Day Twenty-Five
Prompt: Gone
George looked around frantically. The place was swarming with Healers and he couldn't see anything through the people rushing back and forth across the room. Just then, the crowd parted slightly and he saw a very familiar head of honey-colored hair. "Vega!" George strained to see her more clearly. "Fred, over here," George called over his shoulder as he pushed through the crowd and pulled the girl into a tight hug. When they pulled apart he could see the tears in her eyes. "Where is she? Where's Pell?" Vega raised her arm and pointed with a shaking hand and then fell into Fred's arms. "I'm sorry Vega," George said as he squeezed her arm and turned in the direction she had pointed.
Again, George had to push through the crowd. He looked for Capella frantically as he moved around the crowd of people. Finally, he saw her sitting on the ground alone. Her back was pressed against the wall, her knees were drawn up against her chest, and her chin was resting on her knees. She was staring straight ahead, not really looking at anything. She didn't even notice George until he sat down next to her.
"Pell." He spoke her name softly. It wasn't a question or a request; just permission to break down. And break down she did. She let out a low keening cry and buried her face in his chest.
George was aware of his heart breaking a little for her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her. She cried, her body shaking. "He's gone," she sobbed. "Gone." She curled into George's lap and clutched at the front of his shirt. The crowds of people continued to rush around them.
George's eyes burned with tears as he pulled Capella against him, gripping her tighter. They clutched at each other like they were drowning. The pain Capella was so obviously feeling radiated from her, washing over George. She sobbed into his chest, her whole body shaking with each ragged breath.
Capella grabbed a fistful of George's shirt and took a few shaky breaths. "He was so little. He's my baby brother." She swallowed hard. "Orion. I was supposed to protect him. I should have been there," she said angrily. "Oh, Orion. I'm so sorry," she cried out. She curled into George's embrace again.
The tears in George's eyes spilled over and he buried his face into her hair. He held her and, without a word, let her cry.