Rises the Moon
“Days seem sometimes if they’ll never end”
“Sun digs its heels to taunt you”
“But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same”
“Rises the moon”
Orion snuffed the cigarette that was just between his lips, sighing the huff of smoke following the thin lung killer. He leaned away from the rail on the balcony of his apartment, staring up into the sky. He watched as the stars twinkled, crowding around the moon as it shown brightly. As tears pricked at the edges of his eyes, he turned away from the starlit sky, entering the flat.
Orion found himself walking out of his room, and down the hallway. While going for a glass of water, he stopped in front of Cass’ door, staring at it. The dull light of the room shown through the small crack and Orion shook his head. Cass shouldn’t be awake.
Slowly, Orion opened the door, peaking his head into the room. Cass was curled into a ball on the bed, silently crying into his legs. Orion’s gaze softened and he entered the room, walking over to Cass. As the bed dipped, Cass looked up from his curled position, seeing Orion give him a weak smile.
“Cass-“
Before Orion could let another word out, Cass wrapped him in a tight hug, squeezing him tight. Orion, knowing this would’ve been coming, calmly wrapped Cass in a hug, holding him tight. While Cass cried into Orion’s jumper, he let out small words in between his sobs.
“It wasn’t his time-”
“Why’d he have to go?-“
“Why?-“
And in response to the sobs, Orion rubbed Cass’ back, whispering.
“I know,”
“It’s okay,”
“He’s in a better place,”
As Cass’ sobs grew quieter, Orion slowly pulled the boy away from the hug and held him in place. He stared into his brother’s eyes, fighting back tears as the other cried. It hurt so much, and he knew it hurt to loose someone that badly, he lost Remus too, but Cass had a childhood with him, he had more memories, so Orion knew it was harder on him. So, as he stared in his brother’s eyes, he said shakily,
“It’s- he’s-“
He breathed out,
“He’d want you to move on, Cass. He- he wouldn’t want you to dwell on his death, he’d want you to remember him, but move on, and become a man yourself. He’s watching, from somewhere, I just know,”.
He looked to the window in the room then back to Cass,
“He’s watching you from the moon, he wants to watch you grow up, have a job, husband, he wants you to live a happy life, but if you get caught up here,”
Orion lifted a hand and poked at Cass’ head,
“You can’t have that,”
As Orion stared into Cass’ eyes, he nearly broke. Cass was red all over from crying, and his eyelashes were clinging together as he blinked. He looked like he hadn’t slept. So Orion brought him into another hug, holding him close.
After a while, Cass was the one to break away first, giving Orion a weak smile.
“Thanks Ori, I needed that,”
Orion smiled and patted Cass’ shoulder reassuringly,
“Any time, little brother,”
Cass chuckled lightly, before laying back on his bed, pulling the covers over himself. Orion smiled, standing up from the bed, and walking to the door. Before walking into the hallway, he flicked off the lights in Cass’ room and softly said,
“Good night, Cassarole”
Which earned another small laugh before Cass responded with,
“Good night, Oreo,”