The hospital rooftop argument ended in flames.
Jack stormed down the stairs,
his footsteps echoing like thunder.
His hands shook—
with anger,
with betrayal,
with the unbearable sting of losing the only person he ever cared about.
He reached an empty hallway near the stairwell,
grabbed the metal trash can beside him—
and slammed it against the wall.
CLANG!
Pieces scattered across the floor.
The sound reverberated through the entire corridor.
He hit it again.
And again.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
"HOW COULD SHE DO THIS?!" Jack roared,
voice raw, cracking with pain.
He threw the dented trash can aside.
It rolled loudly across the tiles.
He pressed his hands against the wall,
breathing hard,
rage burning through every vein.
But he didn't realize…
She was standing at the end of the hallway.
Her face pale.
Her body stiff.
Her eyes wide.
She had never seen him like this.
Not this broken.
Not this violent.
For the first time in her life—
she was frightened of her brother.
Her breath hitched.
Jack turned, eyes dark and wild.
She flinched.
His expression froze.
He realized what he had done.
"No— wait— I wasn't—" he stuttered,
stepping toward her.
She stepped back instantly,
tears brimming in her eyes.
"Don't…" she whispered.
"Please don't come near me right now."
The pain in Jack's face was devastating.
He raised his hands slowly,
as if approaching a terrified animal.
"I didn't mean to scare you—
I swear I would never—"
But suddenly—
Footsteps.
Quick, urgent.
The boy ran into the hallway,
eyes scanning frantically,
searching for her—
until he saw her.
Frozen.
Shaking.
Tears in her eyes.
His heart lurched.
"What happened?!" he breathed, rushing to her.
She looked up at him, trembling.
"It's nothing— I just—" she whispered.
But he didn't need her to explain.
He had heard the crash.
He had seen Jack's shadow looming nearby.
He knew enough.
He took her hand gently but firmly.
She clutched his fingers like a lifeline.
Then he looked at Jack.
Not with fear.
Not anymore.
He stepped in front of her,
shielding her with his body.
"Enough," he said sharply.
Jack blinked, stunned.
The boy continued—
voice steady, strong, piercing:
"I'm not that weak kid anymore."
Jack's throat tightened.
"And even if I was," the boy added,
"you will not touch her.
Not ever."
Jack took a breath—
ready to argue, to shout, to explode—
But the boy stepped closer.
"If you hurt her again," he said,
his eyes unwavering,
his hand holding hers tightly,
"I won't let it happen.
Not now.
Not ever again."
His voice broke slightly, but not from fear—
from conviction.
"I love her," he finished softly,
"and I won't let you destroy her life the way you tried to destroy mine."
The hallway fell silent.
Jack stared at them—
the boy protecting her,
her leaning into him for safety.
And for the first time…
Jack realized
he had already lost.
He looked down,
his fists unclenching,
his breath shaking.
He whispered one word,
barely audible—
"…Fine."
Then he turned,
walked down the hall,
and disappeared around the corner,
leaving them alone.
The boy let out a long breath,
then looked at her gently.
"You're safe now," he whispered,
lifting her hand to his chest.
She nodded, leaning closer.
"I know," she breathed.
"Because you're here."
The hallway was silent after Jack disappeared around the corner.
But what the boy and the girl didn't know was that Jack hadn't gone far.
He only walked until he reached the stairwell—
then collapsed against the wall, sliding down slowly
until his knees hit the cold floor.
His breath trembled.
His fists shook violently.
And for the first time in his life—
Jack broke.
He pressed both palms to his face,
trying to hold back the wave crashing through him…
but it was too strong.
"She's scared of me…"
His voice cracked painfully.
"She's really… scared of me."
His chest tightened until he couldn't breathe.
He punched the floor—
hard—
but the pain didn't help.
Nothing helped.
He had lost his sister.
He had lost her trust.
He had lost the only anchor he ever had.
And now—
He had lost her to him.
"That boy…" Jack whispered through clenched teeth.
"That boy took everything."
A tear slipped down his cheek.
He hated it.
He hated himself for letting it fall.
He hated the weakness.
The helplessness.
But no matter how hard he tried to deny it—
He wasn't the powerful one anymore.
He was the one left behind.
He whispered, broken:
"I won't let this end like that…
Not with him.
Not with them."
It wasn't a threat.
It was a promise.Back in the hallway,
she stood close to the boy,
her hand still in his.
She squeezed it gently.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," she whispered.
He shook his head immediately.
"I don't care about him," he said softly.
"I care about you."
Her heart tightened.
"You shouldn't," she said sadly,
voice trembling a little.
"I hurt you. I lied to you."
"And I forgave you," he whispered,
stepping closer.
"And I'll keep forgiving you,
as long as you stay."
She swallowed hard.
His sincerity was overwhelming.
"Why?" she breathed.
"After everything?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Because I love you," he said,
voice calm but full.
"And because for the first time in my life…
I found someone worth staying for."
Her lips parted in a soft gasp.
Tears filled her eyes again—
but not from pain.
Not from fear.
From warmth.
From hope.
"I love you too," she whispered,
slowly lifting her hand to his cheek.
"I think… I always did.
Even when I shouldn't have."
He leaned his forehead against hers,
breathing her in,
holding her hand like it was the only thing keeping him alive.
"Then…" he whispered,
voice shaking with emotion,
"can we finally say it?"
She nodded, eyes shining.
"We're together."
Those words felt like a sunrise after years of darkness.
He smiled—
a real, soft, trembling smile.
"Together," he echoed.
And he kissed her forehead,
gentle and warm—
a promise more than a gesture.
She closed her eyes,
hand sliding into his,
their hearts syncing slowly, beautifully.
For the first time—
They weren't running.
They weren't hiding.
They weren't pretending.
They were something real.
Something official.
Something fragile,
but theirs.
Down the stairwell, Jack wiped his tears with trembling fingers.
And whispered through clenched teeth:
"This isn't over."
His eyes darkened with a mix of grief and determination.
"No matter what they think…
I'm not done yet."
And the story shifted—
not into peace,
but into a storm waiting to rise again.