Elements: The Powers Within (Book 5)

I Know You Can't Hear Me But...(Chapter 22)

A few days later...

Brenton sits besides Urana's hospital bed. He glances around to see that everyone has fallen asleep. Owen with his head on the edge of the bed, Alex and Ava leaning against each other on the couch, Sasha leaning her head against Brenton's shoulder and the adults all on the couch.

But the only person Brenton focuses on is his little sister...lying there and slowly turning into someone she's not.

"Hey sis," Brenton holds her hand. No sibling ever calls the other by 'bro!' or 'sis!' on a normal basis. Nope, it's just not how things worked. "This is super cliché of me...talking to you as if you can hear me but-"

He pauses. Unsure of if he could continue without bursting into tears. He takes a deep breath and starts again.

"But I'm going to talk to you anyway," Brenton places both of his hands on Urana's one hand. "I guess I understand why you didn't want to say anything and honestly, that's our fault. We made you feel like you couldn't talk to us, that you're insignificant...and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you."

Brenton feels himself crying and he wipes his eyes.

"I'm really sorry Urana...I'm so sorry. I know it doesn't make a difference anymore but I'm so sorry," Brenton starts to sob. "I should have made it so that you felt like you could talk to me...but I didn't and I'm a terrible person for that. I'm sorry Urana!"

Brenton sighs, wiping his eyes. He couldn't keep on doing this. Seeing Urana like this reminded him of when he had to go identify his adoptive parents.

Lifeless.

Except Urana still looks better than they did. Brenton bites down on his lip to keep himself from crying out loud.

He didn't want to think about how, for the first time, he's glad that all his siblings from the Orphanage are adopted. Even now he's thankful that they didn't have to be there...he gulps, knowing that they would've died alongside Carol and Tyler had they been there.

"And whatever's going on inside your mind..." Brenton's voice trails off. "I know you can come back with a win. You can do it Urana. You're a great fighter and you're strong and smart and you're gonna get thorough anything life throws at you because you're the best!"

"Jeez, you're really corny," Sasha comments, her head still resting against Brenton's shoulder. He jerks back in surprise. "Relax, you're acting like I was gonna kill you."

"Honesty, I've been poked by so many sharp things by you that I wouldn't even be surprised," Brenton lets out a breath of relief.

"Oh gosh, am I that mean?" Sasha wonders and Brenton shakes his head 'no.'

"You're just careful," Brenton replies. "Also, did I wake you up? I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You didn't, I just woke up," Sasha yawns, then looks over at Urana. "She's gonna be okay Brenton. She's cool like that."

"But...but what if Urana isn't okay?" Brenton's bottom lip quivers in fear. "What if she's not okay because I made her feel like she couldn't talk to me?"

"Okay so clearly you and Owen are gonna be in the blame game for a while," Sasha lifts her head off of his shoulder. "Listen dude, Urana is gonna be okay. Just watch. If anyone is gonna make sure no one is linked with her, it's that girl right there."

"I'm sorry Sasha," Brenton looks at her with teary eyes.

"What for?"

"For you comforting me after you just came out of a toxic relationship."