I promise

-I'm finally here.- said a very familiar voice behind him. 

Arthur frozed, with the champagne glass in his hand, just in the middle of the  way to his mouth. He slowly turned around, just to find that, actually, she was there. Ally just stared at his eyes, smiling, sitting on the big leather sofa. Behind her shadow, the hearth was almost extinguished. 

She was as cute and pretty as he always remembered her. Black short hair, soft brown eyes, always smiling mouth, she still had that funny nose, and those cute eyebrows. She was still very very fragile, it seemed like she was about to dissapear. Well, maybe there was another reason to that, you know? She wasn't supposed to be there, not anymore. 

Ally got up, and started to walk towards him. The smile on her face increased, as she noticed that he was trembling. He was very, very, scared, and it was totally obvious. She finally reached Arthur, and hugged him. "She feels like if she was actually here..." Arthur tought. He couldn't help it but hug her. And then he felt something wet on his face. "What?". Those were tears... He was crying. She noticed, and she started to cry as well. 

-You... you haven't changed a bit, you know? You're still a bit taller than me, you're still a bit fat, and still wear those stupid glasses. You never wanted to use contact lenses, even now, that you're getting married...- her arms began shivering- I'm so proud of you, Arthy, you stupid boy, you've grown a lot. I've missed you, since, that day, but, you know? Is not a bad place, where I am... 

-Why did you came back? Today? Why did you left on the first place? You shouldn't have gone, so quickly, so young. I shoul have been there to protect you... Why wasn't I there!?- Arthur had a lot of more questions to ask, but Ally started to answer. 

-It wasn't your fault, OK? It wasn't your fault at all. Things just happened that way, we can't change that, it just happened OK!? Stop thinking it was your fault, it was mine, I shouldn't have gone to that party, stayed so late, and choosed to walk home alone... It's not your fault, you're getting married today, I'm proud and happy to see that you're well, I'm not here because I'm angry with you. Just, keep living, Arthy. For me...-she warmly smiled to him, and then she said- Oh, and, about the reason why I'm here. Don't you remember? I promised you that if you ever got married with Bianca, I was going to be there to give you a hug. Have you forgotten it? 

He remembered. Yeah, that was right, she promised. That promise, it was a long time ago, when she was five, he was six, and nobody could imagine that she was going to get brutally murdered twenty years after that. His beloved sister. Ally. 

"Thanks."

-What are you doing in here? The bride is waiting for you.- his mother opened the door in that instant. She seemed a bit upset, but anyway she was smiling in pure joy. The ethernal sadness of her eyes, which was there since her daughter died, seemed to be gone. 

Ally was also gone. He was alone in the room, he wasn't crying anymore, he was smiling. She wanted him to have a happy day. He wasn't going to ruin it. 

-Are you OK? Were you crying? 

-No mom, I wasn't, I was just wondering about my future family, you know? Maybe in some years you'll be a grandmother!- he said laughing, and went out of that dark hall. 

-Hey, Ally.- said Arthur. 

They were playing on the river near their house. The sunbeams were reflecting on the water surface, making a dance of brights in the tree's leaves. Ally, with her funny pigtails, was trying to make a boat with a paper sheet. 

-What is it, Arthy?- she asked. 

-Will we always be together? I mean, will we always be brothers? 

-Of course we will, that wont ever change!- said Ally laughing at him, as the summer heath started increasing. 

-I mean like this, as friends.. 

-Oh yeah, we will, I guess...- she said, without paying a lot of atention. 

-Hm, for example, if I ever get married, will you ever go to my wedding? 

Ally stopped what she was doing, and looked at him. She always seemed like the older sister, because, somehow, she maturated quicker than him. She smiled at him, and patted his head. 

-Yeah, I promise. 

-I promise.- said Allison. Then she left.