The rain drummed a steady, rhythmic beat against the window of the small attic bedroom, a stark contrast to the quiet tension inside. Elias sat at the edge of his bed, turning a worn wooden compass over and over in his hands. It had been their father’s, a relic from a life lived before the world became so heavy.
His younger brother, Leo, was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling with the effortless peace of someone who didn't yet know they were leaving. Tomorrow, Elias would head to the coast to find work, a journey that meant leaving Leo behind with their aunt in the valley. It was the only way to keep them both fed, but the guilt felt like a physical weight. Brotherly Love
"No, Leo, that's for you. To find your way," Elias said softly. The rain drummed a steady, rhythmic beat against
Quietly, Elias took the compass and tucked it under Leo’s pillow. It was more than a gift; it was a promise. His younger brother, Leo, was fast asleep, his
As dawn began to bleed through the gray clouds, Elias shoulder his pack. He didn't wake Leo. He knew he couldn't handle the goodbye. But as he reached the gate at the end of the lane, he heard a frantic patter of boots on the gravel. "Elias! Wait!"