Vyan eased the door open, a sliver at first, his fingers hovering over the wood as if fearing it might creak and shatter the silence inside.
A faint, amber glow spilled in from the hallway, casting shadows over the dim room. In the middle of it, Aster sat hunched in a wheelchair. His red hair flowed over his shoulders like a cascade of rusted fire as he stared blankly into the wall.
Taking a breath, Vyan slipped inside, careful to keep his steps soft, as if not to disturb some fragile peace. His eyes softened as he took in the sight of his brother, lost in his own world, adrift in a place Vyan couldn't reach.
He cleared his throat slightly, his voice low and warm, trying to cut through the haze that veiled Aster's gaze. "Hey, brother. How has it been? Sorry I was so busy these past few days."
