then break.”

Closing her eyes, Annie let herself go there; into the deep, dark places where her insecurities and failures laid rest. Where the grief clung so tight it suffocated her. Where anxiety and depression lingered, ready to strike and take her down.

Annie’s body trembled again, releasing all her anguish onto the stranger boy who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Her wails became cries, and eventually her cries became sobs. Annie’s head pounded behind her eyes.

“Things must be really rough, huh?” Minato whispered into her ear, sending goosebumps down her neck.

“You have no idea.” Annie responded, though she barely heard herself. Her voice must be gone after all the strain her vocal chords went through.

Minato pulled away, leaving Annie to use whatever strength she had left to keep herself vertical. “I mean, is there anything I can do?”

Annie slowly shook her head, tucking her hands into the front pockets of her torn jeans. She exhaled sharply, digging the toe of her shoe into a fallen leaf. It crackled under the pressure. “How about that coffee you suggested?” She shrugged her shoulders, hope twinkling in her eyes.

That wonderful smile Annie grew to love spread across Minato’s face. “Yes! Do you want me to take you, or do you want to follow?”

Annie bit her lip and looked over her shoulder at her stuffed SUV, waiting to escort her to her newest destination. Wherever that was. She turned back to Minato. “Can I ride with you?”

“Madam, it would be my greatest honor.” Minato offered his right arm, tucking his left hand behind his back. Annie smiled, her heart beating wildly as she slid her left arm in to his. “Um, let’s go feed those cats first.” He laughed.

    ***

Honey Coffee Co.

Of all the coffee shops in the area, Minato picked the one that was very sentimental to her. This was where she, Charlie and his (at the time) wife Adrianna, Jake, Kat, and Julia studied every second of every day during senior year finals, in both high school and college.

Minato held the door open for her and she sucked her breath in as her feet crossed the threshold onto the 1800’s wood flooring. She did a self-conscious sweep, making sure they weren’t—

Annie froze, anxiety pounding at her heart with a baseball bat. Her stomach churned with nausea as three familiar sets of eyes fell on her.

“Brr!” Minato said, rubbing his hands together. “Oh, hey, those girls are looking at you, are they your friends? Do you want to go say hi?” She turned to Minato, desperation pleading in her eyes, begging him to leave. He frowned. “Are you okay?” His face fell in realization before Annie had a chance to answer his question. He lowered his voice. “Are they the reason you’re crying so much?”

Annie’s lip quivered and her lungs squeezed all the oxygen from her body. She took a step forward to walk past Minato and head outside, but he tenderly grabbed her arm, bringing her to a stop beside him. She looked up at him from over his shoulder. Without saying anything, he lead her towards Adrianna, Kat, and Julia.

“No!” Annie gasped, her heart pounding anxiously inside her chest.

“Alright look,” Minato began, pointing his finger at each girl in turn. “I have absolutely no idea what's happened, and I have no idea who any of you are, but I just spent 45 minutes watching Annie cry on the concrete ground.” Cheeks burning red, Annie looked at the ground to avoid looking at any of the girls. “All I’m saying is: screw y’all for hurting somebody that bad. You don’t deserve to be her friend. You don’t deserve to be anybody’s friend.” He passionately grabbed Annie’s hand. “She is done crying over y’all. She doesn’t need people like you.”

He turned around and Adrianna called out, “We don’t associate ourselves with her anymore.”

It was the way Adrianna said it that brought more tears to Annie’s eyes. “Can we please go?” Annie cried, her stomach acid gurgling like a volcano about to erupt.

Minato froze and Annie felt his grip on her hand tighten. Nausea crept up her esophagus and threatened to come out. Minato turned around slowly. He very carefully, and very slowly, articulated each word. “I’ve never seen a guilty person cry the way Annie did.”

Adrianna glared into Minato’s eyes. “Come on, Adi.” Kat snapped. “She’s not worth it.”

The knife in Annie’s heart twisted more. She forced herself free from Minato’s hand and rushed outside, the cold air taking her breath away. The anxiety coursing through her bloodstream released its iron hold when she doubled over and vomited in an outside trashcan.

“She’s not worth it.”

Annie wanted to scream, to punch something, to do anything to make the hurt go away. She sat on the sidewalk, leaned back against the brick wall. She pulled her knees up and tucked her head between her legs. Fifteen years of friendship and she’s ‘not worth it.’

