“ Amila, hey Amila”

“ Amila you there? ”

“ Eh, ah what, what did you say again. ” I turned around to see who called me and it was my friend Anisa. She had a concerned look on her face. Doing my best to ignore the chatter going around me as I was currently in the classroom, I did my best to focus on her.

“ Are you alright, you're kind of absently staring at the window for quite some time. ” Anisa repeated it again for me.

“ I am fine. Just thinking about stuff.”

“ Thinking stuff eh, you don't have to hide it from me. I know who you're thinking about. How's your brother? ”

“ Haha, you really do know me well. Yes I've been thinking about him. ”

“ So, spit it out, what is bothering you? ” Anisa asked me again.

“ You know since he was released from the hospital he's been very weird. ” I never like talking about my brother to others. They always misunderstood him but Anisa and I came from the same neighborhood so she's met him many times and I don't mind sharing with her.

She rolled her eyes at that statement. “ You know he's always been weird. Especially in the last few years since he almost never left the house, or that rare time when he just stares at something for a long time without saying anything. So what did the weirdo do now for even you to be bothered? “

SLAP

“ Hey don't call him weirdo. You know I don't like that. ” I hate people calling him that so in honor of my brother's dignity I give her a good slap on the shoulder.

“ Ahh that hurts. You know . ” Anisa cried out a bit. “ You deserve it. '' Stopping for a second to find the right words. I continue. '' The other day I caught him in our parents room in front of the big mirror checking himself out and calling himself handsome and how he'd get even more handsome soon. ”

“ And how is that weird. Lots of people do that. Stop dragging this and tell me. ”

“ I am getting to it. You know i mentioned before that he's been exercising. ” Anisa nodded to that. “ Well not long ago he started jogging up and down the mountain. And every time he comes home he's exhausted, bruised and battered. ”

“ Still not that weird but if we are talking about him then it is strange. Did the accident lose a few more screws in his head? ”

SLAP

“ OK,OK, I wont say bad stuff about him anymore. Stop hitting me. So that can't be all if you're concerned. What else did he do? ”

Nodding my head for it finally got to her head. I got closer to her to whisper this time. “ Ever since the accident you know I've been having these strange feelings. ”

Not quite understanding what I meant she tilted her head sideways with question marks all over it. “Feelings? ”

Seeing her not understanding I felt hurt a bit about it. ` Looks like she completely forgot about what I meant. `

“ You know, the mysterious feelings I get sometimes. ” Realization came to her about what I meant.

“ Oh you mean those mysterious feelings only you can feel emitting from your brother. ”

“ Sigh, you completely forgot about what I said. No it's not just brother, but he's the only one giving them constantly off. ”

“ Right, remind me again what this is about again. ” She asked with an impassioned face as if I was speaking lies.

“ If you're not interested then I won't share my troubles anymore with you. ” At that Anisa opened her eyes wide and corrected herself. “ Sorry, do continue. ”

Nodding to finally having her attention where I want. I started from the beginning as she probably thought I had lied before. “ Listen good, I won't repeat a third time. Ever since I was young I could feel what brother felt deep down. Whenever I was near him he would constantly send me his feelings of love and concern and when I cuddled with him those would spike and I'd be showered in them. ”

This time nodding, Anisa listened attentively and I continued. “ And when he was with somebody, or around other people he would radiate annoyance or nothing at all, but it was only when I was near that he gave off happy emotions. ”

I stopped for a second to check if I still had her attention. “ And here comes the weird part ever since the accident it was as if he closed his heart to me and even if I go for a hug or anything with physical contact all I get is this low feeling of confusion or hesitancy. ”

Giving her time to comprehend I waited with wide eyes for the response. “ So basically, your mystical love sensor is not working and you're not getting the love you used to get all this time. ”

“ NO, i mean yes but NO, that is not the point. The point is ever since then HE is no longer as absent minded. It's almost like he had been asleep all this time and now he's wide awake. And if that is true now i am confused if he ever loved me at all. ” Finally i poured my feelings out.

“ Oh, so that's what this is about. You're no longer getting your daily love juice and now you're confused about it. ”

` Finally comprehended my troubles and that's what came to her. Probably shouldn't have told her after all. `

As if sensing my doubt she continued. “ Look don't give me that doubtful look. If your mystical sensor doesn't work then go rely on the normal ones we all have and if you're still insecure about it then just go confront him. ”

` She's not wrong, I will have to talk to him about it for once. `

“ Ok, I will talk to him. Do you have any more advice? ” I asked just in case.

“ Not really unlike you weird siblings I am normal and will try my best to forget this conversation ever happened, but as a last advice do remember that today is the last day of school and a whole summer is in front of you. Try spending more time with this new brother of yours. I am sure that will help.” Giving me one last piece of advice she went away no longer bothering me.

