Victoria: Empty. Nothing but garbage and paper.
Lily: It isn't garbage! Give it back!
Victoria: Be quiet while I search this.
Lily: You have no right to look in there!
Victoria: I have every right in my own home.
Victoria stuck her fingers inside the dark interior of the bag.
Lily: Don't ruin it, please!
Victoria: What is this crumpled piece of paper?
Lily: It's my picture!
Victoria: A picture?
Victoria pulled out a faded black-and-white photo with worn, feathered edges.
She squinted at the image under the bright daylight streaming through the high windows.
In the photo, two little girls stood on a wooden porch, wearing matching cotton dresses.
Victoria's hands began to shake slightly.
Victoria: Where... where did you get this photo?
Lily: It belongs to my sister!
Victoria: What did you say?
Lily: It's my sister's photo! She gave it to me!
Victoria: SAY THAT AGAIN... WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?
Lily: IT BELONGS TO MY SISTER!
Victoria stared at the face of the older girl in the photo.
It was a face she hadn't seen in over fifteen years.
It was her own face as a child.
Victoria: MY LITTLE SISTER...
Victoria's knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor, the photo held tight in her hand.
Lily: Why are you looking at me like that?
Victoria: What is your name?
Lily: Lily...
Victoria: Lily? No, that can't be.
Lily: My name is Lily! My sister called me Little Flower!
Victoria let out a strangled gasp, tears spilling over her eyelids and running down her cheeks.
Victoria: Little Flower... I used to call you Little Flower...
Lily: You... you know my sister?
Victoria: Lily, look at me. Look closely at my face.
Lily: You're the lady who slapped me.
Victoria: I am so sorry. Oh God, I am so sorry!
Lily: Stay away from me!
Victoria: I am Victoria. I am your sister!
Lily backed up against the front door, her small frame shaking violently.
Lily: You're lying! My sister was kind! My sister promised she would come back for me!
Victoria: I tried to find you! They told me the orphanage closed down years ago!
Lily: They lied to you!
Victoria: I searched for three years before I thought... I thought you were gone!
Lily: I waited at the gate every single day!