Charlie was the most insensitive, narcissistic person Annie knew. She hoped he and his fiancé were living their best lives in Greece while the results of his careless, selfish actions were burning friendships and ruining lives.

“Let’s go.” Minato said.

Annie looked up in confusion. “What?”

“I’m taking you somewhere.”

She blinked in disbelief. “What about—“ She gestured towards the coffee shop.

“I don’t care what they said. Now, please,” Minato reached his hand down to her. “respectfully, come with me.”

Annie searched Minato’s sincere brown eyes, feeling anxiety release its cruel grasp one finger at a time. She slid her hand into his and he pulled her to her feet. They walked to his car and Minato held the door open for her. Annie buckled her seatbelt and watched him walk around to the driver’s side.

The drive was silent, except for the screaming in Annie’s brain telling her to talk to Minato and explain. Chewing on her thumbnail anxiously, Annie stared out the window trying to build up the courage to say something. Anything.

“Here we are.” She heard Minato say, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She blinked and leaned forward, her chest strap pulling tight against her collarbone, to get a better look out the front window. “A house?” Annie’s curiosity piqued as she unbuckled and stepped out. “Um, actually, more like a castle?” The historic-looking farmhouse seemed to stand a thousand feet high and a thousand feet wide, with at least a thousand rolling acres surrounding them. She took wide steps, turning herself around to get a full visual of her location.

A long driveway with tall, grand, oak trees that stretched out over the road as if opening their branches to welcome all who arrived. Acres and acres of grass extended to the horizon and Annie even spotted a few horses grazing far beyond.

Minato was laughing. “Did you not see any of this as we were, you know, driving up?”

Annie joined in his laughter. “No. Clearly I was in my head. But wow! Where are we?” She followed Minato up the driveway to the front door.

“My home.”

Annie swore her mouth fell to the ground as Minato reached for the doorknob on the beautiful, dark, wooden doors and swung them open. He extended his right arm out, gesturing her to walk in first.

As soon as Annie stepped inside, she was immediately greeted with the most heavenly smell of something baking in the kitchen. The house was filled with chatter and laughter and the occasional stomping of feet, as if people were running around up the stairs.

Annie followed Minato to the left, where the arched entryway opened up into the most magnificent kitchen and dining room Annie had ever seen. A large oak table stood before her, with, Annie could swear, fifty chairs around it. She craned her neck to see the ceiling, which was warm and yellow, but not like a weird yellow; it was European inspired. Ivy leaves hung in various places around the walls.

The aroma that greeted Annie’s nose when she walked in was even stronger now, giving her body a warm, peaceful, and nostalgic feeling. She paused, noticing that several women were staring at her. She pulled the hem of her jacket down, feeling very awkward.

“Mamma,” Minato said, putting his hand on the small of Annie’s back and giving her a slight push forward. Her skin tingled under his touch. He started speaking in Italian, very slowly, as if he were practicing. Annie turned to him, her eyebrows raised and her mouth opened.

Who was this guy?

A beautiful woman, Annie swore was an angel, approached them with a smile on her face. She kissed Minato on the cheek and responded to him in Italian, much smoother than his, then turned to Annie. Her hair was so thick and black, with elegant waves that draped over her shoulders. Her eyes were kindness itself and the wrinkles around them expressed a long and wonderful life. “Hello, ciao. I am Francesca, welcome to my home.”

Annie got goosebumps listening to her exquisite Italian accent. “I'm Annie, ma’am.” She didn’t know why, but she felt the need to curtsy or something. There was most definitely an aura or an angelic light of some kind illuminating her body. Annie was even more convinced she was speaking to a piece of Heaven.

Francesca smiled and gestured behind her. “My daughters,” Four girls approached, all smiling kindly at Annie. “Sakura, Eleanor, Marie, and Isabelle.”

Annie noticed each one looked different. In fact, none of them even looked like Francesca. Sakura was Asian, just like Minato. Eleanor and Marie looked similar, but not like sisters. They both had dirty blonde hair and pretty, round eyes. Isabelle had thick, curly, black hair and looked the most like Francesca, but she didn’t look Italian in the slightest.

“Hi.” Annie’s voice cracked. And…why am I so nervous?

