Danny knew his brother had been watching him play, he always did, and when he did it made him feel guilty. He could see even from the distance between then that Nicky was jealous of him, and rightly so. Even he couldn't help but think it unfair, that he could do everything he wanted, but his little brother had to stay tucked away in his bedroom only ever allowed outside when their father deemed it fit, and even then their times spent out seemed rush, their father wanting Nicholas back inside as soon as possible.
No, it just wasn't fair. He could remember when mum was alive, she seemed perfectly fine, always happy and smiling they always went out together on picnics or shopping trips, trips that were never rushed. Even back then Nicky was fine, sometimes he thought that maybe their mum's passing had triggered the illness in Nicky, but it wasn't until he turned ten did things seem to take a turn for the worse.
Danny could remember how scared he had felt when on his brothers tenth birthday, instead of him getting to rip open his presents and eat lots of cake, he was rushed to hospital, where Doctors no doubt ripped open his lungs like wrapping paper in some cruel twist of fate... although admitidly he had no idea if that was what happened, just what the twelve year old imagined as his father tried to camly explain what was happening to his little brother.
Turning away from his mates he looked up just in time to see his little brother, his face filled with envy as he drew the curtains closed.
Danny continued to look sadly up at the window before his friends drew his attention back into another game of football. Maybe he could convince his father to take them on an evening walk, there was also a town meeting on tonight, and his father had promised to the others that he would get Danny to help them out at the town hall, which would mean leaving Nicky alone, which was another thing his father was against.
Yes, it was a perfect idea, not only would his father have no choice but to agree with him, but Nicky would have a chance to have a little freedom that Danny knew he craved, even if it was just down in the town hall.
