Watching Over

I sit in the very back corner of my closet with my arms wrapped around my knees. I'm holding the teddy bear that my parents gave to me when I was two, even though I'm too old for it. No matter how far away I get, their voices still filter back to me, even through the three doors that separate us. It scares me beyond all reason. It's now that I realize my broken family hates each other, and they are trying to tear us apart.

I hear a whimper at my bedroom door. No matter how loud the noise gets I can always hear TK. Slowly I rise to my feet and wipe the tears from my cheeks. I know that their fights scare him, and I have to be strong for my little brother. I carefully step over my toys and open the closet door.

My baby brother stands before me, tightly clutching a ragged stuffed dog that I gave to him. I remember when I bought it for him. He was almost a year old and I wanted to get him something special, so I bought him a white dog. Well, he's five now and that floppy white dog I bought him, is now varying from gray to black in places. He named it after me. These days it's impossible to find him without it.

The tears are falling from his cheeks, and his face is bright red. His blonde hair is sticking up at odd angles and he looks up at me, his bright blue eyes hopeful. I force a smile onto my lips as I see him, before wordlessly bending down to pick him up. TK releases his dog from one hand and raises both arms up to meet me. I pick him up carefully, and he snuggles his head into my shoulder. I can feel my shirt getting wet from his tears, but I don't care. He's my brother and that's all that matters.

I carry him back to where I had previously been sitting, closing the door behind me. I crouch down holding him, and listening carefully to his sobs. They wrack his shoulders constantly and there's nothing I can actually do to help him. That's what hurts the most about this entire situation.

TK pulled away and looked up at me. It made my heart ache to see his tears. "Matt? Are they ever going to stop fighting?"

"I don't know, TK I hope so."

He nods is head in agreement. "I hope so, too." That's when the yells erupt even louder, as though to shatter what hope we have. I can see the fear instantly enter my little brother's eyes, before he lunges at me, wrapping his arms around my neck. The tears pour down his cheeks once again. "Matt! I'm scared!"

I wrap my arms tighter around him, and gently rub his back in hope that it will somewhat ease the pain. His howls subside ever so slightly and I softly whisper, "I'm sorry, TK."

He pulls away from me again, and looks right at me. "But Matt, it isn't your fault."

"I know."

"Then don't say you're sorry," TK lectures.

I smile at him. "It's going to be okay, Squirt."

He smiles back up at me, before leaning forward to give me a hug. I hold him tightly and he stays there for a long while. Even when the shouts are silenced, he refuses to let go of me. I can't help but smile as I look down at my little brother.

"Matt," he murmurs, his voice muffled by my shoulder, "could you play your harmonica for me?"

My smile broadens as I answer him. "Of course I will, TK." I reach into my pocket and remove the silver instrument. I quietly begin to play the lullaby I made for him when he was born. I play until I see the slow rise and fall of his back as he drifts off to sleep, safe from everything.

He's heavier than I remember, as I carry him off to his bed, but that doesn't bother me. He's my brother and I have to take care of him, he deserves it more than I do.

I gently place him in his bed, and tuck the blankets over him. Sleepily, his eyes flutter open halfway. "I love you, Matt," he whispers.

I smile down at him again. "I love you, too, TK."

I crawl into my own bed, thinking that everything is going to be okay.