A Portrait of Emily by J.P. Bowie

family. It’s no wonder we all walk around ignoring each other. We’re all so damned— damaged .”
    “What are you saying?” His mother looked stricken. “Did something happen at military school?”
    “Nothing that didn’t happen to me long before I went there.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Ask Daddy dearest about that. He has all the answers, though I doubt whether he’d be too willing to let you in on this little dirty secret of his.” He rose from his seat by the window. “I’m going to bed.” He bent to kiss his mother goodnight.
    She held him for a moment and whispered, “Tell me he didn’t do those terrible things to you .”
    “No mother, he didn’t.”
    She wanted to feel relief in what he had just said, but that inflection left her wondering with dread just what it was her husband had done.
    On his way to his room, Anthony noticed a light shining under Emily’s door. For a moment he hesitated, then walked slowly over and tapped gently on the door.
    “Yes?” His sister’s voice sounded wary.
    “Emily, it’s Anthony.” He heard a key being turned then she opened the door for him.
    “Sorry,” she said. “Old habits die hard.”
    They stood looking at one another for a moment then, almost shyly, Anthony put his arms round his sister and hugged her.
    “Can we talk a little?”
    “Of course. Come on in.”
    She sounded surprised, Anthony noted, and for that he couldn’t blame her. He followed her into her room. She curled up on the bed and he sat down beside her.
    “I’m sorry, Emily.”
    “For what?”
    “For not being a better brother. For not telling you how much I missed you when I was away. For not telling you how happy I am for you now. That guy of yours seems really nice.”
    “Thank you.” Emily smiled at him and touched his hand. “I missed you too. Was it really terrible there?”
    “Pretty terrible. It could have been worse though. I did have a friend who helped me through some of the roughest times.” He paused then continued. “Without him, it would have seemed an even bigger waste of my life.”
    “Are you still in touch with your friend?”
    “No, he was killed in a plane crash a few months ago. His brother was giving him flying lessons. Something went wrong with the plane. They were both killed.”
    “Oh, Anthony…”
    “It wrecked me. I couldn’t function for weeks. I didn’t realize how much I had depended on him until he was gone. How much I loved him, Emily.”
    She looked at her brother, a sudden realization dawning on her.
    “His name was Mark,” he added softly.
    “Oh Anthony, I’m so sorry.” She put her arms around him and he rested his head on her shoulder.
    “It’s okay, Sis, I’m all cried out on that one.” She tightened her arms around him and he proved himself a liar as she felt his body tremble with his grief. “Jesus…” He pulled away from her, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. “I didn’t come here to talk about this. I wanted to talk about you and Jerry.”
    “I’m just glad you wanted to talk, period. It’s been too long. You don’t know how much this means to me, having you here, talking just like old times.”
    “So, how’s it going with the boyfriend?”
    “He’s terrific, Anthony. You’ll like having him for a brother-in-law.”
    “He asked me to join you guys for dinner and I felt like a jerk for saying no, but you probably wanted to be alone anyway.”
    “Tonight it might have been better if you’d come with us.”
    “How come?”
    “Oh…nothing really. Just a difference of opinion, but we smoothed it out.”
    “Lover’s spat?” Anthony smiled at her. “You’ll have lots of them.”
    “Jerry’s not the ‘spatting’ kind fortunately.”
    “Well, I better let you get to sleep.” Anthony slid off the bed and stood for a moment, smiling down as his sister.
    Emily took his hand. “Let’s do a lot more of this, please?”
    “You bet.” He kissed her then turned to go.