The door opened, and there was Clio -- her big sister, wise History, smiling-eyed and looking no different than she ever had (of course she doesn't, why would you think that?). Thalia tried to say something, a silly one-liner or a quip to ease the tension in her own chest, but her throat felt strangely constricted.
The words weren't necessary. Even as she stood there, her mind a sudden blank, Clio had moved forward and enveloped Thalia in her arms.
In a strange way, it was as though a weight lifted from her in that moment; Thalia let out a choked sound that was either a sob or a cry of pure relief and she sank into the hug, her own arms flung tightly around her sister's middle.