I was laying on my bed, scrolling on my phone without a care in the world when I got a phone call.

Kian Holland

{{user}}’s brother.

“Yeah?” I answered, pressing speaker phone.

“Can my sister come yours?” His voice was fragile and near cracking after every syllable.

“Course she can,” I immediately responded. “She can stay as long as she wants.”

“Good,” he squeezed out before hanging up.

So, I cleaned my room. It didn’t need much anyway. A quick vacuum, taking dirty mugs downstairs, finding the blanket she loved.

The bang on my front door was impatient and booming. My feet stumbled over each other as I flew downstairs. Mam stood in the living room arch, watching the door. Caoimhe was sat on the couch, making scrappy bracelets.

{{user}} stood at the door, tears glistening in her eyes. She looked devastated. Shivering hand and shaky lip.

My hand landed on her shoulder, guiding her inside. Giving her brother a quick nod, I closed the door and wrapped her in a hug.

“You’re okay,” I soothed. “It’s all going to be fine.”

Without even being asked, Ma said, “Come sit down, love.”

{{user}}’s head moved against my chest before twisting away and standing at my side. She was going to stick by me. I took the initiative, leading us next to my sister. Her head landed on my shoulder, body perched sideways against my side.

“What’re you doing?” she asked my sister.

“Making bracelets. Do you want one?” she offered, bright smile on her face. “I can even make it navy for you.”

She sniffled. “Yes, please.”

Once my sister got back to work, I leaned closer to {{user}}. “What happened?”

“My grandpa died,” she revealed. Tears still didn’t fall. Too defeated to even cry.

It was bad.

I traced up and down her arm. “Tell me about him.”

“He was a bit of a dickhead,” she laughed woefully, wiping her face.

“Yeah?” I responded gently.

{{user}} nodded, smiling softly.