Goodbye, brother mine.

Chapter 7: The Secret.

⚠️ Trigger Warnings for the Chapter: ⚠️
Mentions of starving, eating disorder, nightmares.

Mycroft Holmes' Letter for Sherlock: (Continued)

I spent the entire next week starving myself. It was not easy, mind you. It needed deliberate planning to make sure that Mummy or Daddy did not notice it. Everyone's day in our family started at different times so pretending that I've already eaten was not simple, but somehow I managed to fool everyone. Mummy used to be the first one up. Her day used to start early, doing chores and getting everything ready for us. Mummy would be almost done with cooking breakfast when Dad would walk in, showered and still smelling of soap to pack his lunch for work. Both of us would wake up to the delicious smell of Mum's cooking and quickly get ready to go down for breakfast. We used to set the table for breakfast while Mummy stirred the pots. We would all sit down together and you and I would discuss our plans for the day while Dad read the newspaper and Mummy fussed over her babies, that is us. After that, Dad would leave for work and Mummy would get back to her work. We both would then take Redbeard for a walk and while he played around the gravestones, we would unleash the pirates within us and don our pirate hats while brandishing our swords. Ahh.. The good old carefree days... As the Italians say, "La dolcezza del non far niente."

I don't think you will recall this, but your name 'Sherlock' was my formulation. I started calling you Sherlock when you were a little baby because of your thick curly locks which always used to fall in your face. The name stuck and eventually, everyone started calling you Sherlock. I used to hate that it was no longer exclusively our thing but when Dad had it legally added to your name, my joy knew no bounds.

The first time we kept a secret from our parents was when you were three. Everyone had finished dinner and we were in your room. I was reading you a bedtime story. You were in your bed, with your duvet raised up to your chin and your eyes looking at me expectantly. I was sitting in a chair beside your bed with a hardcover of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' in my hand. You loved it when I read to you, especially when I read it with different voice modulations changing from character to character. When I read the Mad Hatter's part, you giggled and your curly hair fell in your eyes. I pushed them away from your face with my finger and then continued reading. After some time, I realised that you were too quiet. I looked up from the book and realised that you had fallen asleep. I couldn't help but watch you sleep. You looked so peaceful and angelic with your untamed locks a halo, your dark eyelashes so still, your skin radiating a soft glow in the warm light of your table lamp and your rose pink lips slightly open. I smiled to myself while adjusting your duvet before switching the table lamp off and heading to my room. When I reached my room, I kept the book in its rightful place on the shelf. I changed into my comfy pyjamas and headed to bed as a big yawn overwhelmed me. I slid into the covers and I was gone the moment my head touched the pillow.

"Mike! Wake up!" I startled awake at your voice. "Sherlock? What happened?" I said, sitting up and switching the table lamp on. "Did you have a bad dream?" I asked while rubbing my eyes. "No. I... umm..." You struggled to find the right words. "What is it, Sherly? You can tell me." I said encouragingly. "Mikey, I... I wet the bed." You mumbled while looking at the floor. "Oh. Oooh!" I said as I fully understood what you had just told me. "I'm so sorry. I promise that it was an accident." You said, your voice breaking and tears pooling in your eyes. "Ohh Sherlock! It's alright. It's not a big deal." I said while cupping your face with my hands. "What will Mummy and Daddy think? Maybe they will give me away to Uncle Rudy." You murmured with your eyes widening in horror. "What? No! They won't give you away to anyone. I won't let them. Also, why would they part with you? They love you, Sherly and I love you. It's okay." I said, trying to calm you down. "Wait! I have an idea. Just do as I say and they won't ever know what happened." You looked at me curiously. "Now, we've got work to do so wipe your tears and come with me." You wiped your face with your t-shirt's sleeve and we both tiptoed to your room. Once inside, we gave a collective sigh of relief. I took out another set of clothes from your cupboard and gave them to you. "Okay, now change your clothes Sherlock and put them in the clothes hamper in the bathroom." You were still unsure but you did as I asked you to. While you were changing, I picked up your duvet from the bed and set it down on the floor. I tore your bed sheet off of your bed and added it to the pile. It was quite a task, even for a ten year old. "Phew!" I said while wiping my brow. "Wow Mikey! There is no sign of it now." You said incredulously, coming out of the bathroom. I smiled at you and pointed to the heap on the floor, "You're forgetting about this, Detective. This is the most incriminating proof against you." I picked up both the duvet and the bedspread and took them to the wash basin in your bathroom. You followed me to the door and peeked inside to see what I was doing. I washed the wet blotches and then I made your bed using the same sheet and duvet. "There now, it will dry overnight and no one will know what happened." I turned around to look at you, but I was surprised to find out that I was, in fact, alone in the room. I figured you must have gone to my room so I put your pillows in their original place and made my way to my room. I slowly opened my door to make sure it didn't creak. I sneaked in carefully and I saw a sight which melted my heart. You were sound asleep in my bed, curled up in a fetal position, hugging one of my pillows tightly and the duvet pulled up to your waist. I couldn't help the face-splitting grin come over my face. I delicately picked up an extra pillow from the bed and a spare blanket. Quietly, I closed the door to my room before stealing one more glance of the adorable sight in front of me.

"Mycroft! Why are you sleeping on the couch?" I opened my eyes to see Mummy looking at me with her hands on her hips. I look around and remember our previous night's adventure. Damn! I can't tell her the truth. Sherlock will never forgive me if I do. I thought to myself. "Uh... My room was too cold so I came here for warmth. The living room was warmer and cozier than my bedroom due to the fireplace and I guess I must have fallen asleep." I lied with a sheepish smile on my face. "Tsk! You could've come to my room to sleep, Mikey. Dad and I wouldn't mind. I was shocked to walk into the living room and see a pair of white clad feet peeping from the couch." Mummy said, her head shaking in disappointment. "Come on now. Hurry up and get ready. Breakfast will be ready in some time." I gathered my pillow and blanket from the couch and made a beeline for my bedroom. You were still knocked out. I dumped the pillow and blanket on the empty side of my bed and bent down close to you. "Wake up Sherlock... It's half past eight in the morning." You slowly opened your eyes. "What happened? Did Mummy find out?" You asked me, worried. "No brother dear, you fell asleep in my bed and I spent the remainder of the night on the couch." I replied with a chuckle. "Oh, does that mean I won't be sent away? No one will find out about it?" You asked. "Yes, no one will. It will be our little secret." I reassured you. "Now, let's get ready as breakfast will be ready soon."