Chapter Title: I didn't Know Why
Series Title: Unlikely Brothers
Ages in this chapter: Tanner (17) Dashen (23)
POV: Dashen
Chapter Summary: Dashen is having a difficult time.
I was angry and I didn't know why.
I was irritated and I didn't know why.
I was unhappy and I didn't know why.
I'd snapped at Tanner. I'd snapped at Colton. I'd snapped at anyone and everyone usually on my good list.
It had gotten to the point where they all just started avoiding me. Probably for the best, I wasn't a person to be around right now.
I couldn't shake it and I didn't know why.
I couldn't climb my way out of it and I didn't know why.
I felt miserable and I didn't know why.
It went on for days. A week maybe. Days ran together. Uneasy sleep. Uneasy wake.
And then it got better. Slowly. Surely. Gradually.
Tanner came to me and hugged me tight.
He stuck with me always and I didn't know why.
He thought I was worth it and I didn't know why.
He loved me because I was me and I didn't know why.
Tanner was a better person than I ever was. Colton too. He forgave me as well.
They'd given me space. They'd given me time. They'd given me everything I needed to get better and feel better and be better.
They shared similar pains and similar pasts and so never gave up on me.
I'd lost so much in my life and I didn't know why.
But for all that I'd lost, I'd gained people that supported me without fail. Faults. Flaws. It didn't matter to them and I didn't know why.
Now I did.
Now I knew why.
Tanner. Colton. They were my family. Not related by blood, but in all ways that mattered. And they wouldn't give up on me. Not ever.
How'd I'd ever earned such devotion, I didn't know why, but I fell into it, into their arms and their space and was welcomed back.
No questions. No repercussions.
Just acceptance.
And I didn't know why.
And maybe I didn't need to know why. Maybe it just was.
Tanner held me snug and didn't let go.
Yeah.
Maybe it just was.
END
