The soft glow of the Christmas tree illuminated the living room as Kris led Noah to the couch. The festive ambiance contrasted sharply with the heaviness in her eldest son's demeanor. His towering frame sank into the plush cushions, and for the first time in years, Noah allowed himself to relax.
"Noah, you look exhausted," Kris said, her voice laced with concern.
He nodded slightly, his crimson eyes fluttering shut. The weight of his past, his choices, and his new life bore down on him like an unyielding storm. In moments, the silent titan drifted into a deep sleep, his breathing steady but his brow furrowed.
As the family gathered around, hesitant to disturb him, a soft murmur escaped Noah's lips.
"I'm sorry, Ma," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I can't be the son that you want…"
The words hung in the air like a fragile confession, the kind Noah would never say while awake. A single tear escaped from the corner of his eye, trailing down his sharp cheekbone.
The room fell silent.
Kris stood frozen, her hand instinctively covering her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. Her son, the one she had always considered her strongest, was burdened by an invisible weight she hadn't understood.
"Noah…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kim, usually composed and poised, felt her chest tighten. "He thinks he's not enough," she said softly, looking at her siblings.
Kendall knelt beside the couch, brushing a strand of Noah's jet-black hair from his face. "He's been carrying so much on his own. Why didn't he tell us?"
Khloé's face hardened, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "He doesn't need to apologize for anything. He's more than enough, but he probably doesn't see it."
Rob crossed his arms, his expression somber. "He's always been like this—silent, distant. But I didn't think he felt this way."
Kylie sat on the armrest, her gaze fixed on her sleeping brother. "We've been so caught up in our own lives. Maybe we didn't give him a reason to think we wanted him here."
Kris knelt beside Noah, her heart aching at the sight of his vulnerability. She gently placed her hand on his cheek, wiping away the tear that had fallen.
"You've always been the son I wanted," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I just wish you'd let me in."
The family sat together in the living room, the festive cheer momentarily replaced by a solemn understanding. They were all larger-than-life personalities, but Noah was the one who had carried the heaviest burden in silence.
"I think he needs time," Kendall said, breaking the silence. "He's not like us. He doesn't thrive in the spotlight."
Kim nodded. "But that doesn't mean we can't show him we care. He's our brother."
Kris placed a hand over her heart, silently vowing to do better. "We'll show him he belongs here, that this is his home. No matter how far he goes, he's always my son."
As the night wore on, Noah shifted slightly in his sleep, his brow relaxing as if the presence of his family brought him a measure of peace. The sight filled Kris with a bittersweet comfort.
"Mom," Khloé said quietly. "He's going to need us when he wakes up. Let's make sure he knows we're here for him."
Kris nodded, her eyes never leaving her son. "We'll show him, Khloé. We'll remind him he's not alone."
The family dispersed slowly, leaving Kris by Noah's side. She stayed there for hours, watching over her eldest son as he slept, her heart heavy but hopeful.
In the stillness of the night, she whispered, "You're everything I could ever want, Noah. Never doubt that."
And though Noah remained asleep, the faintest hint of a smile touched his lips, as if her words reached him in the depths of his dreams.