(Beau's P. O. V.)
Our first morning in the Foster home was different. Instead of waking up and being able to joke around and scream, we were afraid to even open our eyes at all. I remember deciding to open my eyes to glance around and I wish I didn't. I remember seeing our bland white room with cracks along the walls and a wooden door that wouldn't be able to keep the monsters away.
I remember slowly getting out of bed and having the feeling that the floor might shatter under me. I remember looking at both my brothers and feeling a pain in my heart. They shouldn't have to be going through this! I remember looking at Luke and noticing the way his fists were clenched up in tights fists. Ever since we were taken out of the hospital forcefully, I could tell that Luke's personality had changed quickly. The way his eyes darkened when someone tried to speak to us made it clear that something had changed inside him. Whether is was good or bad was what I couldn't tell.
I remember standing in the middle of the room with bare feet just staring at the cracks in the walls. Everything had changed to quickly. I remember hearing shuffles come from the bed behind me and I turned to see Luke awake and stretching.
"Morning Luke." I remember saying to him. He shrugged his shoulders and began to get out of bed.
He got out of his bed completely and went straight into Jai's bed to snuggle up close to him. I remember seeing Jai's body physically relax and his body didn't seem to be so tense anymore. I remember seeing Luke's fists unclench and relax at the touch of Jai's body.
They laid together for a while until Jai started to look uncomfortable again. Though, it wasn't because he was in an uncomfortable position and I knew that because, I saw the way he began to claw at his chest and his breathing became shorter. I remember quickly grabbing his shot and medicine then ushering Luke out of the way. I remember pulling Jai's shirt up and wiping his chest with rubbing alcohol before injecting him with his medicine. He squeezed his shut and took in a sharp breath. I bet it hurt him every time I did it to him but, I have to do it. It's for his own good.
I remember him relaxing and I placing a hand over his heart. It was starting to speed up to a normal beat and I remember feeling relieved. I turned to see Luke behind me with an angry expression.
"What is it?" I remember asking.
He shook his head then said,
"Why? What did we do to deserve all this? Why do I have to watch him in pain all the time? Why do you pretend that everything is alright? Why are we here?!" I remember him yelling then punching the cement wall over and over again until his hands began to bleed. This was when Luke's violence began to show. I remember grabbing him from behind and trying to call him down.
"Luke calm down! What is wrong with you?!" I yelled at him.
"Me?! What is wrong with you?! Why are we still in this room when we could be trying to get out of here? Huh?! Why are we here?" He screamed at me and I know he's just angry and confused.
"Luke I know that all of this is hard to take in but, we can do this! Mum always said that-" I tried to say to calm him down but, he interrupted me by saying,
"Mum is dead! Whatever she said doesn't matter anymore! Everything she's ever done for us is gone!" He yelled and his eyes were full of anger and pain.
"Not her love." I remember hearing a small voice from behind us. We turned to see Jai sitting up in his bed while he played with the sheets.
Luke stared at Jai and his eyes got watery as he whispered,
"What?" And I watched as Luke listened to Jai's next words.
"Because Love, it never dies. It never goes away, it never fades, so long as you hang on to it." Jai said and looked up at Luke dead in the eyes.
I remember Luke engulfing Jai into a hug and letting tears fall from his eyes. Jai is vulnerable and our baby brother but, I believe he knows more than we think. I believe he knows more than he gives himself credit for.
"I love you Luke." I remember hearing Jai tell Luke as his head was buried in Luke's shoulder.
"I love you too Jai. So so much." Luke replied to him.
I remember letting those two continue to remain in each others arms while I walked to the door. I slowly turned the handle and leant my head outside. I remember seeing empty halls and the lights being dim. I heard shuffling from back inside our room and then soon enough, Luke was standing next to me.
"Can you see anything?" He questioned.
"Nope."
Luke sighed and then suggested,
"Well can we go walk around?"
I shook my head, closed and locked the door, then gestured to Jai and said,
"We can't leave him in here alone. We don't even know who else lives here."
I remember Luke nodding in agreement then walking over to Jai in attempt to lift him up.
"What are you doing?" I asked him.
"Well if we can't leave, might as well try to bring Jai's strength back yeah?" Luke said while standing Jai up on the floor. He stood behind Jai and gripped his waist.
I remember seeing the doubt and fear Jai held in his eyes and I walked over to him and took hold of his hands. He stood unstably on his feet and closed his eyes. I saw a tear roll down his face and I remember telling him,
"Hey hey hey, I got you Jai. I got you."
I assured and he opened his eyes.
"I can't do it Beau! I'm not strong enough anymore!" I remember him saying with frustration clear in his voice as he looked down at the ground in defeat. I remember placing a hand under his chin and lifting it back up so that I could see his face.
"Yes you are. I know you are. Just try it alright? I won't let you fall. I promise. Luke's here as well so I can guarantee you won't hit this floor!" I told him.
I remember him finally believing in himself as he slowly pulled his hands away from mine. I took a step back away from him so that he could try to walk to me and Luke slowly released his hands from Jai's waist and backed up slightly as well but, still had his arms out ready to catch Jai if anything were to happen.
I remember Jai taking one step forward and it eventually resulting in him stumbling and falling into my ready arms. I remember seeing Luke move forward at what looked like lighting speed as he grabbed the back of Jai's shirt.
"See? Everything's alright. We got you Jai just, try again yeah?" Luke told Jai and pulled Jai back up. I remember seeing Jai's sweet smile as he tried again knowing that both Luke and I believed in him. We tried again and again until he was finally able to walk on his own completely! He wasn't 100% yet but, he was getting there.
Jai didn't have all the strength that he once had before the incident but, he was gaining more and I was proud of him.
I remember having small talk with my brothers for a while before we heard someone knock at the door. Luke went to answer it and there was a man on the other side of the door. Luke's eyes darkened again as the man spoke to him and I could see his fists clench up and tighten. All I heard was the man questioning Luke with all sorts of worthless questions but, one question made Luke freeze up.
I remember seeing Luke nod then close the door. He looked pale and I walked over to him with Jai not far behind.
"What did he want?" Jai asked him.
"He wants us to go downstairs and meet everyone." Luke said and stared at the ground with an expression in his eyes that I couldn't read.
"Wait, who is 'everyone'?" I remember asking and Luke looked back up at me before whispering in a voice that i'd never forget...
"The other foster kids."
******************
You guys are incredible!
The comments are so sweet and they make my day!
Please continue to vote and comment!
Ily all❤️