Blood Brothers 🩸

The Weight of Time

### **INT. BOBBY'S APARTMENT - MORNING**

Ten years had passed since that fateful day, yet the pain still felt fresh, like an open wound refusing to heal. Bobby sat at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee growing cold in front of him. The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes swirling in the air, but all he felt was the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders.

Mia had grown into a bright, creative fifteen-year-old, but Bobby struggled to see the beauty in her accomplishments. She attended a local arts high school known for its exceptional programs in visual arts and theater. Mia loved painting and spent hours in her room sketching and creating, her walls adorned with vibrant pieces that reflected her vivid imagination.

"Dad, look at this!" she'd often call, bursting into the room with a new project, her eyes sparkling with excitement. But each time, Bobby felt a pang of regret, a reminder of the mother she would never truly know.

"How was school today?" he asked, his voice more gruff than he intended.

"It was great! We started working on our first big project for the art show!" Mia replied, her enthusiasm infectious. She was so talented, and yet all he could think about was the fact that Daniella wasn't there to see it.

"Sounds awesome, kiddo," he said, forcing a smile. But the truth was, he was terrified of her growing up. This was her first year of high school, and the thought of her talking to boys made his stomach churn.

"Dad, don't worry! I'm focused on my art," she reassured him, sensing his unease. "Besides, most of the boys at school are just... ugh. You know?"

He chuckled lightly, grateful for her innocence. "Yeah, I remember that phase. Just keep your head in the books, alright?"

### **INT. BOBBY'S APARTMENT - LATER**

As Mia headed off to school, Bobby found himself alone again, the silence of the apartment swallowing him whole. He had been trying to stay sober, but the temptation was always lurking. He missed Daniella every single day, the way she had balanced him out, the warmth of her laughter that had filled their home.

His brothers were doing well, each carving out lives filled with family and happiness. Tommy was married with two kids, a boy and a girl, and he often posted pictures of their family outings on social media. Frances had recently welcomed a baby girl, a little bundle of joy that brought light into his life.

Bobby would scroll through those pictures, feeling a mix of pride and envy. "Look at them, living their best lives," he muttered to himself, bitterness creeping in. "Must be nice to be happy."

His brothers had made it work, had found ways to move on from the tragedy that had struck their family. They had each other, a support system that Bobby felt he had lost. He had distanced himself, too wrapped up in his own grief and anger to reach out.

### **INT. BOBBY'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - EVENING**

As the sun set, casting long shadows across the room, Bobby poured himself another cup of coffee, trying to shake off the weight of his thoughts. He missed Daniella fiercely, the ache in his chest a constant reminder of what he had lost.

"Why can't I be happy like them?" he questioned aloud, his voice echoing in the empty space. "Why can't I just let go?"

He thought about how many times he had tried to pick up the pieces, only to find himself back in the same dark place. The bottle always seemed to call to him, an easy escape from the pain he felt. But he knew that wasn't the answer.

Mia was counting on him, and he couldn't let her down. "You need to stay strong for her," he whispered to himself, the words feeling hollow. "You owe her that much."

### **EXT. SCHOOL - LATER THAT WEEK**

At Mia's school, the halls were filled with laughter, excitement buzzing in the air. Bobby stood outside, watching as she mingled with her friends, her smile lighting up the gray world around him. But as he watched, he felt that familiar knot of anxiety in his stomach.

Boys were starting to notice her, and she was blossoming into a young woman. He saw a couple of guys lingering around her, their eyes filled with admiration. One of them, tall and lanky with a goofy grin, made Mia laugh. Bobby clenched his fists, feeling a mix of protectiveness and dread.

"Just keep it together, Bobby," he muttered under his breath. "She's not a little girl anymore."

He wanted to be proud, to support her as she navigated this new chapter in her life. But all he could think about was how much he missed Daniella, how much she would have loved to see their daughter grow up.

"Mom would've loved you so much," he whispered, his heart aching as he recalled her laughter, the way she had filled their lives with joy. "I wish you could be here to see this."

As Mia caught sight of him, her face lit up, and she waved enthusiastically. Bobby forced himself to smile back, knowing he had to keep pushing forward, even as the weight of the past threatened to pull him under.

### **INT. BOBBY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT**

That night, after Mia had gone to bed, Bobby sat alone in the living room, staring at the wall. "You've got to do better," he told himself, though the words felt empty.

He picked up his phone and scrolled through the pictures of his brothers' families, their smiles a reminder of what he had lost. "Daniella, I wish I could be as happy as them," he said quietly, the tears welling up in his eyes. "But something's holding me back. Something I can't shake."

He closed his eyes, letting the memories wash over him—Daniella's laughter, her warmth, the dreams they had shared. "I just wish you were here," he murmured, the isolation closing in around him.

As he sat in the quiet of the night, he realized that the struggle wasn't just about staying sober; it was about finding a way to live again, to embrace the life that Mia was building without her mother. And deep down, he knew he had to try. For her sake. For Daniella's memory.

**FADE OUT.*