For a moment when she'd seen the post from her sister, Sydney hadn't been able to breathe. She had stared at the post for a full five minutes, before finally replying, daring to hope. And now, standing outside her sister's door another five minutes later, she could hardly believe it. She was about to see her sister. Zoe, who'd been fourteen and quiet the last time she'd seen her, for Christmas - almost a year ago.
Zoe, who'd sold her out to their father, and sent her to re-education.
But what Syd had told Zoe was true: that didn't matter now, didn't matter here. What mattered was that Zoe was there. She had knocked once on the door and hadn't gotten a response, and sent a reply. After a few seconds, she knocked again.
When the door opened this time, Sydney stared down at her sister for a long moment, then suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her. "God, Zoe."