Dear Stranger — Anne Hampson

Shara couldn't blame her foster-brother Carl for having had nothing to do with her for years; his parents, after all, had virtually rejected him for her. But now he had come back into her life, prepared to be friends. Friends? It had never been as a friend that Shara had thought of Carl; she had never even thought of him as a brother...

Carl turned slowly, his face grave and also troubled.

"You wanted me -- really wanted a brother?"

She lowered her lashes, speaking In the same whisper tones.

"Yes, Carl. At that time I did want to be close -- just as a brother and sister should. Later -- and I wasn't really very old before I did begin to notice -- I tried to let you see how much I was hurt by it all--"

"Hurt?" with a sudden sharp edge to his voice. "You felt pity for me?"

Why hadn't she been a little more guarded?

"Carl... don't misunderstand me. When I say I needed you I mean it."

Hero: Carl
Heroine: Shara Angelos