Moments Before

Noah

After a long day of work and dealing with Ashton I'm beat when I finally get back to my crappy apartment. Lena will be off work by now and pissed that I'm late. Sticking my key into the bolt and wiggling I think about how easy the locks would be to pick. There's four, and inside a chain. But still, it doesn't do anything to lessen my concern. 

"I-" Apparently I look as bad as I feel because Lena was about to tear into me and than suddenly her mouth snaps shut. "Have a good night Noah. I fed him and helped him go to the bathroom. He gets nervous when you're not home so I don't think he's asleep yet." Lena exited simply and I tried to let go of the constant tension between my shoulders. It's only a two bedroom and the entire place is cramped. The kitchen cupboards have scuffs on them from before I got there, the carpeted floor has stains that will never come out and the shower never has hot water. Isn't it great to be home?

I turn into the bedroom and force a happy smile on my face. Rico is laying tucked under the faded and gross blankets, he turns his head to stare at me. 

"You ok?" He's three years younger. 

"Yeah bud. How are you doing?"

"I'm okay. Lena was helping me learn to write again. I just can't- I feel so stupid Noah." A familiar and pulsing rage ignites inside but I keep it under raps so as not to frighten him.

"You're not stupid. You're my genius kid brother, remember?" I hope that I sound as confident about his recovery as I want to be. 

"I know what I want to write, and I can read fine. But it's like my brain can't communicate to my hand when to go up or down. Maybe I should just give up Noah. Maybe I'm not supposed to learn all of it over again." He sounds lonely, I haven't been here as much as I should be but it's hard when I'm working all the time.

"No. You'll get it. Now it's time for some sleep okay kiddo?" He nodded and gave me a fragile smile. Any bad news will snatch it away and I can't let on that anything is wrong. I stretch a smile onto my own face and stand after giving him a hug. Maybe my smile would have stayed if I hadn't have had to see the wheelchair by the bed. 

Like every other night before falling asleep I vow to find whoever did this to him. Whoever found a kid in an alley, hit him with a  car, got out and beat him to a pulp. Whoever gave my brother a brain injury. Whoever took away his ability to walk. Rico used to be like every other kid, I could leave him here without Lena the 24/7 monitor. Than someone took it all away from him. He's paraplegic, and with the brain injury we don't know if he'll get back to 100% ever. 

I'm running out of money to pay Lena, rent is due soon and I noticed the bills stacked up at Sonya's. It's not the first time I'm considering getting another job. But I don't have the time and my grades have to be good if I want a scholarship. Than I'll got to college, get a better job and I'll be able to take care of my brother again.