Page 6 of Poison Aches

Gramps and Samuel were close, so close that they talked about everything and could easily sit in silence without any discomfort.

Whenever Grammy had late-night shifts at the hospital and Gramps wasn’t on call, he’d drink and reminisce over his lost daughter.

And Samuel, who has always been brave, bold, and a stubborn bullheaded daredevil would sit there and listen.

Today, he looks worlds apart from his everyday naughty smirks and glints in his eyes that signal trouble.

At thirteen, about to be fourteen in a few weeks, he stands tall at six-one, with his jaw clenched tight, eyes sharp, his posture rigid and serious.

His facial features are schooled into cold impassivity.

Today, his shoulders aren’t shaking with laughter.

Instead, they are set straight, rigid, showing an entirely new weight that shouldn’t be there… premature adulthood.

A tightness takes hold in the center of my chest.

If I’m being honest, he has had a faint trace of that since I could remember, but today, it’s so much more pronounced.

As if he doesn’t have a choice anymore but to take responsibility and be a man.

All of a sudden, it’s like I’m looking at a stranger… as if the naughty big brother I’d come to rely on to make me laugh, was never there. Just a figment of my already overactive, damaged imagination.

The usual mischief seemed to have been snuffed out overnight… but then again, everything did happen overnight.

Right then, Samuel snaps his head in my direction.

His sharp eyes connect with mine. My breath hitches.

Is he going to wink at me like he always does?

Is he going to signal me to tiptoe over to pull the fire alarm since he says I’m never noticeable and even if I get caught, I’dnever get in trouble because my very existence silently solicits sympathy points?

I didn’t know what that meant but having fun with my brother has always been one of my favorite things…so I stare intently at him, waiting.

One.

Two.

Three.

Dark brown eyes so similar to mine suddenly narrow at me. I almost reel back.

I’ve never seen that look before… but then again, that kind of hostility and angershouldbe there.

I did this.

I changed everything.

My heart thunders painfully in my chest.

“Ivy?”

An impatient voice sounds close to my ear in that moment.

Jumping, I turn around and come face to face with Grammy’s solemn, frowning face.

She also looks different from her usual self today.

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