{ Nonverbal Starters }

The moment she saw him, Jane knew the world had reset itself for both of them in the most wonderful of ways. It was all that she could do to contain herself – but as her brother embraced her, she let the restraint fall away and wrapped him up as close as she could manage. Tears burned her eyes, and she let them fall in the silence of their reunion, deafening in its significance. 

She did not need to say that she had missed him – the tremble in her arms, the way she clasped at his thin shoulders tight enough to tell that he was no more able to hold weight now than he had when they were young – the steady stream of joyful tears all spoke loudly enough. 

Yet Jane knew their voices had been clutched too tightly for too long, choking them under the weight of expectation and later, the bitter determination to exceed and excel. So she let herself speak clearly, when emotion threatened to cripple her down into a whisper, for both of their sakes and strength. 

“Not a day has gone by that I have not wished you were by my side Cutler – everything has been so dull without you to share it with!” She gave him a squish then, before leaning back to look at him – the truly take him in. “Look at you,” She breathed, unable to keep the smile from breaking over her features, “You’re still making me work to be the pretty one – I see you have no pity upon me at all!”