“You’re in the way,” said the sister, and stopped answering the phone.
“You’re in the way,” Olivia said into the receiver, and Nina felt a chill run down her spine. “We want to live our own lives, understand?”
“Liv, but I” Nina began, but her sister cut her off.
“Dont Liv me. Im forty-five, I have my own family, my own life. And youre always on the phone, complaining, asking for one thing after another.”
“But were sisters!” Ninas voice trembled. “Weve always helped each other.”
“Helped?” Olivia scoffed. “Who helped who, I wonder? When did you ever help me? When I had problems with Victor, where were you? When Alex ended up in hospital, did you even visit once?”
Nina clenched the phone tighter. A lump rose in her throat.
“I was working then, you know that. And besides, I had my own”
“Your own, your own!” Olivia snapped. “Its always something with you. Your blood pressure, your nerves, the neighbours bothering you. But when other people have problems, youre too busy.”
Nina sank onto the old sofa and shut her eyes. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Liv, why are you being like this? Were family.”
“Yes, we are. But family doesnt mean I have to listen to your complaints every single day. Ive got enough on my plate.”
“Fine, I get it. Maybe I can be a bit much sometimes. But right now, Im really struggling. Since the divorce”
“Enough!” Olivia cut in sharply. “You divorced a year ago, and youre still going on about it. Dont you have anything else to talk about besides your misery?”
Something inside Nina cracked. Forty-two years theyd been more than sisterstheyd been best friends. Olivia was three years younger but always seemed stronger, more decisive. Nina had run to her with every problem since they were kids.
“Liv, please dont be angry. Ill call less, just dont shut me out.”
“Not less. Not at all,” Olivia said coldly. “I need space. We all do.”
“What do you mean, we all?”
“Victors had enough of your calls too. The kids say Aunt Ninas always crying down the phone.”
That hurt the most. Alex and Katie, the niece and nephew she adored, the ones she bought presents for every birthday, the ones she visited with homemade cakes.
“The kids said that?”
“Yes. Last night Alex asked me straight out, Mum, why is Aunt Nina always sad? Did something happen to her?”
Nina bit her lip. She had cried a lot during calls with her sister. But was that so wrong? Couldnt she be weak with the person closest to her?
“I never meant to upset them.”
“But you did. And not just them. Were all tired, Nina. Tired of your depression, your endless problems, the fact that you cant pull yourself together.”
“But Im trying! I got a new job, Im seeing a therapist”
“And you tell me about it every day. How hard work is, how expensive therapy is, how lonely you feel in the evenings. Nina, Ive had enough!”
Silence hung between them. Nina could hear music and laughter in the background at Olivias end. Life went on, while she sat alone in her tiny flat, fighting back sobs.
“All right,” she whispered. “I understand.”
“What do you understand?”
“That Im in your way. That Im a bad sister. That youre tired of me.”
“Nina, dont twist this into drama. We just need space.”
“How much space? A week? A month? A year?”
Olivia hesitated.
“I dont know. Until you learn to deal with your own problems.”
“And if I never learn? If I always need my family?”
“Then find support somewhere else. Friends, maybe.”
Friends. What a joke. After the divorce, her friends had drifted away. Turned out theyd been friends with the couple, not just her. And making new friends in your forties wasnt easy.
“I dont have friends, Liv. Just you.”
“Then its time to make some. Or see your therapist more often. Youre paying for it, arent you?”
Anger mixed with the pain. Did her sister really not understand?
“A therapist isnt family.”
“And family isnt your personal crying towel.”
Nina hung up. Her hands shook, her heart pounded. Shed never ended a call with Olivia first.
The phone rang immediately. Olivias number flashed on the screen. Nina stared, unable to answer. It stopped. Then a text came through: “Dont be upset. Im just being honest. You need to learn to stand on your own feet.”
Nina deleted it without replying.
The evening dragged. Normally, shed call Olivia, talk about her day. Theyd discuss TV shows, news, weekend plans. Now, the flat was oppressively silent.
She tried reading, but the words blurred. Turned on the tellynothing registered. Went to bed early, but sleep wouldnt come. Her thoughts swung between hurt and shame, anger and despair.
The next morning, she woke puffy-eyed and groggy. At work, colleagues asked if she was okay. She brushed it offjust a bad nights sleep.
At lunch, she nearly dialled Olivias number. Wanted to talk about her new assignment, vent about a rude client. Then she remembered yesterday and put the phone away.
Work ended. On the bus home, Nina watched strangers rushing about their lives. Everyone had their own joys and troubles. And her? An empty flat, the telly, and the crushing thought that no one needed her.
At home, she decided to cook something nice. Maybe that would help. She got out ingredients, put on music. But halfway through, she realisedshe was cooking for one. Eating alone. No one to say, “This is lovely.”
Tears threatened again.
The phone stayed silent. Olivia didnt call.
