Sadie places her on my lap. “ I will be right back, watch her.” Sadie said. I mumbled “always.” I brush Elena hair off her face and kissed her gently on the forehead. It’s rare for me to do so. But she needs the comfort. Elena was always the crybaby of the family. Being two minutes older I feel it is my job to take care of Elena even when she gets on my nerve. Whatever is going on I have to be the strong for the both of us.

Sadie comes back with a glass of water and comes to get Elena out of my arms. I hold on tight and ask, “ What’s going on? Sadie doesn’t respond. She reaches for Elena again and I pull her closer to me. She sighed with annoyance “Give me her.” I glared and said “No! You made her cry.” Sadie snatches Sadie out of my arms and placed her gently on the bed. Annoyed I pushed her away as I take my spot on the right side of Elena. Sadie takes the left side and curls herself around Elena. I asked again “ Sadie what’s going on? Why is Elena crying?” Sadie responds her voice filled with sadness, “ Please let it go. Mommy told me to watch over you guys.” I let it go for now. Later on I regret it.

Elena: It wasn’t long before I woke up to the sound of screaming. My sisters who slept on both sides of me began to stir. I hurry to the door again; light from the living room blinded me for a moment until I see the scene in front of me. My mom who is always put together is screaming and crying at the same time. My uncles are holding her while my aunts are in the corner crying as well. But I look for my brother. My sisters caught up to me and immediately knew what was wrong. I was still confused as to where my brother is. I run all over the house. I search every room, closet, and hiding places that my brother could be in. All those places turn out to be empty. I don’t give up until my mother calls me. I want to resist her need for me but something in her voice called to me. I walked back to the living room.

All eyes are on me and I am dreading something that I don’t understand. My sisters are huddle close to my mother and they are crying. My mother has her arms open wide for me. I am the baby of the family. In this particular moment I don’t like the special treatment I am about to receive. I walk to my mother until I am eye level with her. She pulls me in and tells me “Mi bebe, I am so sorry, your brother passed away.” I asked her how did he die. She said it was lung cancer. I looked up to the ceiling and the light is all I see. I hate the light. It took everything from me. I feel numb. Yet why do I silently cry.