A Light in the Darkness

After a long time, the siblings stopped hugging and stared at each other. "I—" they both spoke at the same time, pausing to let the other speak first. Leo then said: "I was thinking—"

Zoe interrupted, her voice filled with anger and pain: "I'm so angry at whoever did this to them, Leo!"

Zoe's gaze was fierce, her eyes shining with a mixture of tears and rage. Her hands trembled slightly, clenched into fists at her sides. Each word was loaded with an almost palpable intensity, the anger overflowing with every syllable.

Leo, surprised by his sister's outburst of emotion, felt his own anger beginning to rise. He knew they shared the same pain and the same desire for justice. The silence between them was dense, filled with unspoken but understood emotions.

Zoe walked into the room, trying to wipe away the tears that kept falling. Her headache was growing worse, as if the pressure of sadness and anger was about to explode. "My head hurts," she alerted with a choked voice.

Leo, noticing the pain and despair in his sister's voice, quickly approached. With a gentle gesture, he led her to the bed, guiding her carefully. "Rest for a bit," Leo said softly, trying to convey calm and comfort.

Zoe sat on the bed, tears still streaming down her face. "I can't rest, I can't stop crying and I can't stop thinking about our parents," she confessed, her voice trembling.

Leo sat next to her. "I know, it's hard for me too." He observed the situation, realizing they wouldn't be able to sleep. He needed to do something to ease his sister's pain. "I know, I'll take care of your headache. Don't worry, just lie down on the bed and wait for me."

Zoe, with red and swollen eyes, asked in a trembling voice: "What are you going to do?"

"Mom always put a cold cloth on our foreheads when we had headaches or fevers, remember? I'll do the same. Maybe it will help," Leo replied, trying to bring some comfort and hope to his sister.

Zoe's mind cleared a little. The painful images of her parents' bodies were quickly replaced by memories of her mother taking care of her when she was sick. The memory of her mother's gentle and comforting touch brought a momentary relief. She lay down on the bed, trying to calm herself as she waited.

Leo left the room, determined to help his sister. He walked down the hallway in silence, his steps echoing in the empty house. When he reached the kitchen, he found Roger still sitting, his head bowed, with an empty glass in his hands. The image of his uncle, immersed in his own pain, made Leo realize how much everyone was suffering.

With a soft but determined voice, Leo said: "Uncle Roger, I need a cloth and cold water to help Zoe. She has a bad headache."

Roger looked at his nephew. "Alright, I'll help you with that." He started searching the house until he found a small wooden basin and filled it with a calculated amount of water. He opened a drawer and took out a clean cloth. "Let's go," he said, ready to help.

Leo, determined, interrupted, holding the basin. "Don't worry, uncle. Let me take care of it. You need to rest too. Zoe is in my room, so you can stay in our parents' room."

Roger paused for a moment, observing Leo attentively. He saw in his nephew's eyes a firmness and determination that reflected maturity beyond his age. Roger realized that, despite being children, Leo and Zoe were extremely capable and had strong support in each other.

As he looked at Leo, Roger felt a wave of pride and confidence. He knew that Leo was trying to be strong not only for himself but also for Zoe and for him. Leo's courage was palpable, and Roger understood that at that moment, he needed to trust his nephew.

Roger: "But you both need to rest too. I can help y—"

He stopped mid-sentence, realizing that Leo was determined to take on the responsibility. The uncle saw the concern in Leo's eyes, but he also saw the strength and capability of a young boy willing to do whatever it took to care for his sister.

With a deep sigh, Roger nodded, handing the basin and cloth to Leo. "Alright, Leo. Take good care of your sister. And if you need anything, I'll be here."

Leo returned to the room where Zoe was waiting, determined to care for his sister. Entering the room, he placed the basin on the floor and wet the cloth. Firmly wringing out the excess water, he carefully folded the cloth.

With a gentle touch, Leo placed the cold cloth on Zoe's forehead. As soon as the cloth touched her skin, Zoe let out a sigh of relief, closing her eyes. The coolness of the cloth brought immediate comfort, easing the headache that tormented her.

Leo sat beside her, watching his sister as she relaxed a bit more. Seeing Zoe find some relief filled his heart with a mixture of sadness and hope. He knew that despite all the pain and suffering, they had to find ways to care for each other.

Zoe slowly opened her eyes, looking at Leo with gratitude. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice soft and still laden with emotion.

Leo smiled slightly, "We'll get through this, one step at a time," he said, with a firm and caring voice.

They remained silent for a while, simply enjoying each other's presence. The house, shrouded in darkness and silence, felt a bit less oppressive with the comfort they found in each other's company.

Zoe relaxed and closed her eyes, focusing only on the cool sensation on her head. Leo frequently checked the cloth to see if it was still cold. Whenever it warmed up, he simply wet it again and repeated the process. Zoe's mind finally rested after a long time. She no longer felt the heavy sensation from before; now she felt lighter, knowing that her brother was still nearby. Her thoughts wandered back to calmer, more peaceful moments, trying to push away the darkness from her mind.