“Minato, go upstairs and recruit your brother, whoever is upstairs at the moment, to go to the grocery store with you. Mr. and Mrs. McNabb just RSVP’d late, as always, and now we will need sugar-free coffee creamer.”

Annie blinked in shock. “There’s more of them?” Her cheeks grew warm as she realized she said that out loud. She didn’t mean it in a judgmental way, she was just so surprised that every time she turned a corner, Minato had more siblings.

The laughter that came from everyone wasn’t demeaning at all; It was kind and endearing and it made her embarrassment wash away.

“Sí, amore mio.” Francesca wrapped an arm around Annie’s shoulders as she gently turned her attention to a large picture on the brick wall behind her. “I have ten beautiful children from across the world and five wonderful bonus ones.”

Annie stepped forward and observed the picture with two dozen faces smiling at her. All unique and different, but somehow embodying family all the same. She saw a tall, blond boy and put her finger to his face, turning around to address Minato. “Is this your brother from earlier?”

But Minato had already disappeared. To find his brother, most likely.

“Oh, Jackson?” Isabelle’s eyebrow raised curiously. “You met him earlier? As in, were you injured in some way?”

Annie opened her mouth to respond, but she realized the story about how she met Jackson and Minato was a bit unhinged. She chuckled nervously, trying to navigate through the situation without sounding like a psycho. “Um…” Her chuckle turned into a burst of laughter as she replayed the ridiculous scene of running into Minato over and over in her mind.

She covered her mouth, trying to stifle her fit of laughter. Little tears squeezed out of the corner of her eyes. “Oh, man. I’m sorry.” She squeezed out between laughs. “I’ve just had the worst day, the worst year, and I’ve been struggling for a long time and today…” Her tears shifted from amusement to grief. It hit hard, taking her breath away as her heart shattered again.

Someone put their arm around Annie, and whoever it was smelled like flowers. Annie was gently escorted to a soft couch, where she decided to get it all out.

Today was about leaving the past behind her. So, pouring her heart out to strangers felt like a good choice, potentially her only choice, to wipe the slate and start over.

“I’m sorry.” She sniffed, wiping her nose with her sleeve. “My whole world fell apart a year ago when my best friend’s husband told me he wished he married me and asked if we could run away together.”

Francesca whispered something in Italian and softly pressed her fingertips to her lips in shock.

“Obviously I told him no and that even if he divorced her I would still never, ever, be with him. He made me swear not to tell her and said he would. Well, two months later, she found out. It wasn’t me, but I don’t actually know who told her. Everything went out of control. Everyone cut me out, and the husband didn’t apologize to me at all. I don’t think he even told his wife that I had nothing to do with it.”

“Then a few months in to it all, I was suffering from depression because my life was a living hell and I was so lonely. I switched jobs and a co-worker and I started hitting it off. I wasn’t in a good place to try and make friends because I was suffering mentally and I knew I couldn’t pour very much into a friendship, but I tried my best. I told her I was working through some things and that I might be emotionally unavailable sometimes. She assured me it was okay.”

Annie exhaled softly as her lips trembled. “Well,” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “Well, about six weeks into the friendship, we had a huge falling out. She misunderstood something I said. She thought it was a comment about her, but really it was a wound from my friends before, and when I tried explaining what I really meant, she accused me of taking advantage of her. I was begging her to forgive me and to see my side because I couldn’t stand to think that another person would think I was horrible.”

Tears dripped onto her thighs, bleeding into the fabric of her jeans. Annie clenched her fists and allowed the hurt to come. Her voice was squeaky and high pitched. “I know I shouldn’t care what people think about me, but I do. Especially when something sensitive like a marriage was on the line and now everyone is acting like I voluntarily, single-handedly sabotaged it.”

Someone was rubbing Annie’s back tenderly.

Annie wiped her nose with her sleeve again and cleared her throat. “Anyways, she told me I wasn’t being a good friend anyways and it was better I step out of her life altogether. She sent me a message with ‘constructive criticism’ about how to be a better friend and listed all the areas where I failed her personally. I didn’t feel like her examples were justified, though. Like, one time she offered to pay for my drinks and when we went out again I offered to pay, but she said no. In her text, she told me she was tired of paying for all my stuff. But…I offered. What was I supposed to do? Shove myself between her and the register?” Annie paused to inhale deeply, feeling the oxygen spread to her lungs and open her shoulders to relax the anxiety in her veins. She exhaled with gentle control and then proceeded.

