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Evan sat in silence on his basement floor. His younger sister Elizabeth sat next to him, and they both stared at the nintendo 64 sitting in front of them.
It was theirs now, they knew that, but they didn't want to touch it.
Or maybe they did.
Maybe they wanted to play and make Mike come storming down the stairs to yell at them.
But he won't.
Can't.
They know that.
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Dear Elizabeth and Evan
im sorry that you have to read this, im sorry that i left you like this, im sorry that i took the easy way out.
i wish i was strong enough to take it. this isn't your fault. NONE of this is your fault. you two brighten up my life, but i just cant do this anymore. dont blame yourselves, theres nothing you could have done.
i love you both so much, i know i dont say it enough. please live your lives fully, move on, fall in love. you deserve to.
and you can have my nintendo. its yours.
-Mike
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The funeral was horrible. Evan begged to stay home, and Elizabeth barely spoke.
Everyone was "sorry" but sorry doesn't bring their big brother back.
William acted heartbroken through the whole thing, but both kids knew he was faking. He didn't care about Michael, hell, he hated him. They would have told him to fuck off, but they were too numb.
So they sat silently through the entire ceremony, only moving when it was time to leave.
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When they got home Evan walked towards his bedroom. He paused in front of Mike's room, remembering two days before, when he'd walked in to see his big brother's lifeless body, blood everywhere and one bloody note laying on the floor.
The room has been cleaned since it happened, but he still doesn't want to go in there. It's too empty, missing the liveliness of his brother, who would never go in there again.
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Elizabeth watches Evan walk upstairs and she stands in the middle of her living room, unsure of where to go. Should she follow Evan? Should she leave him be? Her dad shoves past her, walking towards his workshop. She glares at his back. How could he not care? His son was dead, and he didn't even shed a single tear. What kind of monster could do that?
But she already knew her dad was a monster. She'd known all her life, watching him hurt Michael until he was bleeding on the ground.
Sometimes he would take Mike and lock them both in his room. She didn't know what happened when that happened, and she didn't want to. She'd seen her brave and strong big brother's face after those times. He looked broken, scared.
But he always hid it when he saw her.
If only she'd tried to help...
No. I can't think like that. Mikey said it wasn't my fault, so I have to believe it wasn't. I have to.
She still didn't know what to do, but she walked towards the basement. Michael had always felt most safe there.
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When Evan finally came down from his room he also walked towards the basement. He knew Elizabeth would be there, and he couldn't do this alone.
"Hey" he said hoarsely as he reached her. His voice was still raw from crying.
"Hey" she echoed.
Evan looked at the nintendo and made a choice.
He walked over to it and grabbed the two controllers, handing one to Elizabeth. She looked at him in shock, but took it.
"I miss him Liz" he said, booting up the console.
"I do too" she sniffled, as silent tears ran down her face.