They both laughed, and the house felt full again.
Lena went silent. She stepped back, and for a moment, she seemed to shrink. She didn’t slam the door. She just walked away, and that was worse. tall younger sister story
“What happened to you?” Mira asked, her voice cracking. They both laughed, and the house felt full again
Three days passed in a cold war of polite breakfasts and averted eyes. Mira found herself avoiding the full-length mirror. She wore flats when Lena wore heels. She stopped standing next to her at family photos. The house felt smaller, and so did Mira’s sense of self. She didn’t slam the door
“I was just asking,” Lena said, her voice soft. But Mira saw the flash of hurt. Then came the thing Mira couldn’t take back. “You think just because you’re taller now, you get everything? You get the height, the attention, the easy laugh? You’re still the little sister, Lena. Stop pretending you’re not.”
“Absolutely,” she said. “But I’m wearing the taller pair.”