“She kept score of all these wrongdoings and it made me feel even more misunderstood. The hardest part—” Annie choked on the sensations rising from within her soul. Someone handed her a box of Kleenex. “Oh gosh, thank you.” She pulled a tissue out, wiped her eyes and blew her nose, which helped reset her emotional momentum. She couldn’t look at anyone, but she heard sniffling around the room.

“The hardest part was that I had no idea she felt that way about me. I am not a taker, I’m a giver. I’m not a breaker, I’m a healer. So when Charlie—oh, um, that’s the husbands name. When Charlie screwed up and everybody blamed me, I was shocked and hurt that they thought I would—could—do that. And then this friend who sent me a novel-length text with friendship advice and it felt like our whole relationship was build on misunderstanding and instead of talking about it, she put everything into a box and dropped it off at my feet, dusting off her hands like she did a good job.” Annie choked on her sobs again and grabbed another tissue. “I’m so sorry.” She wept softly, then composed herself and took a deep breath.

“Charlie lives in Greece with his new fiancé after three months of dating. All my friends are working at our dream job, which I quit because I didn’t want to walk on eggshells around them. And then my newer friend announced she was pregnant with her first child and they’re due in a few months. So, while my life fell apart and I was forcing myself to get out of bed on a daily basis and brush my teeth and eat while carrying the weight of shame and guilt, they were all living their best lives. I’ve been surviving while they were all thriving. I couldn’t unfriend them on social media because that would say something I wasn’t ready to say.”

“Which brings us to today.” Annie’s heart squeezed in agony as she forced herself to finish the story. “Um,” She wiped her eyes with a third Kleenex. “I quit my job and decided to move. I was thinking about going to my parents, they retired in Chattanooga. I was leaving my apartment for the last time when,” Annie started laughing, which was a nice break from the sadness and anger she’d been working through. “Minato showed up. He was at the wrong apartment and I was in a hurry to get out, so I ran out the front door like a mad woman and I ran right into him!”

Everyone joined in her laughter, a chorus of refreshing estrogen that Annie missed so much from her friend group. “He had no idea that I was saying goodbye to a life and city I loved so much because it hurt too much to stay. I wasn’t expecting to run into something on my way out, and it startled me so I burst into tears and laid on the ground to cry. Minato called his brother, Jackson, to come and talk to me because he thought I was hurt from our collision.”

“Oh, my stars.” Francesca whispered and the girls shared a laugh.

“I wasn’t physically broken, just emotionally. Minato felt really bad and asked me to get coffee, so I went with him and who should we run in to but my friend group?” A collective gasp filled the room. “Yes, that’s exactly what I thought too. I didn’t want to be there and they obviously didn’t want me there, but Minato marched right up to them and said, ‘screw you.’”

Francesca smiled, but put her fingers to her forehead like Minato was a headache. His sisters hollered and cheered.

“Let’s freaking gooo.” Sakura and Marie cheered simultaneously.

“I would expect nothing less than that from one of your sons, Francesca.” Isabelle said softly, looking at Francesca with adoration and squeezing her hand affectionately.

“And then Minato brought you here?” Eleanor asked, wiping her eyes with a Kleenex. Annie noticed that Eleanor had a large pile of crumbled tissues next to her, and that sight humbled her little. She felt more heard by a group of family members that didn’t know her at all, than her ‘friends’ of fifteen years.

“I guess he thought I would feel better here? I’m not entirely sure. I mean, well, it worked,” Annie chuckled quietly, dabbing her eyes. “but I’m not sure what was going through his head.”

Isabelle smiled softly and slid her hand into Annie’s, as if she were a sister. She noticed a beautiful, sparkling ring on her finger. “Take it from somebody who was in a similar position as you: Francesca Holmes has some pretty extraordinary children. I’m not surprised Minato brought you here.” Isabelle’s dazzling brown eyes moistened and she swallowed the emotional lump building in her throat. “Jackson brought me here, too, as a refuge. This house, this family, cures broken hearts.”

There was not a dry eye in the room. And, of course, that was the moment that several boys walked in together, stopping mid-conversation at the sight of Kleenex, women, and tears. Annie saw Minato among them and she offered him a tender smile of gratitude. He returned it with an understanding nod. As if he had seen this happen before.

