SHANE POV
I woke up. Just another day.
The air was still. The kind of silence that makes your ears ring. My eyes blinked open slowly, weighed down by a night that gave no rest. I shifted under the blanket, already thinking about the chores. I need to clean again. I must do it. That voice in my head—it doesn't stop. Clean. Stay in line. Be good. Be invisible. If everything stays spotless, maybe nothing bad will happen. Maybe they won't come.
My eyes drifted to the right, to the spot where my lovely twin brother usually slept, curled up like a kitten.
But today—there's no one.
NO ONE? NOTHING?!
My breath caught. My entire body stiffened.
Shane: "SAM!!?"
I bolted upright. My feet hit the cold floor as panic seized me. My chest tightened, like the air was too thick to breathe. I darted around the room.
Under the bed?
I dropped to the floor, yanked up the blanket, heart racing.
Nothing.
Outside?
I flung the door open, looked into the dim hallway. The light flickered. It was too quiet.
No one.
In the cabinet?
I ripped the doors open. Blankets, boxes, a few cans. No Sam.
Where's Sam??
My mind spiraled.
I panicked. My hands trembled as I clutched the doorframe. Sam was nowhere to be found.
No. No way. That can't be right.
We—we've been good boys. Both me and Sam. We cleaned, we stayed quiet, we didn't fight. We followed every rule. We didn't even talk when we weren't supposed to.
What got to them?
What if they took Sam? What if I woke up too late?
My knees gave in. I crumbled beside the bed, the wood hard against my skin. My chest heaved with shallow breaths. My vision blurred.
I panicked.
My body felt weak, my arms shaking. My fists clenched on the floor, useless and small. I collapsed, my forehead touching the ground.
The tears came without warning. Hot, fast, and messy. I tried to stop them but couldn't. My shoulders shook.
Why Sam?
Why not me instead?
SAM POV
I woke up early. The sun hadn't risen fully yet, but the room was bright enough to see. I looked over and saw Shane still sleeping, his breath steady, face calm for once. He looked peaceful. I smiled to myself.
I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him. Today, I would win.
I ran to the kitchen.
"I will win this time!" I whispered with a mischievous laugh.
As I ran through the hall, I caught a glimpse of him.
Him again.
The man who always sat on the sofa in the corner. He was there, as always. Slouched back. Still. Silent.
My eyes lingered for a second.
I bet that seat is comfortable, I thought to myself, imagining the soft cushions. But I shook the thought away. I ignored him.
I reached the kitchen. My mission: prepare something before Shane could beat me to it.
But as I turned to open the cabinet, a thought came to me. Shane said not to do anything. Not to talk. That's what he told me yesterday. That's what I had been thinking the whole time.
But my feet—they started walking the other way.
Toward the sofa.
Why was I going there?
I looked at the man again. His eyes were closed. Sleeping.
He has a bed, right?
Poor adult...
A blanket. That's what he needs.
Oww… I should get a blanket. Wait for me.
I tiptoed to the cabinet, silent, like a ninja. I didn't want to wake Shane. If he knew I was moving around, he might worry.
I opened the cabinet and grabbed a soft blanket.
Then, I turned and looked at Shane from across the room. I gave a tiny bow, a habit I didn't even think about.
Sam: "Sorry..." I whispered, just in case I broke the rule.
I crept back toward the sleeping man. He hadn't moved. Quietly, I stepped closer and gently draped the blanket over him, careful not to wake him.
Slowly... and with success, I completed my secret mission—just as expected from the great Samuel.in the middle of me praising my self
I heard a faint rustle near the curtains. Curious, I tiptoed over, pulling them aside just enough to keep the sunlight from spilling onto the man's face. I didn't want to risk waking him.
As I peeked out the window, I spotted a small bird perched on a branch, surrounded by its family. They chirped softly, fluttering together in a warm, peaceful scene.
I smiled… but something tugged at me. A strange feeling. I was happy, yet also… uneasy. A tightness crept into my chest. It felt like sadness. Like something quietly ached. Like I didn't belong in that happiness—and maybe… just maybe, I was jealous.
"SAM!!"Shane's voice pierced through the moment, loud and sudden.
I flinched. "Wait—my food!" I blurted, spinning around.I grab my food in the kitchen and
I slowly turned toward our room door, heart still beating fast.and still have this uncomfortable feeling
I walked silently, then peeked in.
And there he was.
Shane, crouched beside the bed, his body shaking.
SHANE POV
Footsteps.
A small shadow appeared in the doorway.
Sam: "What you doin?"
His voice was soft,
He tilted his head and lean it closer to my face , eyebrows scrunch.I look on him and he see my face a mess with tears and panic face of mine as his eyes met mine, his face changed. His expression fell into panic.
Sam: "Something hurt? Are you ok? Should I give you my food? I am still hungry though... .b-b-b-but I give it to you Shane....."
His voice cracked.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
That broke me.
I reached forward and pulled him into a tight hug.
Shane: "I'm fine. I just woke up with a nightmare."
That was a lie. But I didn't want him to cry.
He clung to me, sniffing, his arms trembling.
I looked at him and smiled, then let out a laugh.
Shane: "You look like a puppy."
He pouted immediately.
He hated being called cute.
We sat there for a while. In silence.
Then he looked up again.
Sam: "Shane..."
His tone was different. More serious. His eyes narrowed a little, brows furrowed.
My smile faded. Something felt off.
Something wrong? I thought. My mouth couldn't form the question.
Sam: "...Y-you..."
I waited.
Sam: "You won't take my food away, right?"
I sighed with relief, laughing out loud.
Shane: "I won't. It's not like you're willing to give it anyway."
He looked frustrated, cheeks puffed out.
Sam: "I'm not joking, Shane!"
His voice was stern. For a second, he sounded like a grown-up. It made me laugh again.
Shane: "Okay, okay! I promise. No food stealing."
His pout lingered, but his shoulders relaxed.
We were okay.
We were together..
End