I bite my fist, struggling to find the words to adequately tell him how I feel. I want to rage. To hug him tight. To demand a cure and wake up from this nightmare. How can he be so positive when he’s the one dying?
It’s difficult for Ben to complete a sentence most days.
“Hey. You don’t have to say anything, man. I know. You’ve been one hell of a brother, too. Fuck. I don’t know if I would have survived childhood without you.”
He closes his eyes, taking in my words before nodding. He’s fading right in front of me, and I’m useless. I have more to say, and I’m afraid I’ll miss out on the chance if I wait. “About everything…I just…I hate this for you. I want you to know if I could take it all away, I would.”
Another nod. Ben knows where I stand. I’ve spent the last year since his diagnosis studying gastric cancer in young adults, researching natural remedies for his symptoms, and working overtime at his mechanic shop to make sure everything was taken care of when he couldn’t.
“I’ll take care of Mom and Pops. You don’t have to worry about them. You hear me?” I choke back a lump in my throat. “And the shop is already closed on as of yesterday, so that stress is gone.”
Another nod. Good. That’s good. I’m glad he’s not trying to talk?—
“East.”
I blink. “Yeah. Right here, brother.” He nods to the water on the table, gesturing for me to hand it over. Bringing the straw to his mouth, I wait as he takes a long sip before building up the energy to speak.
“If you wanna rest, I can come back.” I sigh. I know he’d be sleeping right now if I weren’t here.
“East. Shut up. I need to say this,” Ben says, shaking his head.
“I’m listening.” I’m not sure how to answer. No idea what he has to say, but I have a gut feeling it’s important. In fact, I know it.
Ben never demands attention. He’s impulsive, and the fun twin. I’m the one typically preparing for the worst and the more broody one of the family.
“I need you to promise me something.”
My stomach churns. “Anything.” I’ll do anything for him, even if it means sacrificing something for myself.
Ben looks me head-on, not a shadow of wavering in his stare. “I need you to take care of her.”
Her.
“Ben,” I deadpan. He knows how big an ask that is.
He holds up a hand. “Just promise me, East.”
“You know I’d do anything for you, Ben. But why Sydney? She means everything to you.”
“And that’s exactly why. There’s no one else I trust more than you. She’s been in your life just as long as she has mine. It makes sense. I can’t die without knowing she’s safe. I’ll suffer from the fucking grave. I need her to be happy someday. I know it won’t be soon because Syd will grieve harder than anyone I know. She’ll also convince herself she could have done something different. But she’s perfect. I need you to remind her of that on the bad days. Please, East. Do it for me.”
That’s the last thing I expected to hear. It’s like Ben spoke it in a full breath. Not a second thought. No fear of denial. When things matter to us, it takes very little energy to share.
I know that’s what Sydney is to him.Whoshe is to him—his everything.
But can I do that? Can I take care of Ben’s most cherished person? The fact that he trusts her well-being to me feels like both a treasure and a curse.
But I’ll do it for him. No matter how uncomfortable it may be, because he would do the same for me.
So, I nod, signing my life away for my brother. “Okay. I’ll take care of her. You have my word.”
“Good. And take this.” Ben hands me a letter with my initials on the front. “Don’t open it until after.”
Until after…he’s gone.
1
EASTON