Francesca stood, wiping her eyes daintily with the hem of her linen pinafore, then let it fall back into place. “Well,” she smoothed her hands over her abdomen. “The party starts in one hour and we need to get the last minute things assembled. Annie, please stay and enjoy yourself. I won’t have you leave and I won’t have you work either.”

“Stay? Oh, I couldn’t—“

Isabelle patted Annie’s thigh, a signal to stop talking. Isabelle laughed as she said, “Hang out with me because she won’t let me do any work either.”

With a twinkle in her eye, Francesca leaned over and placed a kiss on the top of Isabelle’s curly black hair. “That’s because the party is for you, darling. Take Annie on a walk. Show her the horses or something.” She smiled, muttering something in Italian as she turned towards the kitchen with a twirl of her skirt.

All the sisters followed Francesca to the kitchen. Eleanor paused mid-step, then turned on her heels back to the living room to scoop up her pile of dirty tissues on the side table. She offered a shy shrug when Annie and Isabelle giggled.

Minato and, Annie assumed, his brothers, headed out the front door with a dozen white balloons floating on strings. “Annie.” She turned to see Isabelle smiling and waiting for her by the back door.

The girls walked out together, greeted by an icy blast of wind. Annie shuddered and folded her jacket over itself across her chest. “So,” she said through chattered teeth. “What are they celebrating you for? Is it your birthday?”

She was subconsciously following Isabelle, who was walking towards a large picnic table. Annie looked around, tucking her stray blonde flyaway hairs behind her ear. The backyard was more like a state park than a yard, with gorgeous Tennessee hills and trees just beyond those. She could hear the occasional neigh of horses and found just a trek down the way was a beautiful wood barn.

Reaching the picnic table, the girls pulled chairs away from the table and sat down. Isabelle’s nose was pink from the Jack Frost nipping at it. “It’s not my birthday, no.” Her smile truly went from ear to ear as she held her left hand out. “I’m getting married!” Isabelle gasped and squealed as if she couldn’t believe it herself.

“Congratulations!” Annie got a better look at the beautiful ring she caught a glimpse of inside. She whistled in awe, daintily bringing Isabelle’s hand closer for a more thorough observation. Silver metal, adorned by a gorgeous soft emerald diamond, surrounded by a halo of little diamonds. “Oh, wow. It’s so beautiful!”

Isabelle brought her hand towards her face, adoration oozing out of her eyes. “Thank you. I love it so much. We got engaged about a month ago and we are having an engagement party today.”

Frowning, Annie said, “I hope I’m not intruding…”

Isabelle waved her hands frantically, dismissing the thought. “No, no, no! Not at all. It’s an honor to have you celebrate with us.” She placed her hand on top of Annie’s, lips frowning slightly. “And I’m so sorry for everything you’ve walked through.”

Annie looked at her shoes as Isabelle kept talking. “Suffering in silence is the hardest battle and I don’t know how to put into words how proud I am of you. You got up everyday, through the depression and through the grief. Through the gossip, the insecurities, and the fear. You kept showing up. You put one foot in front of the other and you kept going. Don’t doubt for a second that you’re taking the easy way out by leaving.” Annie didn’t think she had any tears left, and yet there they were, reconnecting with her shoes down on the ground.

“It was so hard.” Annie sniffled, her voice soft and rising with hurt.

“I know it was. And now you can take a deep breath and take a step forward, wherever the wind takes you.”

Annie chuckled, wiping the corners of her eyes with her index finger. “Somehow the wind brought me here and I’m still trying to wrap my brain around how.”

Isabelle leaned back in her chair and smiled. She said, “I find it best not to question how things unfold. It offers a sense of magic and romance.”

“More like Minato was at the wrong place at the wrong time.” Annie’s skepticism was kicking in a little, making her feel more black and white to Isabelle’s rose-colored glasses.

“Jackson was definitely at the wrong place at the right time.” Isabelle was laughing, diving in to her brain and getting lost in a sea of memories. Annie wished she could jump in and join her, because Isabelle was smiling and blushing as she recalled precious moments in her life. “What was in your past that you were leaving behind you?” Annie inquired.

Isabelle sighed slowly. “At first, a terrible father. And then, a terrible boyfriend. You recall Jackson is a paramedic?” Annie nodded in confirmation. “Well, I was in a car accident one night and Jackson was the first responder. His hands literally pulled me out of the wreck I was in. In more ways than one.”

