Final Breath

Eight

'Tyler?'
I look up from plugging my charger into my phone in one of my hotel room outlets to see Tyson standing in the doorway with a piece of paper and his favorite pen. He's smiling real wide, almost causing me to start crying. I'm going to miss him.
'What's up, bud?' I outstrech my arm for a hug that my little brother eagerly runs into. I take in his butterscotch scent deeply, the tears beginning to start up. I pray to God Tyson doesn't notice them.
'I drew you again,' Tyson tells me, showing off his new piece of art. This time I'm in a white button-down dress shirt and black pants with black shoes, and a black bow tie. My hands are covered in rings, matching the color of my one pierced ear. Above the drawing off the top of my head are the words 'best brother' in fancy lettering. When did he learn to do that?
'Why are you crying?' Tyson looks worried now, and he puts a hand on my arm. His hand is cold to the touch, but I barely feel it.
I don't say anything as I pull Tyson back into my arms. I don't see his facial expression, but I'm willing to bet it's a mix between confusion and worry.
He'll find out soon enough.

'Let's go to the pool,' I suggest to Tyson a few hours later when I'm back to playing video games on my phone.
Tyson cheers excitedly before running off to his shared room with Dad for his swim trunks. Dad's already sitting on the bed with some sports magazine, and he smiles up at me after I talk to Tyson.
'Dad?' I clear my throat as I try to decide my words carefully, in a way that doesn't cause Dad to freak out and die before I'm supposed to.
'Hmmmm?' Dad doesn't even look at me when he responds, his attention still focused on the magazine. I can feel my throat tighten up, and my vision starts to blur. Is it time to die already?
'I want to tell him.'
Dad's head snaps up to look me in the eyes. His eyes are wide and scared. I can see the physical beads of sweat running down the sides of his face, which is already beet-red.

'Tyler,' Dad speaks in a scared tone, 'please don't do this. He's not going to take it well.'
'Don't you think I know that?' I accidentally snap at Dad. He doesn't say anything, but I can tell he's more scared for Tyson than he is mad at me for being disrespectful.
'Listen,' Dad stands up now and slowly walks over to me, 'just don't do it today, please? Just wait till we get back home. For me? Please?'
I have no energy to go back and forth with Dad. I just nod and smile sadly before Dad pulls me in a tight hug and then kisses my cheek. Just as I pull away from him, the door to the bathroom in the room opens, revealing a shirtless Tyson who's now in his favorite red swim trunks and singing a made-up song called 'I love Tyler' at the top of his lungs. I start tearing up again, but I make sure Tyson doesn't see me this time.