The Croft mansion, usually alive with elegance and quiet sophistication, had become a house of sorrow. The once-bright chandeliers now seemed dimmer, the halls heavier with a silence that suffocated anyone who dared to walk through them.
Dandelion Croft stood by the large living room window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She had always been the composed one, the eldest who held the family together in times of distress. But now, her expression betrayed her fragility, her jaw trembling as she gazed out at the gray sky.
Behind her, their mother sat in a high-backed chair, her face buried in her hands. The strong, poised matriarch of the Croft family was reduced to quiet sobs, her grief pouring out in broken waves. Beside her, their father gripped the armrest of his chair, his knuckles white, his face stoic but hollow. He had always been a man of few words, but now, the words refused to come altogether.
In the center of it all was Liam. He stood stiffly near the fireplace, his eyes fixed on the unlit logs as if willing them to burn on their own. His posture screamed restraint, his back straight, his hands tucked into his pockets. But his mind was far away, lost in memories of his little sister.
The sound of Daisy’s laughter echoed in Liam’s mind, a haunting reminder of what he had lost. He remembered her as a child, running through the garden in her frilly dresses, her giggles carrying through the air like music.
“Liam! Wait for me!” she would call, her tiny legs struggling to keep up with him.
He would slow down, rolling his eyes but secretly smiling. “Come on, Daisy. You’re too slow.”
“You’re just too fast!” she’d reply, pouting before breaking into a grin that melted his heart every time.
Then there were the teenage years, when Daisy’s rebellious streak had begun to show. Liam had often found himself playing mediator between her and their parents. He had scolded her, guided her, and even grounded her a few times. But through it all, she had remained his Daisy-the little sister who looked up to him with those big, trusting eyes.
He clenched his fists, his heart aching as the memories threatened to drown him.
“Liam,” his mother’s shaky voice broke the silence, drawing his attention. She looked up at him, her face pale and tear-streaked. “What are we going to do?”
Her question wasn’t just about the funeral arrangements or the media frenzy surrounding Daisy’s death. It was a plea for stability, for strength.
Liam swallowed hard and stepped forward, his voice firm despite the lump in his throat. “We’re going to take it one day at a time, Mum. Daisy wouldn’t want us to fall apart. We have to stay strong for her.”
“But how?” Dandelion asked, turning from the window to face him. Her voice was sharp, her pain evident in every syllable. “How are we supposed to stay strong when she’s gone? When everything feels… empty?”
Liam met her gaze, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. “We remember her. We honor her. And we don’t let her memory fade.”
Later that evening, Liam found himself in Daisy’s old room. It was untouched, as if she might walk through the door at any moment. Her favorite books lined the shelves, her perfume lingered in the air, and a photo of the two of them sat on her nightstand.
He picked up the picture, his thumb brushing over the glass. It was from her high school graduation. She had her arm around him, her smile wide and radiant.
“She was always so proud of you,” Dandelion’s voice came from the doorway, startling him. She stepped inside, her own face softened with sorrow. “She always said you were her hero.”
Liam chuckled bitterly, setting the photo back down. “Some hero I turned out to be. I couldn’t even protect her.”
Dandelion placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm. “None of us could’ve predicted this, Liam. You did everything you could. You’ve always done everything for her.”
He shook his head, his voice breaking. “It wasn’t enough.”
That night, the family gathered for dinner, though none of them had much of an appetite. The empty chair at the table was a glaring reminder of Daisy’s absence.
As they sat in silence, Liam finally spoke, his voice low but steady. “We’ll get through this. Together.”
His words hung in the air, a fragile promise that seemed almost impossible to keep. But for the sake of Daisy’s memory, they clung to it, hoping that someday, the pain would become more bearable.
And though the house remained heavy with sorrow, there was a flicker of hope-a small, fragile spark that they would carry forward, one day at a time.