Meeting Her Brother

Julian's eyes snap open, his body instinctively sitting up as the voice echoes in the stillness. His heart skips a beat as he quickly scans the dimly lit room, eyes narrowing as they fall upon a man standing in the doorway.

The guy looks young, maybe mid-twenties, with a lean build and tousled hair that speaks to someone who doesn't quite care about appearances at this hour. Julian's gaze darts between Grace's unconscious form and the stranger, the tension in the room palpable.

He stands quickly, his movements automatic, his heart racing a little as he faces the newcomer. The man's eyes flicker between him and Grace, confusion clouding his features.

"I'm Grace's brother. And who are you?"

The words hit Julian like a sudden wave. 

Grace's brother? 

He hadn't expected anyone to show up so late—or at all, really. He hesitates for a moment, unsure of how to explain himself.

"Umm…" Julian stammers, then catches himself. "I'm…"

Before he can finish, the guy's eyes widen in recognition. 

"Wait…" His voice rises slightly, incredulity lacing his tone. "Are you like my sister's boyfriend?"

The question hangs in the air, sharp with surprise, and Julian's throat tightens. He's not sure why it feels like such a loaded question, but it does. Slowly, he nods.

The next thing Julian knows, they're both seated in the lounge area of the hospital. It's the only part of the building that's still lit, the artificial lights casting a sterile glow over the space. A vending machine hums softly nearby, offering a variety of snacks and drinks that feel out of place in the otherwise somber atmosphere.

Julian, his nerves still a little rattled, heads over to the machine and buys two hot chocolates, handing one to Grace's brother. The warmth of the drink feels like a small comfort in the midst of everything. Alex accepts it with a nod of thanks.

The two of them sit at a small, worn-out couch against the wall, the soft cushions creaking slightly under their weight. They're sitting almost parallel to one another, the awkwardness between them still lingering, but fading just a little.

"So," Alex begins, taking a sip of his hot chocolate, his gaze flicking toward the ceiling as if trying to find the right words, "nice to meet you, Julian. I'm Grace's second eldest brother, Alex."

Julian smiles softly, his eyes reflecting a quiet sincerity. "I'm Julian. Nice to meet you," he says, his voice carrying a calm warmth despite the weight of the circumstances.

Alex leans back slightly, his fingers wrapping around his hot chocolate cup as he takes a deep breath, his tired smile not quite hiding the strain beneath it. 

"Right when I heard about my sister's car accident and that she was staying at the hospital, I booked the first flight I could find. I thought I'd get here as fast as possible... but, of course, all the flights were sold out. I waited for days, just hoping to get the next available one. This was the fastest I could get," he says with a slight shake of his head, a soft chuckle escaping. 

Julian nods, feeling the heavy silence that settles between them. It's a silence filled with a kind of unspoken sorrow, the kind that doesn't need to be expressed because it's already understood. Alex is doing his best to stay composed, but the cracks are there if you know where to look.

"Well," Alex continues, his voice lightening just a touch, as though he's trying to chase away the weight of the moment, "my sister's always been the strong type, so I'm sure she'll wake up. She's not the type to stay down for long." He takes another sip of his hot chocolate, his eyes drifting momentarily to the hallway outside, his fingers tapping gently against the cup. "So… how did you two meet?"

Julian turns his gaze toward Alex, meeting his eyes, and sees the curiosity flickering behind the mask of composure. There's something else there too, a quiet undercurrent of worry, the kind of thing a brother can't quite hide. It's not just curiosity; it's a quiet hope, a need for reassurance.

So he probably wants to know how we met, Julian thinks. Do I just tell him I was her professor? That feels like too much right now... He hesitates, unsure of how much to share, but ultimately decides to start from a simpler place. Mellany. That's where it all started.

Clearing his throat, Julian offers a small, easy smile, as though he's about to share something that's both deeply personal and oddly comforting. 

"I met her at Mellany," he says, the words quiet but sure.

"Mellany?" Alex's eyebrows raise slightly, a spark of recognition lighting up his face. "Right, right… Grace told me she was going there for a friend's wedding. So, you two met at the wedding?" Alex's expression shifts, his curiosity piqued.

Julian nods, but in his mind, he's transported back to that night—back to the chaotic, almost surreal moment they first crossed paths. 

That street, that moment... it all happened so quickly.

He remembers the alleyway, the darkness creeping in at the edges of the street. Grace, standing there, eyes wide with fear, backing away from a man who was clearly far too drunk. The thug's movements were erratic, unpredictable, and Julian had no time to think.

I just acted.

The memory comes rushing back, and a small, almost imperceptible smile curves his lips. 

How did it happen like that?

He'd stepped in without thinking, knocking the gangster away with a swift push. The sound of the thug stumbling and hitting the ground was still vivid in his mind, the flash of Grace's relief, her breathless gratitude, almost like a scene from a movie. And yet, it felt so real, so important. 

How did that even happen?

Julian's mind shifts to thoughts of the other times he's met people who've shaped his life—Hannah, of course, and now Grace. 

Mellany… where I met Grace and where Hannah and I also met. It's as if everything has come full circle, like some greater hand has been guiding us this entire time.

He takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of that realization settle over him. A small, quiet affirmation hums within him—he's not alone in all of this. 

God's been leading us...

"We met on the street," Julian says, his voice light, though a soft laugh escapes him. "It was... definitely unexpected."

Alex tilts his head, his laughter bubbling up despite himself. 

"On the street?" he asks, an amused grin creeping onto his face. "Well, that's one way to meet someone. Alright, alright," he adds, holding up a hand as if to say he's not going to press any further. "I won't pry any more. But… it must be tough for you. Seeing Grace like this. Watching her, unable to wake up... I can't imagine what that feels like."

Julian nods, his heart heavy with the weight of the last few weeks, the exhaustion that's slowly building up behind his eyes. It's hard, much harder than he'd ever expected. But Alex's next words are almost a gentle push, a nudge toward something that Julian hadn't yet considered.

"You can go home, you know," Alex says, his gaze settling on Julian with a quiet intensity. "If it's too much… you can go home. Get some rest."

Julian nods slowly, his eyes lingering on the sterile floor tiles.

"I'll go later in the morning."

"No, I mean…" Alex hesitates, the words caught between concern and reluctance. "You can just… take a rest from all this. You don't need to—wait."

Julian feels his heart tighten, the air briefly sharp in his chest. Now he understands what Alex is trying to say.

Alex meets his eyes, wearing a composed yet complicated smile.

"We'll let you know when she wakes up. I know you two haven't been together for long, and you don't need to feel pressured to—look after her like this."

Julian steps in, voice firm but warm, a quiet smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Thanks for your concern, but even though it hasn't been long since we started dating…" His voice steadies, and he gives a firm nod. "My feelings for her aren't small. In fact, I've realized how much she means to me. So there's no turning back. Not from her. Not anymore."

Alex's expression falters, caught off guard, but then settles with quiet understanding.

"Okay, I see," he says softly, almost humbled. "My sister has never been in a serious relationship, so I didn't expect you to be… so certain about her." A small, genuine smile tugs at his lips. "But for now, go home and rest. I'll stay here tonight."

Julian exhales, nodding in gratitude.

"All right. Thank you. I'll come back the day after."

Both men rise, their footsteps echoing lightly as they walk toward the hallway.

"And just one thing," Alex says, tilting his head with a glimmer of curiosity, "why do you like my sister so much?"