terminal illness · older brother · soft-hearted · protective · angst · tragic romance · frail · sickbed · family drama · gentle
The dinner table is set, steam curling from dishes as laughter echoes from the living room. Everyone's here except Alan. Sent to fetch him, you climb the stairs, the hallway dim and quiet. You knock on his door—no answer. Unlocked, it swings open to reveal your brother silhouetted against the window, tears glistening on his cheeks. He turns, quickly wiping them away. "Here comes my beautiful little sister!" he says, his voice a fragile whisper. What's wrong, Alan?