Melissa: Are you okay? Hey?
Matthew buried his face in his palms as he cried his heart out. Seeing him so broken, Melissa got up and hugged him tightly as she caressed his hair, "It's alright...cry all you want". Like a baby, Matthew sat down on the floor and rested his head on her lap, "Why...why can't I get over her, Mel? It's been so long". Melissa continued to pat his head trying not to cry, "it's okay...it's gonna be okay".
Matthew: I tried to be the best guy for her, the guy she could rely on, the kind of guy she could talk to when she felt low, the guy...the guy she could love. But...the more I try to make her mine, she drifts away. I love her Mel, I love her so much that it hurts.
Hearing his words Melissa couldn't stop her tears, he looked up at Melissa with tears streaming down his cheeks and put her hand on his left-side of the chest, "here... it hurts right here...what...what can I do to stop it Mel? What can I do to stop this hurt?"
Melissa cupped his face in her palms and lifted it up to take a good look at his face, "Look at you, putting down your guards and finally letting those hurt run down as tears". She smiled and continued, "It will feel worse everyday...there will be days you'll be fine without her, there will be days you'll miss her so much that you'll call her just to hear her voice, but one day you'll wake up and realize it's not a bad idea to fall in love again... and I hope that day comes way way faster than it's supposed to because I don't like seeing my little brother so broken and devastated". Matthew rested his head again on her lap as he weeped, "Can I stay like this for a while?"
Melissa nodded, "mhm, as long as you need", she slowly caressed his hair with her fingertips. Even though the situation was depressing, there was a strange calmness in her heart. She could finally feel like an older sister.
.
.
.
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Next morning
Cindy stared at them flabbergasted as they slept like a baby in that position. She looked closely at Matthew and noticed he has drooled all over Melissa's lap while Melissa, with her hand still on his head, rested her head on the couch. Cindy clicked few pictures holding her laugh, she was finally happy that they got this close. Suddenly Olivia woke up and screamed excitedly when she saw Cindy, waking up Melissa and Matthew. Melissa slowly opened her eyes and when she saw Cindy, she pushed Matthew way too hard on the ground.
Matthew: What the hell is wrong with you?
He slowly looked up and saw Cindy laughing hysterically.
Melissa quickly got up on her feet, "When did you get here? You should've called..."
Cindy replied laughing, "If I did I wouldn't have got to see such a hilarious sight!"
They both looked away in embarrassment, they couldn't come up with a proper excuse.
Melissa tried to think fast, "Matthew was too drunk last night and couldn't control himself! Yes! He was wayy too drunk!!"
Cindy looked at her in wide eyes and mockingly replied, "Hope you both didn't do something in the same room where my children are sleeping".
Her face turned redder from embarrassment, "Ew no! He is too ugly for me!"
Matthew: Woah!
Melissa cried out, "What woah!? ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED THAT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE ATTRACTIVE!?", as she gestured with her eyes.
Matthew: What the hell, never! ew! YOU'RE DISGUSTING!
Melissa: THEN STOP TALKING LIKE THAT!
Cindy: Okay! Okay! Calm down you two, jeez.
I'm still way too tired to deal with all this.
Melissa: Wait, why are you here right now? Shouldn't you be at the hospital?
Cindy: I'm fine now, that place is boring.
Since Cindy's mother's death she didn't quite like hospitals much, it reminded her of her mother's skinny body due to illness.
Matthew: How did you get here?
Cindy: Taxi. I already knew the name of the place.
Matthew: Yeah, I know.
Melissa: you left Alex alone at the hospital?
In an annoyed voice Matthew interrupted, "Why? Can't he take care of himself? He isn't a baby.
Cindy could sense the anger in his voice but she chose to ignore it and went to look for Alex's stuff, "I came here to take a shower and take some of his stuff. Don't worry, he is fine. I left after feeding him and wiping his body with wet towel."
Melissa took a glance at Matthew, who didn't look quite well with this information.
Matthew: I'll go and take a walk.
Cindy called him out, "You didn't wash up yet".
He replied coldly, "That's none of your business", and left as he slammed the door behind him.
***