Ty woke up with a start. He was screaming and it woke his brother. This wasn't the first time it was happening. It had happened so many times that Kay had even lost count.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Kay asked though he knew what was wrong. His brother had been having these nightmares for four years since their father's death. was crying silently and Kay held him in a hug as he patted his brother's back gently. It took Leo a while to get his bearings back. He hated it whenever he had to show his weakness to his younger brother. He was supposed to be the grown up here damm it!
Leo hated it when he had to wake his younger brother at night knowing that he, Kay, had school the following day. But he couldn't help himself. The nightmares just wouldn't stop.
Tonight's was even worse since it was the anniversary of their father's death and they could not even visit his grave because he didn't even know where it was. He hated this.
* * * * *
"We are going to pick your brother then go to the park as promised Leo. No need to brood," his ever smiling mother said as she pinched his cheek and he smiled.
"Okay Mom. I...," before Leo could answer, there was a screeching sound as their vehicle veered off-road. That was the last thing he remembered.
* * * * *
Their mother called them from the other room and Leo quickly wiped his tears away as Kay helped him wipe his face with a wet towel to hide the fact that he had cried.
"Boys?" Their mother called again.
"Yes Ma, coming," they both shouted as they ran into her room.
Their mother's room was small. It was around six feet by seventy. They had partitioned he small living room using cardboard panels so as to give her privacy. It didnt have a lot of things in it. It had a small bed (she didn't need a big bed since she couldn't move - not that they could afford it anyway), a bed-side table (which had on it different types of medicines, a water jug and a glass of water) and a small cupboard where they kept her few dresses.
The room, like the rest of the house, was newly painted a bright turquoise blue colour. The doctor had said that bright colours would help raise their mother's mood and it could help her get better. She was the one who had chosen the blue green colour because he loved it.
They sat on their mom's bed when they entered and Kay held her hand.
"What's wrong mama?" Leo asked as he sat on the bed. "Do you need anything?"
"I heard shouting. What's wrong? Are you having nightmares again baby?" She asked as she looked at Leo all worried.
Leo and Kay exchanged a look before Leo hurriedly said, "no ma. I was admonishing Kay for staying up this late and he has school tomorrow."
Their mother looked from each to the other with a doubtful look about her face but she did not call them on their lie. She knew her son was suffering but she couldn't help and that made her feel useless. She just smiled at them, wished them a good night and told them to go to sleep.
Kay looked at his brother worriedly as they walked into the room they shared but Leo was quick to remind him that he was the eldest and he did not have to worry. They then got into their shared bed and slept. Each lost in his own world.
Leo hoped that tomorrow would be a good day. Not that he had hopes but he still hoped.
Hope is the last thing a person loses even in the direst of circumstances, isn't it?
So, there was still hope.