Epiphany

Henry was lying on the sofa, his head on a lap, his bright eyes fixed on the ceiling. A hand brushed soft brown hair strands from his face. The television showed silly series in the background, but that wasn't important - with every second that passed the deep fear to be alone rose again in him. When he went home, to this house full of memories. Sometimes the good memories even hurt more than the bad.

»Can't I stay overnight?« asked Henry, hoping for approval. »I can go to university from here.«

Collin sighed softly, his hand paused on stroking Henry's hair and he peered down at him. »Henry,« he started gently. »It takes much longer from here to the university.«

Henry straightened up, looked in Collin's onyx-dark eyes. »I don't care. I want to be with you.« Collin's serious face lightened up with a grin.

»Yes?« Hope flashed in Henry's eyes, but it vanished as soon as Collin pressed his lips together and shook his head.

»I can't do that to you, kid. And we had an agreement. No overnight stays if we have to go to university or work the next day, we'll distract each other.«

Henry sighed. »Since when do you care about rules?« Collin was about to reply when Henry's phone suddenly rang. Collin frowned angrily and Henry gave him an apologetic look before receiving the call. »Hello?«

»Good evening, I'm from the local police department. Am I talking to Henry Moore?«

»Yes.« Henry felt himself tense. The last time he spoke to the police was over four years ago when the investigation of Sophie's disappearance was still in progress. Something like hope made his heart beat faster, maybe something like fear.

»We found a body in the forest today that could be your sister. A DNA test is in progress. Would you come to us as soon as possible to identify the body and clarify everything else?«

Henry felt something break in him, quietly, his hope, it dissolved into nothing and everything was swallowed by the fear that had now developed into the inevitable reality. His hands trembled, the tears rose in him and he knew that now, he had lost everything.

Panicked he looked at Collin, who looked back in confusion. »What? What is it?« He whispered angrily, shaking him.

»Of course,« replied Henry. »I'm coming.« Then he ended the call. »She's dead.« His voice cracked and the first tears streamed down his cheek. »Sophie is dead«. Collin swore softly and put his arms around him, stroking his back comfortingly.

»Are they sure it's Sophie?« He asked, hugging Henry tightly, who buried his face in Collin's neck.

»T-they don't know exactly yet.«

Collin got up abruptly, dragged Henry up too. »We have to go there now.« Henry's heart didn't stop beating in an immense speed. The panic of seeing what was left of his sister almost devoured him, but he had to do it and Collin held his hand so tightly that he almost thought he could do it. Together with him.

He skipped his lecture the next day, because after looking at his decaying dead sister, from who was almost nothing left but bones and some pieces of... no, don't think about it... he couldn't sleep at all. Instead, he had a plan: he had to move out of their apartment. Sophie would never come back, and the memories were just too painful. He couldn't stay here a day longer.

It was harder than usual to open the door to her room, which was still hanging a little crooked on its hinges. He blinked, saw her bed, which he had left as it was. The old-fashioned bedspread with the flowers, the half-read book on her bedside table. The many photos of her friends and her. Of her and Henry. A picture of their parents with them when they were little. The four smiled into the camera - a perfect family.