Strawberry Flavoured

20

"My little sister died of leukemia when she was only ten years old. Two years later both of my parents died in a car accident." You spoke slowly, each word pronouncing carefully, as if it was made of glass. "When they were all still alive, we used to pluck strawberries in our garden. We had these large strawberry bushes and my sister and I even made forts underneath it," you took a deep breath before continuing, "I loved her. Her freckled face, her puffy cheeks, even the gap between her front teeth."

You heaved a tear-filled sigh.

"My parents owned the ice cream shop and when they died, Tom started running the business. Tom is an old friend and rival of the other ice cream shop down the street of ours. He only runs the shop because he receives money from my parents' bank account, though he also claims it's because he wants to keep it going for my parents. He even gave up his own shop for it. God, I miss them so much."

You started crying again, my arms still wrapped around you.