Growing up, there was this family friend we often spent time with. Our families were close, and we practically grew up together. After my parents traveled abroad, my elder sister and I found ourselves spending more time at their house, especially since they had become like extended family to us. Our friend’s dad had passed away, and she was living with her mom and six siblings. Their home became a place of comfort, laughter, and shared experiences.
One evening, my sister and I were hanging out with our friend and her younger brother, who was just two years younger than me. He was fun, always around to chat and suggest movies for us to watch together.
After a while, his older sister sent him out of the room, and we eventually drifted off to sleep.
In the middle of the night, I heard the door to our room slowly open. I wasn’t a heavy sleeper, especially when I was in someone else’s house, so l instinctively stayed still, pretending to be asleep. I watched as our friend’s younger brother quietly slipped into the room and lay down beside me.





