Even though Jonah does have his own room, he likes to sleep in his older brother's room. Especially when he is having a hard time with something. The young boy would slip into his older brother's room and snuggle up against him under the covers whenever he has a nightmare - or he would sleep there whenever he is struggling with something that has happened throughout the day - they would talk about what made him upset before going to sleep.

Now Yujah is the one who needs someone to comfort him, so he tiptoes to the room next door before knocking lightly. Jaxon opens the door, looking as tired as Yujah feels. The oldest brother's straight black hair is short, but you can see that he ran his fingers through his hair where he styled it in the morning. "Can't sleep?", the older boy asks. Yujah nods. Jaxon backs away from his door so his younger brother can enter.

Jaxon's room is quite different from Yujah's - where Yujah's room is filled with books, his older brother's is filled with workout gadgets, a football is lying around and his football jersey is hanging outside of his wardrobe. Just like Yujah he has a single bed in his room, as well as a desk and a chair. Different from Yujah's, Jaxon's desk is fairly empty.

The boys sit down on the bed and silence fills the room. Yujah moves closer to his older brother and slowly lays his head down on his shoulder. Jaxon moves so he can put his arm around his younger brother's shoulders, then he moves them a little towards each other so he can pull his brother into a hug. Moments like that are rare for the brothers. So rare, that neither one really knows when the last time they hugged each other was. However, them being rare might as well make them more precious. It's something special - something that only happens if they really need to be there for each other. Something that is saved up for when things get really hard for one of them. Usually the other would try to say something to make the one who is suffering feel better, but today neither of the brothers are talking. This time it affects both of them the same way, so instead of trying to cheer each other up, they are simply there for each other.

After a while, Jaxon speaks up. "Wanna go for a walk?", he asks. "Sure.", his younger brother says. Before leaving the house, both of them stop by Yujah's room to take a look at Jonah. The child is still sleeping, his breaths even and calm. Yujah places his phone on the bedside table next to the sleeping boy, just in case - they have taught Jonah how to call Jaxon's phone from his. When they get downstairs they put on their jackets and shoes, take their house keys, and leave, cold air hitting them in the face the moment they walk out.

After a while of them walking in silence, the younger brother breaks it. "So... what do we do now?", he asks, knowing that his brother understands what he is talking about. "I mean- what happens next? Orphanage? Foster care? I mean what- I don't want to get separated from you and Jonah.", he whines. Jaxon stops in his tracks. "It's going to be fine. I'm not going to let them separate us, Yu.", the older boy says sternly. The younger one takes a deep breath, then smiles at the older one. "Yeah, I know. I'm just nervous, I guess. I mean... I don't even feel sad, just... anxious.", the teen says. "Yeah, I get it. I'm feeling anxious too, honestly. But it's going to be fine. It just needs to. If it doesn't, I'll make it.", Jaxon says, playing his dependent older brother role perfectly. But Yujah knows how nervous his brother is and feels happy about him sharing that he is anxious. Talking about feelings is something his brother isn't always comfortable with.

They continue to walk in silence. The fresh night air and the low glow of the stars above are calming. There are no sounds from vehicles or people at that time of the night. Not in this part of town. While walking, Yujah leans his head back to look up at the sky. Was he going to see that beautiful view for the last time that day? He hopes not... but there is no guarantee that they can keep living there. Actually, the chances are pretty low. He shakes his head, trying to rid himself of these negative thoughts. As if he could sense his younger brother's struggle, the older one starts talking about mundane things. They keep talking and walking for a while, then head home.

After they come back, both boys retreat to their respective rooms. When Yujah enters his, he is happy to see their younger brother still sleeping peacefully. Although he is already wearing sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, he decides to change into some pajamas. As he does so, he can't help but wince slightly as he pulls off his hoodie. He takes a step towards his mirror and studies his body, painted yellow, blue, and purple as bruises are scattered all over it. Sighing, he pulls his pants off too, showing more bruises along his legs, before getting some stuff out of the first-aid kit he has stashed in his drawer and treating every bruise he could reach, before putting on his pajamas and crawling into his bed next to his sleeping baby brother. Despite his efforts, sleep didn't come to him for a long time after that.

Yujah wakes up again just as the sun starts rising, his younger brother still sleeping next to him. He gets up slowly, trying to let the child sleep a bit more. When he gets downstairs to get himself a glass of water he sees his older brother already getting out of the bathroom. "Morning.", they both say. Yujah yawns. He sees that his brother has freshened up a bit but unlike usual, his hair isn't styled and instead of his usual jeans and t-shirt combo, he is wearing a pair of sweatpants with an old t-shirt he barely ever wears. The boy might be imagining it, but it seems to him that his older brother's eyes might be the tiniest bit red and puffy - not that he would ever point that out. He knows better than to do that.

Jaxon says: "I already called our schools to tell them that we won't be going.", after that, the brothers stay in complete silence. While Yujah drinks his water, his brother takes one of the apples from the basket. Both brothers like to keep a decent diet - albeit for different reasons. Yujah starts preparing a healthy breakfast for their youngest family member. The younger boy could definitely use some vitamins after the shock and all the crying he did. As he takes out a plate to start doing so, he thinks about getting a second one for himself. After he hears his older brother's footsteps fade away, he ends up deciding against it and putting the second plate away again. He works slowly, yet tries to concentrate on his task so his thoughts don't wander too much.

A while later Jonah comes stumbling down the stairs, still seemingly half-asleep. The first thing he does when he enters the kitchen is hugging Yujah. The older one hugs him back immediately. "Good morning.", he says, stroking his younger brother's bed hair. "Are they really dead?", Jonah asks. "Yes.", the older one answers with a quiet voice. "Yes, they are." Tears build in the younger boy's eyes yet again. "Why?" The older boy holds the younger one just a bit tighter. "Because their injuries were too deep. The doctors couldn't save them. That's what happens when people get into really bad accidents." The younger brother grabs a fist full of the older one's shirt while saying: "That's unfair. Why mom and dad?" Big crocodile tears are running down the boy's cheeks now. "Life is unfair sometimes. You can never know what happens next... and death is a part of life. No one knows why people die the way they do or when they do." A dark shadow lays over the older brother's eyes as he says that. Memories threaten to surface that he does not need right now. Thankfully, his younger brother's growling tummy seems to have decided to save him. "Hungry?", he asks the younger one who nods in response. "I already made some breakfast for you. You should eat and then we get ready to visit Lia and her family, okay?" Jonah nods again, before wiping off his tears and taking a seat. While he eats the occasional sniff escapes his mouth. Yujah keeps rubbing his younger brother's back the whole time.

After Jonah finished his meal the two younger brothers both get dressed in comfortable clothes, just like their oldest brother already did. When they are ready, Yujah knocks on the door of Jaxon's room. "We're ready. You coming?", he says. No answer. He knocks a bit louder. Still no answer. He knocks a third time, now as loudly as he can. After some shuffling the door swings open. "Seriously, nerd?" Yujah can see why his brother didn't hear him before: his earphones are in his hand, and the volume is turned up high enough for him to hear and recognize the song that's playing. The younger boy shrugs. "You didn't react the first two times. We're ready to go." Jaxon sighs, puts one of his earphones back into his ear, and lowers the volume. "Okay, let's go.", he then says. Both brothers join Jonah downstairs, they all put on their shoes and jackets and head out.