The rest of the day was soon over and school ended. On my way to the bust station I thought if I really should spend all summer with my brother.

Once home I still had not decided what to do. Inside I saw only mum, dad probably still at work.

“ Hey mum, has brother done his exercises yet? ”

“ No, he still has not come back from his jogging. Why do you ask? ” Giving me a concerned look for a second, she continued. “ Are you ok? I have noticed you're not sticking to him as you did. Did you finally outgrow your brother? ”

“ I am ok mum, it's just, brother, he... seems different since his accident. ” Not giving her a chance to stop me. I go all the way. “ Did you notice how he's no longer absently starring sometimes.”

She nodded to that. “ I did, although he's still a closed off shell. It will take more than that to make him come out. I do hope it's soon. He's almost 30 and I do want grandkids. ”

“ Sorry mum, i have this feeling brother wont be marrying anytime soon. So you will have to wait more. ” Giving my apology instead of brother, but it was still the truth I feel.

“ Ha indeed, but at least he seems to be working on his appearance, so maybe not that long. Once he gets back into form I'm sure the ladies will just jump on him gladly. ” Still not stopping, she looked at me. “ What I am worried about is you. ”

“ Me? “ Why would she worry about me?

“ Yes you. The older you get the more I worry. You're just 16 but already so beautiful. I am afraid somebody will snatch you from me. ” I could only nod to that and avoid the topic. “ I'll go to my room. Once my brother is back, do tell me I have something I want to talk about with him.”

Agreeing for it, I left for my room. Once in it I left the bag on the floor and jumped on the bed backwards. Feeling my back hit the mattress and take the breath out of me. ` I liked to do this every now and then. It gives me a tiny feeling of elation. `

But that is gone shortly. Still thinking about what mum said I could only roll my thoughts.

` It's not the first time somebody has said something like that to me.` Many times in school I had been asked what I was using to have my skin be so pristine or what kind of makeup I was using and why my hair was so shiny black. In truth I had not used anything. Neither for skin or hair and when I said that nobody believed me and said I was lying. Only my brother was never bothered by it. Nor had he ever asked me about it. He always showered me with love no matter what I said or did. He was always there for me.

“ Aaaaaaa, WHY is he so cold to me now. “ I threw a tantrum on the bed with my arms and legs. ` Sorry my comfortable bed. `

“ That's it, no more brooding over this. The moment he comes back I will go ask him. ” Finding my courage in desperation I made the ultimate decision. The moment I heard mum yell I stood up and went downstairs.

Once I saw her I immediately asked where he was and got an answer. Going back outside the house I went behind it, into the garden. Behind the house was our garden. It was not that big but it was enough for 3 apple trees, 2 plum trees. ` There used to be a cherry here too but that had been cut down to make a garage in its place, or so I am told. It happened when I was little. `

In the middle of it all I saw my brother doing some exercises although it seems he found a way to increase the difficulty by adding weights on his back and arms and legs.

I didn't immediately call out to him but waited till he was finished with the current ones. That done I went to him. “ B,bb,brother can we talk for a bit. I,I want to ask you something. ” With some stuttering he noticed me and this time paid attention to me but i only noticed confusion on his face and no feelings at all came to me.

“ Sure. What is it? ” Now being in front of him and looking up into his face my resolve dwindled to almost nothing. ` How do i ask him to let me feel his love again? `

“ I, I wanted to a, ask you something? ”

“ Yes, you said that before. What is it? What do you want to ask me? ” This time I felt a bit of concern but it was almost immediately gone.

“ I, I wanted to ask you if, if. ”

“ Common spit it out. If it's nothing important I am sure it can wait for later. I have things to do. ”

This time he appeared to turn around and wanted to continue.

“ Wait I, I will say it this time.”

“ Brother do, do you hate me? ” No, that was not what I wanted to ask.

“ Hate, where did that come from. Why would you think that? ” Showing even more confusion now then he did before he continued. '' Common tell me what is troubling you if you don't say it clearly I can't help you. ”

Nodding, I find my courage and say it. “ Lately you have been cold to me and and you spent so little time with me so I thought you might hate me ”

“ I am still confused here, Yes i spent less time with you but how did that turn to hate.” Expressing his confusion this time he looked at me with that calculating look I sometimes catch him at. ` He never had that look before and I do not like it. `

Seeing my expression must have triggered something as it changed soon after. “ I don't think I did anything that would warrant making you hate me. If I did something unconsciously, do tell me. I will improve it. ”

` This time I wont say the wrong words. ` With that I took a deep breath and looked down to not see his face and said it.

“ I WANT to feel your love again. ” There finally I said it.

