I wear BROKEN like a crown

12- Siblings bond

I knew I was lucky to have an older brother. My other friends would sigh in envy when I told them. They were either an only child, or the oldest, or didn't have any boy siblings.

Regardless, I was the "lucky" one. I didn't feel lucky though. Hunter was a nuisance at best. He acted younger than me, and I'm the youngest. He only was stronger, and though I learned how to fight from constantly losing against him- I did always lose.

Then along came Adam, in all of his buck teethed, skinned kneed glory. We clicked right away. Then the first night I went to his house (to this day unknown to my dad), I met Angeline. Though conversation was way easier with Adam, she was the first girl I ever knew who was my age with an older brother, even if it was only by 30 minutes. The three of us spent the night laughing Until I had to leave and sneak back into my room.

So, I became friends with the O'Connor twins. Eventually Adam got close with Hunter too, though Angelina still kept my brother at arms length for some reason. Still don't know why.

Unlike the twins, Hunter's almost three years older than me. He was the "bad apple"- he despised me at first because he was older yet was compared to me, the youngest. 

That changed around the first time I was in a fight and his "overprotective older brother instincts" kicked in. I had never seen him so mad, and honestly I think he was a bit surprised at how mad he was himself. We got closer after collectively demolishing them and being expelled from our old middle school, and the rest is history.

He always expected himself to be there if I got hurt. Word of fights usually spreads fast and in this small town, at least for the kids, Hunters at the top.

But this type of thing, things that happen in the darkest room, in the quiet of a loud party, behind locked doors- word doesn't travel at all. There was nothing he could do.

But as he looked at me, I clearly saw the guilt in his eyes.

"I should've been there." He whispered once we were alone.

"Or maybe I shouldn't have been there." I replied.

He pushed my shoulder slightly. "Don't speak nonsense, it wasn't your fault." The words were harsh but I could tell it was because he couldn't express his feelings any other way.

"I should've stayed home." I repeated.

"Thea, stop it." His voice wasn't so strong anymore. But I could hardly hear him.

"How was the game with Adam?" I asked to change the subject, but I didn't expect him to burst into tears.

I've hadnt seen my brother cry in 4 years, the first and only time was when his then girlfriend for almost a year moved across the country. The door softly opened before it closed again.

I patted his back. "Why, Hunter?" I asked.

"I'm so sorry, Thee, I'm so sorry." His voice didn't shake despite his shoulders doing so. I continued rubbing his back.

Funny. Once again comforting someone else. I'll probably have to comfort my dad too.

"It's not your fault." I finally spoke up. He didn't reply, holding on to my sleeves tightly, in the way he does when he wants to hold my wrists but know it'll hurt me.

"I- I called him over. He would've been there if I hadn't." His voice wavered. "I said..."

He couldn't finish, shoulders shaking harder now.

"Hush, Hunter. I'm okay." I try and convince him. And myself.

"Thea." He finally sat up, looking at me. "You won't ever suffer like this again. I'll find him. He'll get what's coming for him."

And if someone else comes along? Like the people he sent the video to? But no one knows about that. They shouldn't. I just pray it doesn't get out. They can't see me like that.

"Just leave it." I whispered. "I'm okay."

"You were always stronger than me, baby sis. But I'll be strong for you too. You don't fool me." And he left the room.

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Ma nabad baa! Thanks for reading my dears!

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