Chills ran down Annie’s spine. “Whoa.”

“I know. It’s an amazing story. Maybe I’ll write a book about it one day.” Her brown eyes danced with life when she talked about Jackson and it Annie’s heart burst with newfound inspiration from her.

Maybe there was hope for her moving forward.

Maybe her life wasn’t falling apart, but falling into place.

Minato was at the wrong place, the completely wrong apartment, at the wrong—er, right?—time as her world was falling apart. She had no idea why, but here she was.

She was not falling apart, she was becoming whole.

“Could you excuse me for one second?” Annie asked, jumping to her feet. Isabelle nodded encouragingly as Annie sprinted towards the beautiful farmhouse. Lungs wheezing from the frigid air, she threw the door open and paused, searching for Minato.

Not seeing him, she walked through an arched entryway and hoped that lead to the front door. Her guess paid off when she laid eyes on the beautifully crafted wooden doors. She saw Minato standing outside with a couple through the glass on the upper part of the doors.

Annie walked out and approached him, her heart pounding inside of her chest as excitement launched her forward.

Minato saw Annie out of his peripheral and turned to face her. “Annie! Hi.” His smile made Annie’s knees feel wobbly and her cheeks turn pink.

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure, yes of course. Excuse us.” He said to the couple, and they walked towards the house while Annie and Minato remained. “What’s up?” He tucked his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.

“I know you didn’t know me at all. You saw this unhinged girl bawling her eyes out on the ground and instead of turning away, you—“ Annie choked on her words. Minato’s hand reached out and touched her arm, offering emotional support.

Annie’s heart just about burst at his tenderness. With fresh tears, hopefully for the last time, she looked directly into his eyes. “You helped. You listened. You defended. You owed me nothing, but you gave me everything. And I just want you to know how much your kindness meant. Even though the grief, bitterness, anger, and depression might still be a part of my life for a while, you empowered me in the midst of it all and helped me find hope. Because of your very simple act of kindness, I have faith that I will laugh again and breathe again.” Annie blinked furiously, trying to stop the dang tears that just. kept. coming. “So, thank you. For everything.” She whispered the last few words because her voice had been shoved down by the rising joy in her throat.

The side of Minato’s mouth was tipped up in a sideways smile. “And thank you.”

Annie paused, replaying the last several hours in her brain to figure out why Minato would be thanking her. She drew up zero conclusions. “Um…why?”

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her neck, drawing her close against his body. He smelled so good, like homemade bread and leather. “For trusting me.” Annie smiled, putting her arms around his torso. “You got into a strangers car and came to a strangers house. Your mother would be tsk tsk’ing you all the way from…wherever she lives.”

Annie threw her head back and laughed. A deep, rich, laugh from her soul that felt so refreshing and exhilarating. “You’re right, I did exactly what my parents told me not to do my entire adolescent life.” She placed her chin down on Minato’s chest and looked up into his eyes.

“You’re going to be okay, Annie.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“No matter how long that takes. You’re strong. And now you’ve got the support of at least ten people. Six of us have broken into a guys apartment before, so if anybody gives you hell,” Minato took a step back and popped his knuckles like he was ready to fight. “We’ll give ‘em hell.”

“I’m sorry,” Annie blinked. “You broke into a guys apartment?”

Minato shrugged his shoulders. “He had it coming.”

“Care to explain?” Annie laughed, still very confused, and concerned, but equally intrigued.

Minato put his arm around Annie’s shoulders and took a step towards the front door. “Tell you what, I’ll unpack my life in doses so I don’t scare you away.”

“Ooh,” Annie giggled, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She put her arm around Minato’s shoulders, like they were pals. “That sounds like you plan on spending more time with me.”

“Only if the feeling is mutual.”

Annie craned her neck to look into Minato’s warm, chocolatey eyes. “Very mutual.” She reached her hand up and squeezed his hand hanging off of her shoulder.

He smiled and returned her squeeze. “Well, I know you’re still working through a lot, but I hope starting at this very moment you feel your life falling into place. ‘The sun will come out tomorrow’, or whatever the musical Annie-girl sings.”

Annie smiled from ear to ear as her eyes watered, officially for the last time, because what Minato said was a confirmation in her heart that she was going to be okay.