But there was only silence between us for a bit. Finally I looked up and a confused reply came.

“ Love, umm, I am confused at how to do that. What do you want me to do ? Should I buy you something or is there something else because I have looked at my mem, cough, I mean, I don't remember ever doing anything special. ”

“ NO, I just want to feel your love again. You did it before, like all the time. ” Again a confusing look appeared on his face.

“ I still don't get it. ” I could only show my disappointing face and give up.

` This is not the brother I knew. ` With that tears started to appear. I could not stop them and they just went down and down.

As soon as I started to cry I could feel a hand on my back and tapping me and I felt concern radiate from him, directed at me.. “ OK, OK, Calm down. Look I really have no idea what is going on, how about you tell me everything from the beginning. It's probably some misunderstanding anyway.”

“ Here let's sit down. There is no need to cry. OK ” I only nodded to that.

It took me a few minutes to calm down and I started from the beginning. I told him what I felt every time I was near him and what he sent my way. Once I was done I only saw a blank face with no emotion but soon it went away and I could feel it again. Love was radiating from him to me. It washed over me like a river and seeped into me like I was earth absorbing rain that had not come in a long time. It felt really great and I lost myself in it for a moment and then it stopped.

“ Was that what you wanted? ” Came the question.

“ Yes. Yes that's it. You really are my BROTHER. I really thought I would never get him back. ”

` I really am happy to have my brother back but why does he have a concerned look on his face. `

“ Why do you have a concerned face as if this is a bad thing. ” Should I have said nothing, I wonder.

“ NO, NO, no it's not a bad thing. In fact it's a good thing it's just that this complicates stuff. ” I could hear wonder and confusion in his voice.

“ Then what is the problem? ” I was really curious now.

“ Then I will tell you straight.” I waited a sec and he continued. “ I probably should not have to mention that it is not normal for one to be able to feel what you do. ” I nodded. “ And if what I am thinking is true then the reason as to why you can is because of me. You see, I, umm unconsciously did something to you when you were but a baby in mothers stomach. And after that I unconsciously bathed you in my emotions all the time so you developed the abilities of an empath if I am understanding this correctly. “

“ Ok, I am following you so far although but I do wonder what you did to me if you are the reason I can feel stuff? Does this mean you can do it too? ”

“ Yes I can do it too but with training you will surpass me in that field easily. ”

“ No, what is the problem is as you were constantly bathed in my emotion a certain Link has formed between us. ”

“ So, I don't mind, I love you brother, I don't care what it did. ”

` Yes I did it finally. I said it into his face and this time he is aware of my feelings unlike before where it all got swallowed up. `

“ No, you still don't understand. Look if there is a Link between us, that means the Link goes both ways. “

` Ah he means I can send him my feelings to.` Buoyed by that thought, I immediately tried to do it but nothing happened. I felt nothing happen.

“ Are you sure? I just tried it and nothing happened. ” He nodded to that.

“ The reason you can't do it now is because you don't know how to and you don't have the energy to do it. But that is still not the problem. Ha, how do i say this with a straight face?” With a troubling expression I saw him finally deciding something.

“ The problem is when you have the energy. You can do it unconsciously too if your desire is strong enough. As then it just had to follow that Link and come to me. But the problem is the kind of desire you have used before to make the connection and there is only one desire strong enough for a young girl in puberty like you that is strong enough to do it. What kind of desire do you think that is? ” Once done he stood up and left one more sentence for me. “ I have given you all the puzzle pieces, all you have to do is to figure it out now. ”

With that he went back doing his exercises and I was left alone to figure it out.

` I wonder what he meant by a young girl in puberty. Did he mean someone my age. So around 16 like me. So what are girls my age most interested in? ` Thinking about school and remembering what all my friends talked about the most, only one conclusion came to my mind and that was BOYS.

` But what do boys have to do with my situation? I don't have anyone I like. So it might not be who I like but what that like produces and I can only think of one thing. Attraction. `

` And attraction only leads to one thing. ` Immediately a realization struck me and shivers went down my spine. With wide eyes I looked at my brother as he stopped and turned to me as if he could sense something.

In that moment I knew he knew, I realised it and there was no going back. Once the thought appeared it just wouldn't leave me. The only thing I could do was scream in denial as I ran away.

“ NOOOOOOOOOO ”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

` Looks like she realised it. ` Stopping mid exercise I turned to her and watched her face turn pale as if all the blood left it. She stood up and screamed as she ran away.

“ Yea there is no going back once that thought popped up.”

“ Still to think my little sister turned out to be an empath. Oh well looks like I will have to train her to get it under control. “

` But what if that scenario happens. Hmm, oh well if it happens it happens. I kissed morality goodbye in the Void. `

With that I went back to upgrading my body.