Long Time Running - By Hannah Foster Page 0,36

brought a small smile to her face and she nodded as she looked up. "I'm telling you, I can't wait to be rid of this tumor - it's turning me into a sobbing mess."

Sarah sat on the end of the bed and shook her head. "You were always a softie," she teased, "you just liked to pretend you weren't." Glancing down at the locket, she exhaled slowly. "Reminiscing?"

"Yeah. I miss him Sarah. He's going to be eight next week."

Sarah dropped her gaze. "I know. Do you....do you regret giving him up?"

"No," she admitted. "There were no other options."

"That's not true," she protested. "You....I know you felt like you couldn't care for him them but you got better."

She scoffed. "Not that much better. Look at me Sar," she held up her shaking hands. "I can't even....talk about him nearly undoes me. Never mind everything else."

Sarah took her sister's hands in her own and kissed each one. "You know I love you, right?"

Cocking her head, she looked curiously at her sister. "Yes," she reassured her. Reaching for the glass on the nightstand, she gulped down the water before speaking again. "It...it occurs to me that I never said I'm sorry. And I am - I want you to know that."

Surprised, Sarah moved closer to her. "Why would need to say you're sorry?"

"For...for everything I put you through. You were by my side when I found out about...when I moved to Geneva. And you rode to my rescue again after the....after. And then I pretty much put Jack in your arms and asked you to take care of everything and you did. Sarah you took care of him and me and then I stopped returning your calls and your letters. That was cruel and selfish of me and I have no real excuse for it other than I thought it would be easier for me if I didn't have anything from..." her voice trailed off.

"From your past?" She offered.

Nathalie nodded. "You are my sister and I love you. And if I have taken advantage of you or hurt you then I am so very sorry because it was never my intention to do that."

Overcome, Sarah wrapped her arms around her sister and hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek. "I love you Natty" she told her. "I always will."

The two women stayed locked in their embrace for several minutes. For so long it had been just the two of them. Their parents were killed in a car accident when Nathalie was 14 and Sarah 17. They were taken in by their aunt but they turned only to each other in hard times. When Sarah had left for university, Nathalie transferred schools and followed her to South Bend, Indiana so she wouldn't have to be separated. It was only once Sarah was accepted at NYU for law and Nathalie at Northwestern for Medicine that they lived apart. But the distance did little to diminish their closeness and anyone wanting to be a part of their lives had to accept their sister too.

They wiped each other's tears as they let go, both laughing at the old habits that had returned so easily.

"Do you...do you know where you're going to go after your surgery?" Sarah asked, nervously.

Nathalie shrugged. "I'm not sure" she admitted honestly. "I...I miss Mylea and the hospital but I miss some things here too. And I...I think I need to make things right with Eric before I go anywhere."

She swallowed nervously. "How do you propose doing that?"

"I have to tell him everything," she said simply. "He deserves to know it all."

"Everything?" she asked in surprise.

Nathalie nodded. "I owe him that. He needs...he needs to know why I left. And...he needs to know why I gave up Jack," she whispered.

"Natty - are you....are you thinking of telling him all the details?"

Pulling on her fingers she nodded again. "Sarah, I'm under no illusions that he can ever forgive me. I know...I spoke to Andrew last night and I understand I guess in a way I hadn't before the depth of hurt I cause him. So I know he won't be able to forgive me but maybe if he knows all of it, maybe he'll understand it a little better and it won't hurt as much."

"For him or for you?" she questioned.

"Both I guess."

"You have never spoken about that night," she reminded her.

Nathalie shook her head. "And honestly I don't know that I can without losing it entirely. Keith....Keith wrote a story about the residual effects on