The Promise

[OneShot]

In Aiden't point of view

Aiden stood in the driveway facing the two story house. It was a nice looking house with a small porch that had just enough space for a swing that could sit two. The façade of the house was a light tan color; the shudders and the front door were a dark navy. The front yard was green and freshly mowed with a small flower garden by the porch.

Aiden felt his heard begin to pound even faster than it already was, if that was even possible. Why would Maggie want to leave her pleasant, comfortable lifestyle with the small luxuries she had to go with him? He had no money, no place to live, no anything. But he loved her. He could guarantee that he loved her more than they did. Were they there when Maggie was born? When she took her first steps? When she learned to speak? No! He, however…

Aiden was 2 years old when his mom gave birth to his little sister Maggie. As soon as she was born, Aiden felt like he was partially responsible for her and her safety. His dad was away at war, so Aiden was the man of the house at the time. It was his job to protect and take care of his new baby sister.

Aiden and Maggie became very close as the two grew older together. You never saw one without the other unless you saw them during school. Maggie was constantly drawing pictures and making crafts for her brother, and Aiden rarely ever let Maggie leave his side.

One day, when Maggie was five and Aiden had just turned seven, a soldier came to the house. He spoke to their mom alone, and when she came back in, she was bawling. She locked herself in her room and cried, not coming back out until the next morning.

It turned out that their father had died while saving the soldier who came to their house.

Their mom never spoke a word to anyone after that. All she did was cry and drink. She drank so much that Aiden found her passed out along the floor on numerous occasions. She started driving herself crazy until the day came when she walked into the middle of the highway and was ran over by a semi truck. The ambulances came and tried to rescue her but it was too late- she was dead.

Considering that Aiden and Maggie had no close relatives, they were shipped off to the closest orphanage. Unfortunately, the nearest orphanage was very small, making it more possible for one of them to get adopted and leave the other behind.

And that was just what happened. A family who was looking for a little girl came and thought Maggie was the most adorable and precious child they ever saw. Aiden could still remember the last conversation they had before she left…

***

Aiden walked into Maggie's room as she was packing up her stuff, crying. Aiden's heart dropped as he saw his little sister in such a miserable state. Her green eyes were flooded with the tears that rained down staining her cheeks and making her now wet brown curly pigtails cling to her face.

When Maggie turned and saw her brother, she quickly ran to him and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. The sudden force almost knocked him over and he had to grab onto her bedpost to keep from falling. As soon as he regained his balance, he threw his arms around her to return the hug. He rested his head on hers and squeezed her tightly.

He then loosened his grip on her and pulled her away from him so he could look at her. "Come on, let's sit on your bed," he said, picking her up and setting her down gently. Maggie unsuccessfully tried to dry her face with her hand. "This isn't my bed. My bed's back at home with Mommy. Where is she, Aiden? Where did she go?" Maggie asked, the tears returning to her eyes.

Aiden felt his heart ache as his stomach twisted and turned. How was he supposed to explain this to his five year old sister? Aiden lied down onto her pillow and looked up. "God took her away to heaven where she belonged. Now, she's an angel, and she's sitting in the clouds watching over you. She always watches over you; every minute of every day," he said, and Maggie lied her head on his chest.

"So, why is she letting me leave you? I don't wanna go. I wanna stay here with you," she said quietly, her voice breaking. Aiden sat there for a moment, thinking of what to say. "Maggie, you need a home with a mommy and a daddy who can love you and take care of you," Aiden said, and as much as he didn't want her to go, he had to admit that it was true.

"But I did have a mommy and daddy who loved me and took care of me! Why would God take them away? Why would he do that," Maggie asked. Aiden shrugged. "I don't know, but He does. He has a plan for our lives Maggie. He is holding you in his hands and He will take care of you. I promise," Aiden said, and with that, he took hold of Maggie and sat up, making her sit up beside him.

"Maggie, I got something for you," Aiden said as he reached into his pocket. He took out a small, smooth purple stone that was shaped to look like a heart, along with a note that had only two words scribbled on it. "Where did you get that," asked Maggie, looking bug-eyed at the heart.

