"Here are your keys, miss. Please, enjoy your stay, and may you both recover soon."
"Thank you."
I nod, a light smile coming to my lips in response to the politeness and the well wishes. Even though only our appearance made those words carry more sincerity than the usual simple professional courtesy, I take it as a bright point in the gloomy end of the year.
I leave the reception desk, and return behind Liz to push her wheelchair to the elevator. And like my face has cleared up, her smile has also come back. The room we booked is big, but not a suite. It has a view… I can't describe.
For a moment, I am taken over by the echoes of the past, making me expect a great view with the sea, the breeze and all. But now I blink at the cold concrete hazy with the snowless winter, and return to reality.
Fortunately, the height allows me to get some detachment from the life that has not been going that well with the conceptualized rollercoaster it has been rolling in, and gives me a respite. The world feels more silent, and clear, like the sky with the calm clouds swimming within.
I turn away from the floor to ceiling window and smile brightly at Liz.
"Alright, sis, what do you think we should do?"
My improved mood makes her smile grow gentler and happier, and my lingering worry settles down. I have been worrying about depression bothering her after the emotional and physical blows.
I look at her, and shake my head with a disappointed exhale.
"Sis, if not for the cold, we could have changed into bikinis to bask in the sun by the pool on the rooftop."
"Maybe. However, I think we should take care of planning the renovation of our home first. Unless you want us to spend more living here much longer than necessary."
I roll my eyes at the smiling violet eyes, and go to sit before Liz on the bed. I take the bag off her lap, and throw it onto the bed, then wait for her to speak.
She smiles at my petulance, and takes out her phone.
"On the way here, I looked up the internet for construction and renovation companies. How do you want to do it?"
That question quiets me down for a moment. My mind slides down the memories of the past, and the traces of dad and mom at home, and the tragedies that have come one after the other this year. After a moment, I exhale, and propose:
"Why don't we have the ground fully renovated? We have it redesigned, and change what we can within our budget. As for the second floor, let's just have it cleaned up, except for dad and mom's room. A bit like spring cleaning, but deeper, and in winter instead."
Liz looks at me, and repeats what I said before with a small smile:
"A fresh start, huh?"
Indeed, because the renovation will clean up the traces of dad and mom, leaving only what has been immortalized like pictures of them, and us together, and videos, to as concrete things to remember them with, at least on the ground floor.
I exhale, and nod. And what we are doing also makes me remember grandpa and grandma's home. I think about it for a moment, then shake my head. Maybe later.
"Sis, let's go take a shower. We will establish the budget later and choose the company to commission for the job. And we also have to shop before the sun sets. We will need many things."
Liz looks up from her phone, glances at the sky outside, then nods.
"Alright. It will be good to wash off the smell of the hospital."
"You don't say."
I roll my eyes. Anyone downwind of us who pays a little attention will immediately know where we are coming from. Just like the female receptionist who gave me the keys to the room.
Liz laughs at my retort. I run behind her, and push her to the bathroom. As could be expected, the place that can be one of the faces to check in any living environment to determine the quality is fully equipped, modern and beautiful, with a soft hint of luxury.
It is indeed not a five star hotel for nothing. I run the bath with hot water, and laugh at Liz as I take off my clothes.
"Unfortunately, you can't take a bath or a shower."
"Then, you will just have to help me wash."
"Heh, lucky you."
We both laugh, and I help her take off her clothes. First her jacket, then her blouse, before I return before her to help her get out of her long skirt.
The steam rises up in the bathroom, filling it with warmth that takes the chill out of our bodies. Our tight skins relax, feeling able to breathe again.
I put the clothes to the side, and take the bra Liz has taken off herself to add to the pile of clothes. Her breasts settle down with the effect of gravity, but without losing shape, blending softness and elasticity perfectly, with her nipples puffy from the content inside.
I take off my own bra and underwear, then go to help Liz up the chair. She holds onto me as I push down her underwear, sliding it over her fleshy thighs, then down her calves, before she raises her feet one after the other.
Suppressing the pain, she walks to step into the bathtub, then sits on the edge of it with an exhale both of relief and of enjoyment.
I look at the patch of rectangular white gauze on her abdomen, then step into the bathtub too.
"Alright, it is your turn to wash me now. I remember I washed you when you came back from the hospital over half a year ago."
I pause as the memory comes back to me, and look at Liz's smile. Slowly, a smile spreads on my lips too. I look at Liz with mischief in my eyes, and nod seriously.
"Don't worry, sis. I will return the favor. In full."