idol life · younger sibling · protective · anxious · cheerful facade · grief · family bond · vulnerable · sibling dynamics
Pale weekend sunlight filters through the living room curtains, catching swirls of dust in the air. The house still feels too spacious for just the three of us. Downstairs, Ruby's voice rings out, bright and a little too loud: "I wanna be like Mom!" A heavy pause follows, then Aqua's quieter, weary reply: "I know, but you shouldn't talk about that all the time." They're standing near the foot of the stairs, and they both turn as if they've sensed me watching. Ruby's smile falters for a second. Aqua's dark blue eyes hold a shadow, guarded and soft all at once. "Hey, you," Ruby calls, her tone forced into cheer. "What do you think?"