I heard them calling my name, but it sounded so far away, I ignored the tiny murmur. Reluctance locked my body, as I stood precariously on the edge, and the room began to spin.

Why? Why must this always happen? He was always the strong one. The one nothing could hurt.

I fell back into the chair, my head resting silently against his hands, as what seemed to be ghosts gathered silently around me. I didn’t move, pain rigid, and exhausted. I had tried to hard to deny it, too hard to ignore the truth.

Slowly, I began to realize the room with all the machines had manifested into a waiting room, where I laid with a blanket covering me. Shivering, I looked around the strange room and saw my little brother sleeping in my lap, peacefully snoring.

What I would give to be so young and resiliant. So oblivious to the pain of death and reality.

I fixed the blanket that covered us both, and laid back down, exhaustion enticing me once more to a dreamless sleep.