The next day, Nina tried calling herself. Maybe Olivia had cooled off. She hesitated, dialled, hung up. Finally, she pressed call.
Ringing. Endless ringing. Then voicemail.
“Hi, its Olivia. Leave a message.”
Nina hung up. Tried again an hour later. Voicemail. Two hours latersame.
By evening, it was clear. Olivia wasnt picking up.
Nina texted: “Liv, lets talk. I dont want to fight.”
No reply.
The next day, she called from work. Maybe Olivia wouldnt recognise the number. But the moment Nina said, “Hello?”the line went dead. Olivia had hung up.
It stung. Badly.
She tried Victor, Olivias husband. Maybe hed explain, help smooth things over. No answer.
A week passed. Then two. Every day, Nina checked her phone, hoping for a missed call, a message. Nothing.
She threw herself into self-improvement. Signed up for French lessons, joined a gym, bought new clothes. But none of it brought joy. She had no one to share her small victories with.
Learned ten new wordsno one to tell. Lost five poundsno one to celebrate with. Got a bonus at workno one to toast with.
Nina realised Olivia hadnt just been her sistershed been the centre of her world. And now that world was hollow.
Maybe Olivia was right. Maybe she had been too dependent. But was it so wrong to be close to your own sister?
A month later, Nina bumped into Katie, her niece. The girl was fourteen now, taller, more grown-up.
“Aunt Nina!” Katie beamed. “Hi!”
“Katie, love.” Nina hugged her. “Hows school?”
“Fine. Why dont you visit anymore? Mum said you two had a fight.”
Ninas heart clenched.
“What exactly did she say?”
Katie hesitated.
“Well that you were really upset about Uncle Mark. That you needed time.”
So that was Olivias version. That Nina was the one whod cut contact.
“Katie, do you miss me?”
“Of course! Youre the best aunt. And I love your pancakes.”
Tears threatened again.
“I miss you too. And Alex.”
“Aunt Nina, should I tell Mum I saw you? Maybe shell call?”
“No, love. Shell call when shes ready.”
Katie nodded, though she clearly didnt understand adult problems.
“Okay. But dont be sad, all right? And if you wantcall me. Ive got my own phone now.”
Katie recited her number, and Nina saved it. At least she still had this small link to Olivias family.
After that, Nina made a decision. If Olivia thought she was too needy, shed prove her wrong. Shed show she could live a full life without leaning on her sister.
She made an effort with neighbourseven Mrs. Wilkins down the hall, whod always seemed nosy. Turned out, she was just lonely.
At work, Nina joined colleagues for drinks, made friends in other departments. They invited her to the theatre, to exhibitions.
Life slowly improved. But Olivias absence still ached.
Two months after the fight, Nina took a drastic step. She went to Olivias house. Stood outside, watching the lit windows. Her sisters family was in thereOlivia, Victor, the kids. Having dinner, watching telly, sharing their day.
And she was out here, a stranger.
Nina pressed the intercom.
“Yeah?” Victors voice.
“Victor, its Nina. Can I come up?”
A long pause.
“Nina, nows not a good time”
“Please. I just need five minutes with Liv.”
“She doesnt want to talk.”
“Victor, please. Im not your enemy. Im her sister.”
Another pause. Muffled voices, a discussion.
“Fine. But make it quick.”
Nina climbed the familiar stairs, heart hammering. How many times had she run up these steps? With birthday cakes, Christmas presents, just to visit.
Victor opened the door, awkward, avoiding eye contact.
“Come in,” he muttered.
Nina took off her coat and stepped into the living room. Olivia sat on the sofa, arms crossed. Her face was unreadable.
“What do you want?” she asked coldly.
“To talk. To make things right.”
“I thought wed said everything.”
Nina sat opposite her. Victor lingered by the door, clearly uncomfortable.
“Liv, you were right. I was too dependent. I complained too much, didnt ask enough about your life.”
Olivias expression softened slightly, but she stayed guarded.
“And now?”
“Now Ive changed. Ive made new friends, new interests. Im handling things on my own.”
“Thats good,” Olivia nodded. “Im glad.”
“But I still miss you. Not as a shoulder to cry onas my sister. The person who knows me best.”
Olivia looked down.
“Nina, I miss you too. But Im scared itll go back to how it was.”
“It wont. I promise. I wont call every day, I wont dump my problems on you. Lets just be sisters again.”
Olivia was silent, considering.
“And if you start crying down the phone again?”
“Then you can tell me. And Ill understand.”
Olivia sighed, uncrossed her arms.
“All right. Well try.”
A weight lifted from Ninas shoulders.
“Thank you, Liv.”
“And none of that Liv nonsense,” Olivia said sternlybut there was a flicker of a smile.
They huggedtight, real. And Nina understood: family wasnt just about support. It was about giving each other room to grow.
Sometimes, you had to almost lose the person closest to you to learn how to love them right.
