LONELINESS

Damien reached the room but took some minutes before he entered. "Sasha, Bianca," he said affectionately, and for the first time in God knows how long, there was a response. "Yes, brother," they simultaneously responded. Tears streaked down Damien's cheek as he heard their voice in years.

"Brother, why are you crying?" the older one, Sasha, asked. Damien wiped his tears off and smiled. "I'm not crying," he responded before changing the topic. "Mom said she saw you crying. Is that true?"

The girls returned to their cold behavior and nodded. "Can I ask why?" Damien questioned. The younger one, Bianca, answered, "We were worried."

"Worried about what?" Damien asked worried. "Worried that he will kill us," Bianca replied. Damien instantly became alert, but their next response made him loosen up a bit. "The Phantom Assassin," Sasha responded.

Damien smiled and reassured them, "Nothing will happen to you. No one will come for you, and for the third time in a row, the girls showed emotions. Sasha spoke as her voice broke, "If they won't harm us, what about you or mom?"

Damien just stood there shocked before comforting them, "Nothing is coming for us, sis." But the words they asked him next almost made his heart leap out, "Brother, you've changed."

"In what way?" he asked, trying his best to feel calm, but no response. He tried talking to them, but they refused to answer. He could only sigh and walk out. His mom was suspicious of him; his sisters were drifting away from him. He felt a void in his heart. He felt loneliness.