“This way Kade!” I call back to my older brother as we run down the street. He follows behind, acting like he can’t keep up.

“Tay! Slow down, you’re too fast for me to keep up” he huffs and puffs as if he is trying to catch his breath.

I stop, looking back with crossed arms. “Stop lying, you liar!” I stomp my right foot on the ground. “You’re the fastest kid in middle school, I’m not dumb.” I pout looking at my feet.

I close my eyes feeling as he places his hand under my chin, lifting my face to meet his. “Well, I guess there is a new fastest kid in elementary school Tay.”

My pout becomes a half smile as he begins to laugh, “I’ll race you to the stop sign.”

“You’re on little sis!” He begins to stretch touching his toes and lunging side to side, as if he were preparing for an Olympic race.

He starts the count, “alright I’ll count to three.”

“One…”

“Two…”

“Three!” He yells loudly as I take off, he jogs to keep up and lets me take the lead.

I reach the edge of the sidewalk next to the stop sign. I glance back at Kade who is now walking. I then decide to make a victory run across the street.

My foot steps off the curve and with a few bounds into the street all I hear is the squealing of tires and my brother frantically screaming.

“TAYLOR! WATCH OUT FOR THE CAR!”

The next thing I know I am laying on the pavement, Kade laying on top of me. My head pounding as a drop of blood drips down the side of my face.

He climbs to his feet scooping me into his arms, “Taylor, you have got to pay more attention. Oh no, you’re bleeding.”

He rips the corner of his shirt off pressing it to the open wound on my head. I look up at him as tears begin to swell in my eyes, “You…you saved me.”

He manages to crack a half smile, “yeah, don’t mention it. Just remember you owe me one!” I laugh a bit nodding in agreement.

His face begins to fade into an unrecognizable blur.

“Kade?!” I jump from my bed looking around. Sweat is pouring down my face.

It was only a dream, I sigh thinking to myself. I reach my hand to my forehead where a small scar remains.

He was such a good big brother. Ten years separated us and yet he always took the time to be there for me.

A few tears begin to emerge, slowly sliding down my cheeks as I whisper to myself, “God I miss you Kade! I miss you so damn much!” I roll over burying my face into the pillow.

After a few minutes of tears, I take a deep breath reminding myself that I need to stay strong.

I roll to my side looking out the window as the sun begins to peek over the horizon. I sit up facing the window. Managing to crack a smile, “It’s so beautiful.”

“Kade, my sweet big brother, I still owe you one.” I wipe the tears from my face glancing over at an old photograph of me and Kade when we were younger.

Crawling out of my bed, I walk to my bathroom to wash up before breakfast. Around here you must be an early riser.

After about an hour I head down the stairs. Still wearing my large pink t-shirt and black leggings having wrapped my wet hair in a towel to dry.

As I approach the kitchen I can hear voices. One is my father’s, but I am having trouble figuring out who the other voice is.

I round the corner and my eyes widen.

“Jonathan! I…uh…I didn’t realize we would have company so early.” I blush bright red.

My father clears his throat, “Oh, honey! I’m sorry, I forgot to mention that Jonathan comes over every morning for a briefing.”

I notice as Jonathan eyes over me causing me to blush even more. I really should have worn a bra, I think to myself.

He flashes me a smile and a slight wink, “good morning, Miss Raven.”