"When we were packing up to move here, I found it in Mama's jewelry box. I think Daddy gave it to her," Aiden said and he put the heart and note in Maggie's hands. "I want you to have this to remember them, and to remember me. Remember how it was when we were one happy family. And I promise to you, that once I get out of here, I will come and find you!"

***

Aiden took a deep breath as a new fear crept inside of him. What if Maggie did remember him but she thought he had forgotten about her. After all, Aiden turned nineteen this year. He finally was able to escape the orphanage when he turned eighteen, and he was sure Maggie knew that. Would she be angry with him? Would she think he didn't care enough to look for her?

But he did try to find her. He worked so hard to find this family who took his sister away from him. Only, the stupid orphanage had rules about giving away information, even if it was your little sister that you were trying to find.

Aiden tried to shake those thoughts from his head. He just had to go and ring that doorbell before he succeeded to convince himself out of it… and break his promise.

Aiden approached the door and knocked. He could feel his hands start shaking and prayed to God that he wouldn't start sweating. He was only waiting a couple of seconds, but for him, it felt much longer.

Finally, the door opened, and there staring at him was a gorgeous girl. She was slender and curvy with big beautiful green eyes. Her hair was brown and curly and hung down to the middle of her back.

"Hello, can I help you? My mom, dad and sister are gone, but I can take a message," she said quietly. From the way she spoke and held herself, she seemed shy and timid, afraid to be hurt, afraid of people she didn't know. But she did know him!

"Maggie," Aiden said, unable to believe that she was really standing there in front of him again for the first time in twelve years!

Maggie's eyes grew big and she slowly backed up. "How- how do you know my name? Who are you?" she asked, now even more afraid of the man standing in front of her.

Aiden took a step closer, causing her to step back. "Maggie, it's me! It's your older brother, Aiden," he exclaimed as he reached out to touch her. She quickly dodged his hand.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but this is not funny! Go away," she demanded and she tried to slam the door, but he swiftly caught it and followed her inside.

"Maggie, please-" he started but Maggie quickly cut him off. "Please, stop this! Go away! Do you hear me?" she shouted. Aiden could feel his face get hot as he tried to ignore what she was saying.

"Maggie, you've got to remember me! You have to," he said, practically begging her now, still walking towards her. As Maggie backed up, she hit the wall behind her. She looked around and realized to her dismay that she trapped herself into a corner. As Maggie looked back at Aiden, he saw that her eyes were swimming with fear. "Please-" Maggie whispered, afraid of what he would do to her.

"Oh Maggie," Aiden said, reaching out to stroke her face. "Don't touch me," she yelled as she smacked his hand away from her. She then pushed him out of her way and ran up the stairs. He heard footsteps running followed by a door that slammed and locked.

Aiden fell to his knees and put his hands in his face. After all this time and all this hard work, he had failed. He waited twelve freaking years for failure.

Confused and distraught, Aiden was unsure of what to do. Should he stay and continue to try and convince her, or should he just give up and leave. I mean, what was the point? If she didn't believe him now, why would she believe him tomorrow, or any other day for that matter?

"But I promised," Aiden whispered under his breath.

"What was that?" he heard a nervous voice ask. Aiden looked up to see that Maggie had crept back downstairs and was holding something in her hand. She still kept her distance from him, but at least she was listening to him now.

Aiden quickly stood up. "Maggie, twelve years ago, our father died at war. Our mother drove herself crazy and walked out in front of a semi truck and got herself killed. We were sent to an orphanage and you were adopted right away by this family. I waited in that orphanage for eleven years until I turned eighteen and came to look for you. I worked so hard to find you. I promised I would, you have to believe me," Aiden pleaded with her.

Maggie closed her eyes, as if she were trying to remember something. "When did you make your promise to me," she asked him after a few brief moments of silence. Aiden stepped closer to her. "I walked into your room when you were packing, I sat you on your bed and gave you a purple heart-shaped stone and a note that said-"

"I promise," Maggie quickly finished for him. She opened her now tear-filled eyes and held out her hands to show him the purple stone and the note. The note was open and on it were the two words I Promise.

"Aiden, my big brother. I've missed you so much!"