as time goes by

 Lynsey listened to her sister over her mobile, thinking she was listening to a stranger. She wanted Lynsey to come home.

"Don't you know it's safer in Seoul than it is there," Yuri told her.

Lynsey closed her eyes and imagined how scary it would be just going to the airport these days. She knew Casey wouldn't have it. Although, there were times it did feel like a prison sentence of some kind, being at his home. Some days were full of solitude, but then she knew it could be worse.

"I can't," Lynsey didn't tell her why. She promised she was staying safe from the virus. She didn't go anywhere. They stayed inside and cooked together, read books. Sometimes, they ventured out to the back yard.

They'd picked dandelions months ago. Casey made wine. Although, it wouldn't be ready until Christmas. He'd picked the elderberries himself and was seriously into winemaking now.

Of course, she knew all this was boring her sister, who loved to shop and travel. Lynsey knew she'd miss Casey if she did make it to Seoul.

"This just isn't the right time," Lynsey said. She was certain now this was as normal as life would get. She was where she needed to be. Yes, she knew her sister wanted her to have a grand life, somehow. But she didn't know how to tell her sister she could not be her. Lynsey didn't want a marriage that would be tucked away on a shelf someday. 

Her sister had been married twice and had two little girls. Deep down, Lynsey knew her sister needed her most as a babysitter. It was true, that was all she would really be to her sister. Only things had changed now.

As many over the counter pregnancy tests that Lynsey took, it was the same results. But then, she was twenty-six now. It was something to embrace. Maybe even a last chance. Casey didn't know. Lynsey certainly didn't want her sister to hear the news first.