As night fell over the orphanage, I lay down on the hay mattress, feeling the weight of the day's confusion pressing down on me. Beside Me, My brother Eric curled up, seeking comfort in their closeness.
Even though Eric tried to be strong for both of us, I could sense his worry. At just twelve years old, Eric carried himself like an adult, but I know he was just a kid trying to make sense of a world turned upside down. He held onto me, whispering that Our parents would come back, his words tinged with the desperation of a boy clinging to hope.
I lay there quietly, feeling the weight of my adult mind trapped in a child's body. It was weird to see the world through innocent eyes when my thoughts were anything but innocent.
But as Eric drifted off to sleep, I promised myself I'd be there for him. No matter what challenges came our way, I'd do everything I could to protect him and keep us together. Because in this strange new world, he was all I had.