Solace

Part XXIII: Siblings

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of the carpenter's house, casting a gentle glow over the room where Anya and Archie were sleeping. Surya had spent the night sitting in a chair next to Anya's bed, keeping a quiet vigil as his little sister and young cousin finally found some peace after the emotional day they'd had. Anya's military uniform was neatly folded on a chair nearby, a stark contrast to the stuffed animals and slushies scattered across the room that Archie had insisted on sharing with her.

Surya's eyes fluttered open as the first rays of sunlight touched his face. He had dozed off at some point during the night, still sitting upright in the chair. His neck was stiff, and a dull ache had settled in his back, but he didn't mind. Seeing Anya and Archie curled up together, safe and sound, made the discomfort worth it. For a few minutes, he simply watched them sleep, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips.

Careful not to wake them, Surya stood up, stretching out the kinks in his muscles before quietly slipping out of the room. He made his way to the kitchen, where the house was still silent, everyone else still lost in sleep. The familiar scent of wood and the faint aroma of last night's soup lingered in the air, bringing a sense of comfort to the otherwise heavy atmosphere.

***

Surya moved through the kitchen with practiced ease, mindful of the creaky floorboards as he brewed a pot of coffee. The steam rose from the cup he poured, swirling into the cool morning air. He wrapped his hands around the mug, seeking warmth and a moment of quiet as he leaned against the counter, staring out the window.

His thoughts drifted back to Maya. The anger and hurt he had unleashed on her were still fresh in his mind, gnawing at his conscience. He knew he had to make amends, to reach out and try to repair the damage he had done. But the words wouldn't come. Every time he tried to find the right way to apologize, he stumbled, caught between his own grief and the knowledge that Maya was hurting too.

How did it come to this? he thought, the weight of the past few days pressing down on him. I never wanted to hurt her... I just wanted to protect our family. But I'm hurt too...

The image of Maya's tearful face flashed through his mind again, making his heart clench. He had been so focused on his own pain that he hadn't stopped to consider what she was going through. Now, the guilt was overwhelming, and he didn't know how to fix it.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear Anya until she was standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe with her head tilted to the side, watching him. "Surya," she called softly, her voice still rough from sleep. "Why are you up so early? And why did you sleep in the chair all night?"

Surya turned to her, offering a small, tired smile. "Couldn't sleep," he admitted, shrugging slightly. "And the chair wasn't so bad. I'll put some hot cream on my neck later if it gets worse."

Anya chuckled lightly, her eyes softening as she stepped into the kitchen. "You're going to hurt yourself one of these days, you know." She accepted the cup of coffee Surya handed her, wrapping her hands around it for warmth. They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, the early morning stillness surrounding them.

***

Anya took a sip of her coffee, her expression turning somber as she looked down at the dark liquid.

"When I got back to the station after the mission," she began quietly, "a colleague pulled me aside. He told me I had over fifty missed calls, all from different people. But most of them were from you."

Surya's heart ached at the memory. He remembered those frantic calls, the fear and desperation he had felt, knowing that Anya was unreachable.

"I tried to get a hold of you as soon as... as soon as Mom passed," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "I didn't know what else to do."