At night, I finally returned home after a week. Astrid came when she saw me, “Brother, how’s Cinzel?” She asked.
“Same. Where's Penelope?” I asked in a dead tone.
“On the patio with Theo.” She replied, nodding, I went there. Astrid tried to call me but I just went there.
I could my insides burning into inscrutable passion, inducing unbearable fire in my soul.
I came, standing in front of her, “P-Prince…” She called me hesitantly.
“Look, I-I know what Zaniel did… was wrong. But-”
“Penelope.” I called her in a bare whisper.
She gulped hard as I continued, “Your son took my child, It would be fair if I took his.” I said in a low tone, she gasped, stumbling back.
“Prince, No. Prince please, you.. You brought him up... You.. held him with your hands… you named him.. remember those days? He was your beloved, right?”
She tried to plead but Theo held her shoulders, he knew every deed has consequences and I won’t let it slide.
“Theo.. No, stop Prince. Please, Prince.” She tried to beg but I put my hand in front of her and joined them together in a begging manner.
“If you could, do try to forgive me.” I said in a croaked voice. He called my Sky his sister and that’s what he did to her sibling? Kill it?
“Prince. You are going to leave when Cinzel wakes up, aren't you?” Theo asked as I nodded slowly.
“After you leave, never return to our lives again.” He said.
Closing my eyes, a tear fell from my eye, realizing this very moment, I have lost my sister.
For Cinzel, I have lost Penelope but this won’t alter my thought.
I will kill Zaniel no matter what. Penelope began to cry, falling on her knees, I took a step forward, Kissed her head for the final time and moved back.
“I will always love you two.” I whispered, glancing at Astrid who was crying silently in the corner and went to the rooftop to be alone and pour the torment silencing my feelings and replacing them with dread of destruction.
I have fallen from the sky.
I was looking out, trying to control my tears, to control my desire to shout from the bottom of my lung, scream to the world to stop this torture and let me live my life FOR ONCE!
I thought about living my life the way I want, my Father died, leaving me alone to control everything.
When I thought about giving mine and Dania’s relationship a chance, She died.
My best friend used my sister and I had to kill him. The person I loved all this time was used by my own nephew and I had to witness it from afar.
Watching her being someone else’s for all these years and now when I had her, I lost my sister, I lost my child, I am about to kill my nephew whose I have played with all these years.
I brought him up and now I have to kill him with these hands for killing my child.
I NEVER HAD ANYTHING!
Furiously, taking out my cigarette, I lit it up. Taking a long inhale before releasing the smoke into the sky, clenching and unclenching my hands to soothe my mind, emitting rapid breaths to keep my posture and not break.
“It’s okay to cry.” Astrid’s voice came, I turned to her and put my elbows on the railing.
“I will.. But not now.” I whispered, before passing her a faint smile.
“Astrid..”
“Yes, Brother?”
“Do you hate me?” I asked, turning to her with tears dwelling in the corner again.
“What? No.” She smiled, shaking her head, wrapping her hand around my arm and putting her head on my shoulder.
“You are the best brother.” She smiled, looking up at me.
“I took Hadith away from you.”
“He didn’t love me in the first place.” She said.
“Brother, you are my everything. After Father’s death it was you who kept us all together. For how long are you going to live for someone else? You prioritize mine and Sister’s happiness, our children’s life, and never care about yours. I don’t want to steal your happiness anymore, You deserve to live a jovial life with your wife and kids.” She said sweetly with a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Astrid… If you could…” I began to say in a hoarse voice, holding her hands.
“Then do try to make Penelope forgive me. I… I can’t live with the fact he killed my child. I can’t bear that he.. He put Cinzel in this condition.”
“Remember what you used to tell us, Brother: Every deed has its consequences. These are his.” She whispered, kissing my hand.
“Just like you can’t forgive him, Sister Penelope might not be able to do it as well… but I will try.” She assured me.
I passed her a faint smile and hugged her, not wanting to let her go. A few tears rolled down my cheek which I didn't want her to see so I wiped them quickly, resting in her arms for a long time.
I don’t remember when was the last time I felt it.
“I am here for you.” She whispered, holding my arms, pulling away. I smiled, wiping her tears with my thumb.
“Thank you for everything.” I smiled, kissing her forehead. She laughed a little, we remained like this for a while before leaving for our respective rooms.
When I reached my room, I saw Sky outside.
“Aren’t you asleep, princess?” I asked, coming and bending to her level.
“I couldn’t sleep. I was waiting for you.” She said sadly.
“What happened?” I asked, taking her inside the room.
“Can I sleep with you, Papa?” She asked.
“Of course you can.” I smiled, patting her head.
“Papa.. Aunt Astrid said, "my brother died… was it true?” She asked innocently. My smile faded, unsure of what to tell.
“Is Mama.. okay?” She asked.
“I miss her, when will she be back?”
“Soon.” I whispered, shifting her under the covers, running my hand in her hair.
“And my brother? Will he return?” She asked and powerless before her innocence, I had to tell her the truth.
“No, He won’t.” I said sorrowfully.
“Why?”
“God sent the wrong baby for us so he called him back.” I made a stupid excuse.
“Then, we could pray to God to send my Brother.” Her face lit up in expectation, sitting up.
“Sky-”
“Pray with me, Papa. I am sure my brother will return.” She smiled.
Taking my hand and making the prayer gesture and did the same, closing her eyes desperately as I continued to watch her, unable to tell her he won’t return.
“God, Please return my Brother.”