A Million Heartbeats

Achilles

Robert was trying to concentrate on his math homework, but his eyes were starting to feel heavy and he could barely know what he was doing anymore, so he closed his book and decided to go outside to get some fresh air. On his way out he crossed paths with Claudine on the stairs and noticed that the distinctive sparkle on her blue eyes was missing. He grabbed her arm and stopped her as she was going up.

“Hey are you all right?”. He asked her concerned.

Claudine just nodded and briefly looked up at him trying to contain the tears that were starting to come out of her eyes. She pulled away from his arm aggressively and continued walking upstairs to her room.  Robert followed her, she had left the door open and he entered and saw her lying down on the bed crying deeply. It broke his heart to hear her little voice sobbing. He knew Claudine as a happy little person that could always find the good in others; he knew it had to be something very especial to her to make her cry like this. He carefully got closer and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Leave me alone”. Claudine told Robert with her voice that was breaking between sobs as he placed his hand on her back.

“Come on Claudine, tell me what’s wrong?”.

“What do you want to know? you never care about me anymore anyway”. Claudine told him. Ever since their father had told them about moving out, his attitude towards his family had changed, he was more distant and apathetic, and of course after knowing him as a loving brother she now felt like she wasn't important to him anymore.

Robert recognized the feelings his sister was having, she was starting to feel like she was alone too and he was not going to let that happen, not now that he knew what it was like. And definitely not to a little sensible and lovely girl like her. If his father was going to fail her just as he had failed him, he was now old enough to take his father’s place and protect her.

After noticing that Robert didn't leave her side even when she told him to do so,Claudine lifted up her face to look at him as she wiped off her tears. Robert couldn't do more than give her a warm smile.

“So what is it?”. He asked her.

“I feel sad because daddy is going to leave on Monday and he is coming back in six months”. Claudine told his brother with her voice starting to break again and the tears coming out her eyes.

“I see. But that’s okay you know? That’s what he does it’s his job and he has to do it, but I promise you that everything is going to be all right”. Robert told her as he extended his hand to wipe off the tears sliding off her rosy cheeks.

“Who is going to protect me and my mommy?”. She asked him rubbing her eyes.

“I know I haven’t been too kind with you lately but, I want you to know that I will always be here for you anytime you need me, it doesn't matter if it’s too late or too early or if I am mad for some reason, I promise you that reason is never going to be you”. Robert said.

His kind words put back the sweet smile that lightens up her face; it had been a long time since she last heard him talk like that. Her little mind and heart couldn't knew about the changes his brother was going through, the only thing she knew was that she wanted his loving and caring brother back, the one she knew from Brentwood.

“I love you very much Rob”. She told him giving him a big hug that touched the deep of his heart.

“I love you too duckling".

She smiled as he called her by the nickname he used to call her when she was little, that brought the sparkle back to her eyes.

“So where were you going?”. Claudine asked him talking about when they crossed paths on the stairs.