Brother- A Short Story

Brother

So basically, I'm a person that writes down their feelings instead of taking to people because I don't like talking to people about stuff like that. I started write about the kind of picture Brother by Gerard Way (really great song. I suggest listening to it while you read this) painted for me, and it kind of turned into a oneshot thing. Anyway, enjoy. Note: In this little thing he has a city apartment and he isn't married or a father.

.....................................................................................................................................

He's standing on the balcony of his city apartment. It's cold outside, and the smoke from his cigarette flutters through the air. Everything is quiet. A slight breeze blows through, and he shivers but doesn't go inside. He likes the slight pain of it, the feeling of the discomfort. It's something. He's still wearing his pajamas, and the sky is painted purple. He watches it.

He thinks back to when he was a kid, when everything was fine. When he was carefree and happy. There are bags under his eyes because he hasn't slept. He's been thinking. He doesn't know what to do with his life. He's depressed, but at that moment, smoking in the cold, watching the sky, the quiet a blanket that smothers the world, he almost feels okay.

A single tear rolls down his face. He thinks back to how his life has been going recently, what happened last night.

He's meeting up with a bunch of friends, cars zooming around them on the streets. High on the energy of it, how the city is so alive. They're screaming and shouting, running around and laughing. Doing drugs and drinking. They're breaking things and laws and doing anything to feel a rush , to feel something.

Gerard's still on the balcony. He breaks down, and goes back inside. He grabs a picture frame, staring at the smiling faces of his band members. He lets out a sob as he throws it to the floor, watching it shatter. Glass flies everywhere. He backs up to the wall and slides down to the floor, curling up.

Tears are flowing freely. He sobs and presses his face to his knees, letting the tears soak his pajama bottoms. He thinks about the times he shared with his members, how much he misses it, how it's gone. And what for? It's over, but he's not okay. He's been going around and doing all this shit to keep his mind off of it. To feel happy, because life seems worthless. Because he's lost his purpose.

He grabs his phone and dials a number with shaking hands. It rings for a few seconds, before an exhausted voice, laced with surprise, answers.

"Gerard?"

 He shudders and takes a breath.

"Mikey." His voice cracks. It's been months since he's talked to his baby brother.

"Gee, are you okay?"

"I miss you, Mikey," he replies. He puts his phone on speaker and clicks to his home screen. It's still the picture of him and Mikey. His favourite. On the other end of the phone, there's a cough. Then Mikey says, "I miss you too, Gee."

There's a sound on the other end again. "Are you crying?" Gerard asks.

"Yeah."

"I am too," he assures him. Silence, then another sob.

"Do you-" Gerard's voice cracks, "do you think that I could come visit. Maybe stay for a little bit?"

"I would like that," Mikey answers thoughtfully. Another tear silently rolls down Gerard's cheek.

"Okay," he says. And again. "Okay."

"You should go to sleep," Mikey tells him.

"You're right."

"I love you, Gee."

"Love you too, Mikes."

There's a click and the line goes dead. Gerard wipes his cheeks off and takes another drag of his cigarette.

The glass shards wink at him, still scattered on the floor. He sighs, then stands up and shuffles back outside. There's a broom leaning against the corner of the balcony, and he grabs it to sweep the shards.

When he's done, he goes back outside and stares at the sky. He takes a final drag from his cigarette before putting it out. He tosses it in the trash. There's a glimmer of light peeking from behind the buildings. The sun is going to rise soon.

He takes a final look at the city. His city. For the first time in a long time, he isn't afraid, isn't dreading the day. He walks back inside and stops when he sees the picture of him and his bandmates. Their faces stare up at him. It's from the last concert they ever had, and they have their arms slung around each other, smiling and laughing.

He loves them, his bandmates, his brothers, and he always will. But it's time to move on. It's not the only picture he has of them, but it's the one that causes the most pain. He picks it up, considers it. He needs to let go.

He goes back to the balcony. He takes one last look at the picture and rips it. He pulls his hand back, then swings it forward, letting the four pieces go. A cold wind blows and his hair rushes in front of his face. The pieces dance in the air, flowing away from him.

Gerard watches them as they get farther away, farther apart.

"So long and goodnight," he whispers after them. It's time to move on. He turns around and gets into bed, letting out a yawn. As he rolls over, a small smile forms on his face. And for the first time in a long time, he feels okay.

I apologize for anyone who isn't okay after the ending. I was originally going to make it where he puts the picture back on it's place on the desk, but I thought that this ending would be better. I shows him moving on and learning to be okay with the fact that it's over.

I feel like it's something that needed to happen. We all love MCR, but it's over and it has been for a while. I just wanted to show him moving on a getting better.