BROKEN VOWS

Chapter Seventeen. It takes courage. Part 2

Rainbow's POV.

We sat there for over an hour, suspended in a poignant silence. Hunter's tears had slowly subsided, leaving him staring blankly into space, lost in thought. I continued to rub gentle circles on his back, offering what little comfort I could.

The stillness of the cemetery was almost palpable, a serene quiet that seemed to envelop us in a soothing balm. It was a tranquility that defied the typical eerie atmosphere of burial grounds, instead exuding a peaceful, welcoming ambiance. The silence was so profound that I could hear the soft cadence of my own breathing.

It was as if the departed souls surrounding us had collectively nodded in understanding, granting Hunter this moment of solace to make amends with his sister. The air seemed to vibrate with a sense of compassionate acceptance, allowing Hunter to confront his grief in a space that felt sacred and protective.

Hunter's voice broke the silence, his words tinged with a mix of sadness and nostalgia.

"You remind me so much of her, you know?" He paused, his eyes gazing into the distance as if summoning memories from a bygone era.

"Who?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "Kayla?"

He nodded, a deep sigh escaping his lips. "Yes, Kayla."

I felt a surge of emotions, and my response caught in my throat. "Oh?" I managed to stammer, feeling like I'd missed an opportunity to respond with more empathy.

Hunter's laughter, though tinged with sadness, was a welcome respite from the somber atmosphere. "Yeah!" He chuckled, his eyes misting over. "Kayla was what you'd call a ray of sunshine. She was the miracle baby who brought backlight into everyone's lives, you see."

He turned to me, his gaze searching, as if ensuring I grasped the significance of his words. His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a jolt of understanding as if I was being entrusted with a precious memory.

"My mom had Kayla eleven years after me," Hunter revealed, his words dropping like a bombshell. My eyes widened in astonishment, nearly popping out of their sockets. Hunter's laughter echoed through the cemetery, a warm, rich sound that was both amused and melancholic.

"We were all pretty shocked, trust me," he continued a faraway look in his eyes. "Imagine how stunned my whole family was when my mom got pregnant just a year after losing her kid sister in a freak accident. She was still reeling from the grief, and then...this miracle happened." Hunter's smile was tinged with a hint of sadness, his voice cracking slightly as he ran his hand through his hair, lost in thought.

"Before Kayla's birth, my family was on the brink of collapse, shattered by my mom's fragile mental state," Hunter revealed, his voice laced with deep-seated concern.

"She was consumed by grief after losing my aunt, and we were terrified she'd spiral into depression. Mom had become a shell of her former self, going through the motions of life on autopilot, oblivious to the consequences of her emotional numbness. It was as if she carried the weight of guilt on her shoulders, blaming herself for the tragedy. I was too young to comprehend the complexities of her emotions, but I knew I wanted my mother back – the vibrant, loving person she once was."

I nodded silently, my eyes locked onto Hunter's, urging him to continue his story. The cemetery's tranquility enveloped us, a solemn witness to the pain and resilience that had shaped Hunter's family.

"Then Kayla happened, and it was as if a switch had been flipped," Hunter said, a warm smile spreading across his face. "My mom transformed from a woman who had lost her spark to a nurturing force, ensuring our home was filled with wholesome food and love. At first, it was about protecting the new life growing inside her, but when she discovered she was having a girl, her enthusiasm knew no bounds. I didn't care what her motivations were; I was just thrilled to see my family healing, slowly piecing itself back together."