25 | Resent

                                    

                                          
What's your fav song atm? Mine is [ One More Death - TalkinToys ] 

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Kylan's feet moved of their own accord, carrying him down the hall to Kai's room.
He could barely think, his mind too clouded with rage, sorrow, and guilt. As he approached the door, he noticed it was slightly ajar, a soft light spilling into the hallway. 
Pushing it open gently, he stepped inside, his gaze immediately finding Kaleb, who was curled up in a chair beside Kai's bed, fast asleep.
Kaleb had refused to leave Kai's side, even though Kylan had told him to rest. He looked exhausted, his body slumped in the chair, his face twisted in an expression of worry even in sleep. 
Kylan swallowed hard, reaching down to gently shake Kaleb awake. "Kaleb," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You should go to your room and get some sleep."
Kaleb stirred, blinking sleepily as he sat up, his eyes immediately darting to Kai. "I'm not leaving him," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "I can't leave him."
"I'll stay," Kylan reassured him softly, placing a hand on Kaleb's shoulder. "Go get some rest, Kaleb. He'll be okay for the night. I'll be right here."
Kaleb hesitated, his eyes lingering on Kai's still form. "But what if he wakes up? What if he..."
"I'll be here," Kylan promised, his voice gentle but firm. "If he wakes up, I'll be here. You need to rest."
Kaleb's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but after a long moment, he nodded reluctantly. 
He stood, stretching his stiff muscles, and cast one more glance at Kai before heading toward the door. "You'll call me if anything happens?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kylan nodded, giving Kaleb a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I will. Go on."
With one last look at his brother, Kaleb finally stepped out of the room, leaving Kylan alone with Kai.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Kylan let out a long, shaky breath. His eyes drifted back to Kai.
His gaze caught on the scar, the one Dr. Moretti had mentioned. 
Kylan hadn't gotten a good look at it before, but now, as he sat down in the chair Kaleb had vacated, the dim light from the bedside lamp illuminated the jagged line running from Kai's temple down to his cheek. It was raw, brutal.
Kylan's breath hitched, his throat tightening as he reached out with trembling fingers, his hand hovering over the scar. He didn't touch it—he couldn't—but the sight of it broke something inside him. 
He dropped his head into his hands, his shoulders shaking as the sobs wracked his body. 
The sound of his own cries filled the room, but he couldn't stop. The image of Kai's face, the scar that hadn't been there before, the reality of what his brother had been through—it was all too much.
"I'm so sorry," Kylan whispered through his tears, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm so, so sorry, Kai. I should have found you. I should have protected you..."
The guilt consumed him, the weight of his failure pressing down on him like a vice. 
For a long time, Kylan sat there, his head in his hands, the tears falling freely. 
He cried for his brother, for everything that had been taken from him, and for the boy who had been forced to grow up too soon, in ways no one should ever have to endure.