Chapter 12 - THE LETTER THAT BROKE HIS HEART
The letter arrived on a Tuesday afternoon.
It was addressed to Darius.
The sender was Tommy Elmore.
Darius stared at the envelope.
Then opened it carefully.
Inside was a handwritten note.
The letters were uneven.
Some words had been corrected.
Others were difficult to read.
It had clearly taken enormous effort.
Dear Darius,
My sister works too hard.
She forgets herself.
You made her rest.
Thank you.
Please don't hurt her.
She is my favorite person.
Tommy.
Darius read the letter three times.
Then sat down.
For a long time, he couldn't move.
He thought of Caitlyn's tired face.
Her constant apologies.
The way she'd been afraid to ask for sleep.
And the enormous love she carried for her brother.
He had never received a letter like that before.
Most people who wrote to Darius wanted something.
Money.
Protection.
Influence.
A favor.
Tommy wanted only one thing.
For his sister to be happy.
Darius folded the letter carefully.
Then called Caitlyn.
She answered with a smile in her voice.
"Hello."
"Your brother wrote to me."
Silence.
"Oh no."
Darius laughed softly.
"He did."
"What did he say?"
"That you're his favorite person."
Caitlyn groaned.
"He's going to be impossible."
Darius's voice softened.
"He also asked me not to hurt you."
She went quiet.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Caitlyn whispered, "He's protective."
"He should be."
Darius looked at the letter.
"Caitlyn, I want you to know something."
"What?"
"I'm not interested in becoming another obligation in your life."
Her throat tightened.
He continued.
"You've spent years giving everything to other people. I don't want you to feel you have to do that with me."
She closed her eyes.
"I don't know how to stop."
"I know."
"Sometimes I feel guilty when I'm happy."
Darius listened.
"Because Tommy still struggles."
"Yes."
He took a breath.
"Caitlyn, you can love your brother without sacrificing every good thing in your life."
Tears filled her eyes.
She had heard similar words from Tommy.
From therapists.
From friends.
But hearing Darius say them made something inside her shift.
Maybe because she'd spent years believing he valued her only when she was useful.
Now he was encouraging her to build a life that had nothing to do with him.
That evening, Darius visited Tommy at the rehabilitation center.
Caitlyn arranged the visit.
Tommy greeted him with a suspicious expression.
His tablet clicked.
BIG BOSS.
Darius smiled.
"Apparently."
Tommy studied him.
Then typed:
YOU LIKE MY SISTER?
Caitlyn covered her face.
"Tommy!"
Darius laughed.
"Yes."
Tommy narrowed his eyes.
HOW MUCH?
Darius considered the question.
Then answered seriously.
"Enough to want her happy even if she doesn't choose me."
Tommy stared.
Then smiled.
GOOD ANSWER.
Caitlyn's eyes filled.
They spent the afternoon playing cards.
Tommy cheated shamelessly.
Darius pretended not to notice.
Caitlyn laughed until her stomach hurt.
For the first time in years, her brother's medical facility didn't feel like a place defined only by loss.
It felt like somewhere joy could exist.
Later, as Darius prepared to leave, Tommy pressed another message.
COME BACK.
Darius's expression softened.
"I'd like that."
Tommy grinned.
Then typed:
BRING BETTER CARDS.
Darius laughed.
"Deal."
As Caitlyn walked him to the car, she looked up.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Being kind to him."
Darius shook his head.
"He's easy to like."
She smiled.
Then reached for his hand.
"Darius?"
"Yes?"
"I think I'm falling in love with you."
He stopped breathing.
Caitlyn's cheeks turned red.
"Oh my God. I didn't mean to say that out loud."
Darius stepped closer.
"Caitlyn."
She looked up.
He smiled.
"I've been trying not to say the same thing for weeks."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
He touched her cheek gently.
"I love you."
Tears filled her eyes.
He continued.
"And you don't have to answer right now."
She laughed through tears.
"I already did."
He smiled.
"Yes. You did."
Then he kissed her.
Softly.
Carefully.
Like someone who understood that love was not something to seize.
May you like
It was something to receive.
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