‘ sister, sister / lanasskye.
Lana wasn’t much of a light sleeper, she never had been. Before Ema was born she was always able to get through the night, but with the death of their parents and the way they left Lana to watch over Ema when she was only 16. A child having to watch over a two year old. Lana struggled, sure, she still had to finish high school and take care of her own studies. Tired eyes picking up the younger girl from day care and bringing her back, cooking, cleaning, and bathing her all before she was able to start her own homework, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Lana loved Ema. She would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
And that’s why she doesn’t sleep much anymore.
Not since SL-9. The thought of having to lie, to avoid the one person that meant the most to her. She knew deep down it was to keep Ema safe. If the word got out that Ema killed Neil, she’d be taken away. It might be selfish of her, but Lana wanted to keep Ema as hers, forever. She always had Ema when no one else was around. And so in order to keep her safe, and alive, she had to keep lying to her sister. Even if it caused her own mental health to deteriorate.
She knew Ema saw the way she was tired, the lack of sleep, the empty bottles tucked inside trashcans to keep the younger sister from noticing, the antidepressants. But the worst thing was the nightmares. Nightmares of Ema being swept away from men in blue uniforms. Visions of Damon Gant laughing as his pseudo-daughter was locked away. Lana spiraling further into a depression, crying. Screaming. Lightning. It never ended.
She never liked Ema seeing her cry. She was supposed to be a role model, a strong older sister that was there for Ema when no one else was - even if it was at a distance. She knew Ema hated her. But she’d rather have an angry sister than a dead sister.
Wiping her tanned features she sat up on the bed, trying to even out her breaths. “Stop crying.” she told herself over and over again.
Eventually, the tears stopped and she pulled the covers away, footsteps tip toeing across the wooden floor, trying not to creak as she walked.
“Ema? What are you doing up?” She was trying to disguise the shaking of her voice, even if she wanted to cover it up, you can tell she’d been crying.
she almost yelped. the girl hadn’t expected lana to be awake at such a late hour. however, she didn’t usually leave her room when she was like this. she usually read until sleep accepted her into its cold embrace.
aquamarine orbs darted around the room instinctively, as if she was caught doing something she shouldn’t be doing. slowly, though, her hands would calm from their tense position. ema hated the way she felt around her sister. not that, anything her sister did made the girl spite her, but, lana was her kin —- her only relative, at that. she should love her unconditionally. and, she did, at least —– she thought.
she loved lana —- so, why were her hands still shaking ?
eyelashes fluttered back to a more mundane gaze. ( fake it until you make it —- everything’ll be alright. ) her hand willed the running water to a stop, placing her glass on the counter. a smile appeared on her lips, seemingly inconspicuous.
‘ o - oh !! lana ! i didn’t see you there —-
i was just getting some water. ‘