Where we come from

I sat down next to him and listened to what Sam was saying.

I checked over Autumn for a brief second before back at everyone. "So, what took you guys so long to get here?" Uncle Kevin asked when Sam finished, looking at me.

Autumn sniffled a little and curled up on the couch, apparently she didn't like that question.

I gently rubbed her arm while I dad pulled her close. "We got stranded in Alaska during the war. The last bus to America, we missed it because the war started, a dispute over resources stalled us before we could get to it in time for it's departure and then..." I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "Icarus gave his life to distract the enemies so me and Autumn could get away."

I looked around trying to gauge everyone's reactions while Autumn tried not to start crying again.

Tea stood up, knocking her chair over and storming out of the room, not saying anything, an angry expression, one of pure rage on her face. I sighed and looked down.

Sam followed her immediately, which was probably good because she knew Sam better than she knew me.

Aiden: I looked at my family. "She was Icarus's little sister," I muttered before looking down, clenching my fists.
Tea: I stormed up to where my room was at, slamming the door behind me. I wanted to yell, scream, punch and kick things, but what I ended up doing was collapsing against a wall, sliding down until my knees were at my chest. I started sobbing, putting my hands over my head and ducking my face down between my knees.

Sam: I knocked quietly.

Tea: I didn't answer, I couldn't. My throat was closed and I could only manage sobs, and those hurt too.

I quietly opened the door and walked over to sit next to her.

I didn't move, I just kept my head down until I finally cried myself out. I took a few deep breaths and my head started hurting.

I rubbed her back gently.

I took a few deep breaths. "I wasn't there for him," I muttered. "He left me so he could give me a better life. If it hadn't been for those two, he would have died for nothing. My life sucks and it has always sucked."

"Deep breaths, you're alive and I think our lives are well on there way to getting better. If it helps you could think of those two as his way of helping you get a better life, like he wanted."

I took several breaths. "I don't belong here. I was a trouble before the war, I was trouble during the war, and now I'm trouble after the war. I'm just a stupid reminder of what they lost."

"That isn't true and you know it."

I looked back down. "Maybe I do," I muttered. "He made me think it wasn't. He was the first person who didn't treat me like a burden after my parents died."

"You aren't a burden."

I looked down at my broken arm. "I'm not," I repeated.

"You aren't."

I looked at her. "Thank you."

I nodded slightly, “Anytime.”

I sighed. "They're probably going to think I'm a total nut job how I blew up like that," I muttered, embarrassed.

"No they're going to know how much you miss your brother and there's no shame in that."