Forever...?

1

I look out the window, watching the rain pour down. The uber driver looks in the rear view mirror and back to the road. My brother Jacob sighs loudly, trying to break the silence that, heavily settled, refusing to leave since Mum and Dad... You get the picture. He looks toward me, and I  continue to state out the window. "Harlo." I close my eyes, and block out the noise, his voice. I can't bear to look at him. He looks too much like Mum. I feel his hand on my shoulder and I take a deep breath, Turning to face him. He looks at me and smiled gently.

"Look, I I know it's hard, but cheer up okay? Look, this is our new place! Aren't you excited?" I look back out the window, and stare. The house that he bought with the money they left for us is... Huge. I look back at Jacob as he tosses me the keys. " The rooms are all the same size, so go take your pick." I catch the keys neatly in the palm of my hand and turn back to the house, but my head whips over to the kennel in the corner. I swear I saw something move.

I walk over and crouch down. The opening is too small for me to get into. I look closely and see a latch on the roof. I wedge it open and shriek. Jacob drips the couch he was carrying and runs to me. "what Harlo? what is it?" I look at him and point down. Lying in the bottom of the kennel is a dead dog, with 3 dead pups next to her. In the corner, a little pup sits there crying. "Fuck" Jacob curses and reaches down, but the puppy yelps, and scrambles to the other corner. "Harlo, can you get her?" I nod, reaching down carefully and pulling the puppy out. He calls a vet to book an appointment for them to take the puppy, and one of the movers offer to help get rid of the deceased. I look at Jacob, and he knows what I'm about to ask. "No." I frown and his eyes soften. I look up at him, and back down at the puppy. "She lost her family Jacob. She doesn't have anyone else.' Jacobs eyes widen, and he reaches for me, hugging me tight. The first words I said to him since the accident, and he gives in. "okay fine. But, you clean the mess." I nod and smile, looking down at the puppy. "I missed that smile. What are you gonna call her?" I look down at her and smile. "Hope." He nods and smiles.

Hope was out mother's name.