Finding London; Part 1: Navy Blue Honda; Chapter 1

                    Katherine awoke with a scream, the same on she awoke to every night. Sweat covered her face, arms, and legs. Her panting was heavy, and her body shook with terror. Nightmares haunted her, with real life memories full of her pathetic childhood. Every time she woke up she remembered, she remembered all the things she threw away, all the relationships she no longer had, and worst of all, she would remember London. The best thing in her life, her loving, caring, beautiful sister. She would smile, think about calling her, thinking how they hadn't spoken in so long. But, then she would remember that London was dead. 

*************************************************15 years earlier********************************************

             You could practically taste Spring in the air, as Katherine Marshall skipped down the steps. The anticipation of London's appearance was taking over Katherine's usual gloominess. Especially today, because, this was (in Katherine's case) the worst day of the year. April 23rd, Katherine's birthday, what Dean and Diane called 'the worst day of their existence'. This year she turned fifteen, but the only birthday that would excite Katherine would be her 18th, when she could finally leave home. When she could escape the constant ridicule of Dean and Diane. 

        In the meantime, Katherine danced down the staircase, and right outside to her suburban home's porch. There, she waited for London to arrive from Miami Dade, London was in her junior year of college and came home on special occasions. Katherine's heart leaped in her chest, the thought that her older sister thought her fifteenth birthday was a 'special occasion'. When London had called saying she would be coming home, Dean and Diane were flustered. They thought she had big news, they'd both completely forgotten it was Katherine's birthday, therefore, they made their own theories for why she was coming. Katherine looked down at her watch, she knew that London had to arrive soon, she had left Florida two days prior, just for her. Suddenly, a navy blue Honda pulled up to the curb. A light brown foot peeked out the front door, a pink heel placed on it. 

         Katherine ran with her arms opened, she collided into London, nearly knocking her over. Their embrace was short lived, as Diane, called from the second story window. "Coming mother", London hollered from the porch. Katherine watched with a mix of adoration and envy as London gracefully walked inside the house. She could only wish that one day she could hold the gentle loveliness that London so humbly possessed. As Katherine had predicted, Dean and Diane had cleaned up. Usually the house was filled with dirty laundry that only Katherine cleaned, with empty beer bottles that Dean would drain in split seconds, and worst of all it held every single one of Diane's meaningless possessions. Perfume bottles stacked on gossip magazines, and those were stacked on unopened boxes that held goods, ones Diane had bought from catalogs. However, it never looked like this when London was around, as soon as she moved out their secret hoard, became an inescapable hell for Katherine. As she thought these things, she lifted her nose to the unfamiliar smell of breakfast. She turned her head, just in time to see both the devil, and the devil's wife stomping down the steps. 

          "Welcome home darling", Dean stretched out his arms and brought her into his body. 

Meanwhile, Diane had rushed to the kitchen to continue her cooking. Katherine could hear bacon popping over the stove and the flipping of pancakes. Diane casually called to the rest of them, to come to the dining room table. Katherine wondered how they could be such exquisite liars, they had both dressed up, like they were living a regular household. However, Katherine knew the drill, she had to stay as quiet as possible, because as soon as London left Dean and Diane would have her head for talking too much. Fury bubbled inside of Katherine, as everyone went through everyday small talk. She lifted her head from her plate, glancing at Dean, first, and then Diane. Just days before, her parents had thrown their fist at her, and spat at her in fits of anger. She was pulled out of these thoughts by Diane's voice. 

           " So, dear. You're always welcomed home, but your father and I couldn't help but think of why you came home, now. I mean, after all, it's just a regular April day." 

        London's face was painted with confusion, how could her parents not know about Katherine's birthday. "Well....it is Kat's fifteenth birthday, of course." 

                      "That's not really important. I mean, it's not like you came all this way for Katherine. Why don't you tell us about school", Dean said. 

                      "What do you mean not important? Of course it's important, when I turned fifteen everyone woke up early, and you called all of our relatives. The least I could do was come out here for Kat", London ignored her father's request, to talk about her college adventures. 

               "London, sweetheart. The fact is, how can I say this. Katherine just isn't as special as you. She's not as smart or pretty or graceful...she's really a embarrassment. You understand", Diane cut into the conversation. 

               "No, I don't understand. I can't believe you would say something like that. She is just as special, and pretty and smart and graceful, I just don't understand how you can act this way", London retorted.  

         London's quiet voice was just above a hollow whisper. London looked at Katherine, who sat straight across from her. Katherine tried to conceal her widening smile, she was delighted that her parents had been caught, especially since it was their own fault. 

             "It is true, isn't it? How you treat Kat, I've heard the rumors. I didn't believe them, but they're true", shock plastered London's face. Then, a look Katherine had never seen on London's face, came across it, it resembled glumness. 

         Dean and Diane attempted to gaggle out excuses, but their words were white noise to London, who calmly took Katherine's hand. Taking her arm, she pulled her out towards the front door. For London, the experience was a nightmare, but for Katherine, it felt like the nightmare had just ended. 

           The blue Honda smelled sweet, like berries. Music poured itself out of the radio, Katherine's happiness filled her body. Then, it was ruined by small weeps coming from London. "How will you ever forgive me? I know that I'll never forgive myself", London's cries hurt Katherine's ears. Tears cascaded down London's cheeks, as Katherine convinced her to pull over. They sat on the road's curb for a moment, Katherine in shock and London in an abyss of sadness.     

            "How could you think this is your fault? The blame only falls on Diane and Dean", Katherine whispered into London's wavy hair. "You've been the best sister, Lon. You're the only person that's been kind to me. I love you more than anyone", Katherine looked straight into London's green eyes as she explained. 

       "I was so selfish, Kat. All my old high school friends told me, they said you would walk the three mile walk to school, they said you had bruises, and God knows what else. But I didn't listen, because I couldn't bring myself to think it", London let her thoughts out in one big breath. London vented more and more, and there was nothing else Katherine and London could do, besides comfort each other in London's navy blue Honda.