Chapter 8 - The Reunion in the RainThe small town of Astoria, Oregon, was rainy and cold, a stark contrast to the sunny beaches of our family’s estate.
I found the shelter at the end of a quiet street. Through the glass window, I saw Lila. She was wearing a simple rain jacket and muddy boots, gently coaxing a frightened golden retriever out of a kennel. She looked tired, but there was a genuine, soft peace in her eyes that I had never seen before.
When the bell above the door chimed, she looked up. Her eyes went wide.
"Nora?" she whispered.
"Hi, Lila," I said, stepping inside.
She stood frozen for a second, then dropped her leash and ran to me, throwing her arms around my neck. She sobbed into my shoulder, repeating her apologies over and over.
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"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry... I should have helped you. I should have told the truth," she wept.
I held her tightly, the final remnants of my anger washing away in the cold Oregon rain. "I forgave you a long time ago, Lila. I just wanted my sister back."
