IVORY KNIVES

Aveline

Ruby… she looked like a storm that hadn't slept in days.

Her hair, always too perfect for her own good, now hung wild — wolf-like and restless. Her shirt wrinkled, her eyes sunken with shadows of nights she didn't let herself cry. And yet, somehow, still tiredly hot. Still Ruby.

She looked broken, but my fingers didn't care. I reached out, grabbed her collar, pulled her closer, my hand threading through her wild mane.

"Ruby… you're here now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid this was another dream.

She took my hand gently, pressed it against her lips.

"Yeah," she whispered. "I'm here."

I didn't let go of her shirt. I couldn't. Not again. If I let go, she might vanish. She might leave me all over again.

"You're late this time, Ruby. Too late." I whispered, a bitter ache behind my words.

"I'm here to fix it, Rabbit," she said.

Rabbit.

She hadn't called me that since we got married. It shattered me more than any silence ever could.

Mireline stormed in, hugging me tight. "You damn idiot," she snapped, her voice shaking. "Three days, Aveline! You scared the hell out of me! Never—ever—do something like that again!"

I chuckled softly, watery-eyed. First time seeing sis like that.

"Sorry, I won't," I promised.

A whole week passed in the hospital, and in that whole week, Ruby never left me. She fed me, held me during the nights when my pain screamed louder than my voice, even woke up at 3 a.m. to get me strawberry yogurt when my cravings kicked in.

Her father and Max came to visit too. She'd already talked to the doctors — I'd be discharged in the morning.

That last night, I told her, "Sleep with me."

I was still mad at her. Still hurt. But the way she cared for me? So gentle, so devoted. Even in her guilt and coldness, she was softer than before. Quiet. Almost scared of breaking me again.

She lay beside me, my head on her arm like a pillow. She looked exhausted, her body still carrying stress like armor. I wanted to care for her. But I was too fragile. She wouldn't let me try anyway.

I turned to see her already asleep.

I played with her hair and hugged her. She hugged me back, even in sleep — like her soul knew it was me.

---

The next morning

Everything was ready.

We were about to leave the hospital when Mireline came charging in like a storm cloud.

"She's coming home with us," she declared.

Ruby stood tall, holding me gently.

"And why would she go with you?" she asked, voice calm but laced with steel.

"Because you hurt her," Mireline spat. "Look at her. You don't deserve her right now."

Ruby turned to me, eyes softened.

"Aveline, if you want to go with your sister… it's your choice. I hurt you. I'll earn my right to be with you again."

I didn't say anything. I wanted to stay. My heart wanted to scream it. But Mireline had already taken my hand, leading me out. And I didn't resist.

---

Back at my house — not mine.

My home was with Ruby.

She was my home.

A whole week passed. Mom, Dad, Mireline — they all took care of me, and I love them. But something was missing. That aching empty space where Ruby used to be.

Mireline sat beside me one afternoon. "You need to focus on yourself."

I whispered, "Sis, I wanna go home."

She sighed. "The one who put you in this condition?"

"She's fixing it. Let her," I said.

Mireline just nodded and hugged me.

---

That evening, she came.

With Adam and Luna at her side, Ruby entered like she owned the air again. That commanding tone of hers back in place.

"Where is Aveline?" she asked, calm but cold.

I came downstairs. My parents stood behind me, watching. Ruby's eyes weren't firm anymore. They were tired. Searching. Hollow in places I didn't recognize.

When she saw me, she exhaled.

"Aveline," she said softly. "You're coming home with me. I'm sorry. I'll fix it."

Mireline started to argue, but I stopped her.

"Let me go, sis. She's my home after all."

Mom and Dad said nothing. They let me choose.

Ruby whispered, "Thanks."

I stepped forward. She picked me up — bridal style — like she always did. Carried me to the car. And when we reached home, Leon ran up, licking my face, whining like he hadn't seen the moon in days. I laughed. It felt real again.

Ruby… she was different now.

Softer. Calmer. Still cold, but not cruel.

She kneeled down, took off my shoes like I was something delicate. I ran my fingers through her hair, and she rested her head in my lap. Like she was finally searching for peace — and finding it… here.

With me.

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