Tapping my foot on the floor, I stared at the wall of the office I had worked in for more than 25 years.

I still hadn't come to terms that we were moving house. Me, Rosie and our two beautiful daughters were leaving.

Rosie had been offered a position in York to work as a counsellor in a top hospital. I was in awe of my wife. She had been through hell and since finding the light out the other end, she had worked endlessly and through years of stress, my wife, my beautiful wife had now earned the title Dr Rosie Gray. I couldn't be more proud of her.

But as much as I wanted everything for Rosie, I couldn't help but feel sad at the thought of leaving the house that had always been home. It housed so many memories. Memories I couldn't afford to lose.

Rosie and I had lost many nights of sleep trying to find ways around it. We also had many fights about it and days of silent treatment. Even though Rosie always said she understood, I don't think she truly did. It had been years since Lucy died, but living here felt like a part of her was still alive.

This was her home. Our home. Our sanctuary after losing everything. And I just couldn't imagine living somewhere other than here.

But after watching my baby girls flourish and of course watching my wife progress in her career, I knew now was not the time to be selfish.

Besides, Lucy hated nothing more than selfish people.

So here we are, a whole year later in a completely empty house.

The vans were already on the move, the cars were packed and now everyone was waiting for me.

But my feet weren't letting me move.

Even though all the furniture had been removed, it still felt warm like it always had.

The memories of Lucy running in giving me breakfasts, or asking me to brush her hair and the endless pranks she'd pull. And damn, she'd pull them off each time. Her favourite prank still makes me laugh all these years later.

A very very important meeting with some of the top businessmen in England, and Lucy the cheeky monkey hid a fart machine under my desk.

A fart machine which had no off button, except for a remote control in which Lucy had.

Even though I lost the deal, I couldn't get mad at her.

"You'd be pleased to know Lucy, my girls have carried on that family trend" I chuckled to myself.

"Dad, mum says we need to go" Grace yelled out from the front door.

"Alright baby, I'll be there in a minute" I shouted back just needing a couple more minutes.

Letting out a deep sigh, I looked out the window that overlooked the back garden and I couldn't help but smile.

Flashback - Lucy is 9

"Lucy!"

"Lucy! Did you eat my slice of pizza? I had been saving that and, oh"-

Pushing the door open to my office, my heart stopped as I realised where Lucy had been all along.

She was sitting at the window ledge staring out at the most breathtaking sunset.

But my eyes were drawn to the tears she was shedding.

"Hey, why an earth are you crying?" I tried to grab her attention as I fell to my knees before her.

"Lulu, please, talk to me".

"The world is so beautiful. Truly breathtaking. So explain to me why humans ruin it" Lucy cried as she ran the back of her hand against her eyes.

Resting my hand on top of hers, I frowned at her words contemplating grabbing my gun and destroying the person who made my baby sister cry.

"Tell me who hurt you" I muttered out darkly, but it seemed to cause Lucy to stop crying. She looked up at me and frowned.

"No-one hurt me Dean. But I find it disgusting that people hurt the world. I come home after a great day at school only to see litter all over the park, boys kicking over plants and people being mean to innocent people. I even saw a man hit his excitable puppy. I hate this world. I hate humans" Lucy sobbed into her hands.

Letting her cry, I quickly stood up and sat opposite her in front of the large window.

Gently picking her up, I nestled her into my lap with her back pressing against my chest.

I rested my head on her shoulder and hugged her tight letting her cry it all out.

"You're right sweetheart. Humans are the cause of pain in this world, but we have to rise above it. Show them the right way to live. If it makes you angry, take action. Dry those eyes Lulu. I don't want you to cry, otherwise you'll miss the beautiful sunset" I whispered into her ear.

Lucy's cries quietened down as she also looked out at the beautiful sunset.

"We are each put on this earth for a reason. And I know for a fact, you are going to grow up to be one hell of a badass. Who knows, maybe you'll be the prime minister of England" I muttered out in the quiet, soon smiling at Lucy's infectious laugh.

"If I was the prime minister of England, I would make littering a serious crime, I would make pet food free for all of God's lovely creatures and I'd banish early morning starts. I would make this country better!"

Oh gosh, I've set her off now.

But in all honesty, she had such determination that she could very well run for prime minister if that's what she wanted in life.

"Damn right you would! Now, why don't we finish watching the beautiful sunset then you can list down all the changes you will make once you become the prime minister of England" I cuddled her tighter laughing to myself at the image of her being a small little lady bossing taller older men around.

"I like the sound of that" Lucy giggled as she wiped away all evidence of tears.

Cuddling Lucy tight, the room fell to a comfortable silence as we both watched one of the most sunsets I had ever seen.

*end of flashback*

"I know wherever we go, you'll be there with us" I whispered reassuringly to myself.

Feeling better than I did earlier, I turned on the balls of my feet to head towards the door, but stopped as my feet brushed against something seemingly poking over from a small crack in the wooden floorboards.

Looking down, I frowned at what appeared to be a tiny tip of an envelope that must have fallen through the floor.

Crouching down at picking it up, I brought it to my eyes and froze as I realised whose handwriting it belonged to.

Dean

Holding it with a shaky hand, I stared at the unopened letter from Lucy with tears welling up in my eyes.

Rushing over to the windowsill with the sunset still present, I opened the small envelope and began to read.

To the best brother the world could ever ask for, I am currently sat writing this in the living room watching Gordon Ramsay's kitchen nightmare whilst you sleep with drool falling out your mouth. Just wanted to give you some context. It's days like today how much I realise you do for me. You're only 22 and yet you've done more than most people will ever do in their entire life and I don't think I will ever find the right words to express how much you mean to me. You sacrificed so much, you have endured so much pain all for me. I wish the days I heard you cry in your office had never happened. But I want you to know, I cried with you. We are a team. We will always be a team. If we are ever to separate in this life, I want you to know I will always find you. I love you big brother and no-one will ever be able to change that. I know for certain that mum and dad are so proud of you. One day, we will reunite with them and we will be laughing over all the memories we made. So, you see here Dean, we are stuck together for life. Wherever you go, I go. That is a promise. I love you so much.

ps: Hurry up fall in love, and have children. I want to be a cool aunt and spoil them endlessly.

Love you forever,

Lucy x

Clutching Lucy's final goodbye against my heart, I rested my head against the wall and cried.

Lucy, always knowing exactly what to say. And even though she wrote this before I met Rosie, I knew it was only meant to be read at this current moment in time.

"Until we meet again, Lucy Gray".