On the ground, Silas watched the others disappear into the distance. At last, his calm facade broke.
He rushed to Adrian and pulled his brother into a tight embrace.
Years of pent-up tears poured from his eyes, quickly soaking the fabric at Adrian's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Silas said. "I failed you."
His embrace tightened as his voice began to tremble.
"Let's go find Mom, okay?"
Adrian had already been shaking with fear.
But once Silas held him, the trembling grew even worse—not from fear this time, but from overwhelming joy.
Adrian raised his arms and hugged his brother just as tightly.
"Silas."
He felt the presence surrounding his brother and finally smiled for real.
"That feeling is gone."
"I'm so happy."
Adrian had never been happier.
Resting in his brother's arms, his body finally relaxed after years of tension. His eyes slowly closed, and his breathing grew quiet.
Like a child who had finally come home, Adrian fell into a deep sleep in Silas's embrace.
