Charlie
Ethan punched the wall. And then he punched it again. And he kept on punching it, not caring of the crimson now staining it or the paintwork flaking away. He didn't care. He didn't fucking care anymore because Cal was dead and it had been five fucking weeks and Cal's killer hadn't been found.
Then he was pulled back and dragged to the sofa. He was handed a tissue and there was an arm around his shoulders.
He was crying?
No, he realised. He was full-on sobbing and screaming. He wanted to punch something. He wanted to punch something so hard that his hand broke and his arm broke and his shoulder dislocated so maybe he could experience even half the pain Cal did. Because he didn't care anymore.
He looked to the right of him, and through blurry eyes saw Charlie trying to comfort him and treat his hand.
"It's okay, Ethan. We'll sort this out."
Ethan wanted to tell him to go away and get out, but he didn't have the strength. So he just cried. He pulled away from Charlie and shrunk into the sofa and cried.
He didn't know how long it took for the crying to stop. But he'd run out of tears and the little energy he had left from his morning caffeine fix. He vaguely registered Charlie making tea, but he just wanted him to go. He didn't need Charlie, he didn't need anyone anymore.
The only person he ever needed was Cal and Cal was dead.
Charlie sat next to him, with two steaming cups of tea. "Look, why don't you drink your tea and we'll talk. About anything."
Ethan didn't even sit up. His voice was dull and his brain was numbed and all he wanted to do was sleep. Somewhere within him, he found the words and the energy to finally deal with the nurse sitting next to him. "I'm not my brother, I don't need your emotional advice, alright Charlie? Let me deal with this how I want to deal with this and keep out of it."
"Even if it means destroying the staffroom walls?" He laughed slightly.
He fucking what?
"I don't know how you think you laugh when my brother is lying in a mortuary!" he shouted as he stood up.
"Ethan..."
"Leave me alone! For God's sake, just leave me alone!"
And although Ethan wanted it and he got it, now he felt more alone than ever.
I'm not my brother I don't need your emotional advice alright Charlie, let me deal with this how I want to deal with this and keep out of it.
