Ballad of Souls (Book 1/4)

Part 1 Chapter 1: Ethan

The morning was warm for a winter's day. Ethan's tenth year started today. His only goal was to seem like he healed from his loss. He knew it was going to be difficult especially because the loss was too great to heal from over three weeks. He wanted to get back into the strong version of himself that he was before that terrible night. He was determined to not be the center of attention as it would be too much for him.

He went downstairs to grab some coffee before school. He stepped into the kitchen and greeted his aunt, Helena, who had taken him and his brother in after last Christmas. Helena was only twenty four years old and just finished college. Helena should be living her life, traveling, but no. She has to take care of two twin teenagers with no parents. Ethan shook the feeling of guilt away and reached for a cup for coffee.

"So," Helena said. "How'd you sleep last night?"

"Pretty good, to be honest," Ethan answered.

"That's amazing," she said, cheerfully. Ethan could tell she did not sleep well. "You seem chipper this morning."

"Yeah. I just feel like today is going to be a really good day." Ethan said as he started stirring his coffee.

Helena turned around and went to the door of the kitchen. She shouted for Ethan's brother. "Leo!" she shouted. "You are going to be late. Get dressed and come get some coffee." Helena looked at Ethan with her eyebrows raised. "Did I 'parent' well?" she asked.

"Perfect," Ethan said as he took a sip of coffee. Helena smiled and proudly walked to the counter to make Leo coffee.

Just as she stirred Leo's coffee, he walked in and greeted them.

"Hey bud," Helena smiled. "Got some coffee for you. You want me to give you a lift?"

"Nah," he answered, taking the coffee from her. He seemed very off today. "Anna is driving us today." Anna Fredrick was a childhood friend of Leo's who he slept with and their friendship drifted apart so Ethan was very surprised when he heard her name. Helena did not know about what happened between Anna and Leo.

"Oh. Okay. Well I am going to head out. I will see you two later." She said, grabbing her handbag and whizzed out the door.

Ethan turned to Leo. "You're still hanging out with Anna?"

Leo let out an exasperated breath and turned to Ethan with a grim look on his face. His eyes were bloodshot. That is what it was, he was high. That was why he seemed off. "This again?" he asked. "Mind your own business, will ya? Thanks." he said, about to leave.

"Oh no you don't," Ethan said, grabbing him by his shirt and throwing him against the wall. "Is she supplying you with drugs? Is she sleeping with you again? What fucking happened with her. You didn't talk to her for months and now you bring her up and you're high again."

"I don't need to tell you anything. You are not my parent or guardian."
"Well our parents are dead, Leo" Ethan shouted as he let Leo go. His throat grew a lump and his eyes filled with tears. "They're not coming back."

"Because of you!" Leo said, shoving his brother out of his way, opening the door and slamming it closed.

Ethan clenched his fist and started letting the anger transform into sadness. He slowly fell to the ground and started crying into his arms that were wrapped around his knees. Ethan's plan to put on the happy mask for the day had been shattered. Ethan should have just kept quiet and not bothered Leo. He should have done it more gently.

Ethan heard a knock on the door. He quickly wiped his tears and stood up. He opened the door and Bella was standing there. He let out a heavy breath and hugged Bella.
"You good?" she asked.
He shook his head.
"We can talk about it in the car," she said, cupping his face. "Let's go."