Chapter 4

Ariella

I felt a surge of warmth as I sat there, surrounded by my parents, my heart finally easing after the tension I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. For a moment, I just let myself enjoy the quiet comfort of their presence, grateful for the feeling of being home again.

But then my eyes shifted, drawn to a figure descending the stairs. A tall, lean silhouette moved into view, and everything inside me tensed. If my lost soul could have been there, I would’ve wanted to shout, to stomp right up to him and demand why he even existed in my space. I imagined myself messing with him—maybe pushing him, maybe saying something sharp—but that was before.

Now, I just stared. Something in the way he moved, so effortlessly, with the confidence of someone who thought they belonged, had me frozen in place. I didn’t know what to feel anymore. The anger, the defiance, it was all still there beneath the surface, but it was quieter now, like a storm that had passed.

It was him—my dearest older brother, Alex Carter. The one who had never left my side, the one who stood there when no one else did. Even in the darkest moments, when I felt completely alone, Alex was the constant I could count on.

Seeing him again, standing there in front of me, I was overwhelmed. A whirlwind of emotions hit me all at once—relief, gratitude, a little bit of fear, and an aching sense of longing. I didn’t even think, just acted on instinct. Without a word, I rushed to him, closing the space between us.

Before he could say anything, I threw my arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. His presence was a balm for the chaos inside me. I buried my face into his chest, feeling the steadiness of his heartbeat, the reassurance that everything would be okay as long as he was near.

“You’re crushing me, kid,” Alex grumbled, his voice muffled by my head.

I pulled back slightly, just enough to look at his face. He was trying to hold back a grin, but I could see the glint of affection in his eyes. "You’re lucky I’m so strong," he teased. “Otherwise, I’d be passed out by now.”

I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at my lips despite the emotional mess swirling inside. “You’re lucky I didn’t tackle you,” I shot back. “Would’ve knocked you out cold, old man.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Old man? I’m not even thirty yet, and you’re already calling me that? Seriously?”

I hugged him tighter, making sure to squeeze a little extra just to mess with him. “You’re ancient to me, Alex,” I teased, my voice muffled against his chest. “Like a fossil.”

He huffed dramatically, but I could feel him relax, his arms wrapping around me in return. “You better not be calling me a fossil in front of Mom, or I’ll have to take away your allowance again.”

I let out a soft laugh, the tension easing from my body. The moment of laughter didn’t erase everything I’d been feeling, but for a second, it made things feel lighter, more manageable. With Alex around, I always felt like I could breathe again.

 “I love you, my dearest brother,” I said, my voice thick with emotions I’d never let myself express before. It was a simple sentence, but it felt like it carried years of unsaid words. I didn’t expect the surge of warmth in my chest when I said it, but it was there, undeniable.

Alex pulled back slightly, giving me a suspicious look. His brow furrowed as he studied my face, clearly trying to figure out if there was more to this moment than met the eye. “Okay, hold on,” he said, crossing his arms with a smirk. “What’s going on here? Do you want something from me, or did you do something wrong, kid?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction, the tension lifting just a little. “What? Can’t I just be emotional for once?” I teased, though I knew it was a rare moment for me.

He raised an eyebrow, still not entirely convinced. “Nah, that’s too much sincerity coming from you all of a sudden. You’re up to something.”

I shook my head, unable to hide my smile. “No schemes, I swear. Just wanted to remind you that I love you, that’s all.”

“Right,” he said, still with that playful suspicion in his eyes. “Well, if you say so, but I’m watching you.”

I couldn't help but smile at his playful suspicion. Alex was always like this—guarded, but with a heart that was just as open as mine, even if it took moments like these to realize it.

"I swear, no schemes this time," I said, giving him a mock-serious look. "Just... well, just wanted to let you know that you're my rock, Alex. I don't know where I'd be without you."

He softened at that, the teasing fading from his eyes as he looked down at me. "I know, kid. I know," he said quietly, his hand reaching up to ruffle my hair, just like he always did when I was little. "And I’m not going anywhere. You hear me?"

"I hear you," I replied, my voice a little steadier now. "And for what it’s worth, I think you're the best brother in the world."

He laughed, the warmth returning to his smile. "Better be. You wouldn’t want me to turn into a fossil after all, right?"

I chuckled, rolling my eyes again. "Not if you can help it."

We stood there, just the two of us, in the quiet comfort of a moment that was both silly and meaningful. For all the years we’d spent together, I’d never really said what I needed to say. But now, in his arms, I didn’t need to say much more.

As I pulled away and looked up at him, I realized that sometimes, the words we leave unsaid—those rare, real moments—are enough to say everything.

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