goodbye, saeran

⠀⠀she always liked torturing saeran more.

⠀⠀it's not like she needed two. he was the spare. he was the unfavorable one— even if she hardly treated either of them like a mother should.

⠀⠀he was tied up most days, his only solace was when saeyoung was able to release him, even if it was for a few hours at a time. he always figured he'd die before he became an adult, no matter how many promises saeyoung made him. but he hadn't expected death to come for him this soon. everything had gotten so much worse.

⠀⠀now saeran was curled up, still chained to the wall as he awaited for his twin brother's return. saeyoung had been sent on another chore, even if he didn't want to leave his little brother alone in that house.

⠀⠀it had been nearly a week since saeran had managed to get anything that resembled a meal. his mother had done this before to him, but usually caved after 3 or so days. this time she hadn't, and it didn't seem like she would anytime soon.

⠀⠀the hunger hurt at first, but by then it only became a dull ache. the strength seemed to sap out of him, which increasingly worried saeyoung. saeran, however, seemed apathetic. his dreams for a better future dissipating, he had accepted whatever his fate may be, as his hope had dwindled a long time ago in his short life.

⠀⠀it was now a week and a half without food or water for saeran. by now, he was declining rapidly. when his mother would try and strike him, he wasn't even able to shield his face in time. conversations with saeyoung were beginning to become wholly one-sided, and even when they did have a window of time for the pair to escape the house for a few hours, saeran was too weak to come.

⠀⠀saeyoung was doing all he could, and it wasn't enough. saeran simply succumbed to it, his eyes and hair dull as he stared listlessly at nothing; barely registering whatever story saeyoung was reading (or simply coming up with on the spot).

"it's about the warlock, saeran! one of your favorites, wanna continue where we left off?"

⠀⠀saeyoung tried sounding as eager as he could, with the hefty book open to the dog eared page in his lap. saeran was too tired to respond.

⠀⠀soon it would be two weeks, and saeran was incredibly pale. his face was sunken, and he was groggy, feverish, and sleeping most of the time. he just laid in the same spot for hours and hours on end. sometimes, saeyoung would simply sit by him and hold his hand. their mother barely acknowledged the fact she was essentially killing her youngest son.

⠀⠀it wouldn't be long until saeran would simply never wake again.