Final Breath

Eleven

'Are you okay?'
I look over on my uncle Donnie's couch to see Tyson sitting next to me, looking worried. I see tears in his eyes, and I start to panic. Did Dad already tell him?
'Tired,' I try to crack a joke, but Tyson doesn't smile or laugh at all. I sit up straight on the couch and reach out for my younger brother's small hands. He goes right in for a hug, squeezing my neck and everything.
'Let's go somewhere quiet,' I whisper in Tyson's ear, and then we go to the staircase where no one can listen to our conversation. The only person I'm concerned about with this situation is, and always has been, my younger brother.

'What does this mean?'
I fight tears back at Tyson's question, not sure if he's ready for that part of the conversation. I turn my head away from him, still holding both of his hands. Tyson just waits for a response, already crying. There's tear stains on his face.
'Just know that I'm going somewhere soon,' I choose my words carefully. Tyson thankfully doesn't understand what I'm really saying. The downside is that he doesn't understand what I'm saying, at the same time.
'Can I go with you?'
The tears start falling at the question, and I can't do anything about it. I pull my younger brother in my arms and rub his back, but I don't answer his question. We've done enough talking for the moment.