I had barely brought out the ladder when the doorbell rang. The roof was still leaking, my husband was still ignoring it, and everyone was still ignoring it. With sunken eyes and a request that would deplete our funds and crush my heart a week later, I was not prepared to face my brother. I was definitely not prepared to see him with hollow eyes.

Even though the rain had ceased falling in the morning, the roof continued to make a hushed sound, as if it had something to say that I did not want to hear.

This is a drip. The same weary place, which is exactly over the corner of the hallway mat, stays the same every time.

One of Carl’s muddy boots had been worn out by the spring of last year.

During the course of this week alone, I had informed him five times that “that roof is not going to patch itself.”

And five times, he had kissed me on the forehead, half-listening, and whispered, “I’ll get to it, babe,” before reaching for his dented lunch pail and travel mug and rushing out the door, twenty minutes behind schedule, like he had done every time.

As a result, I remained at home. I took a day off from the library to focus on my personal life and put on what I refer to as my “chore armor,” which consists of old gray sweatpants with a bleach stain the size of Idaho and flannel that was handed down to me by Carl.

As I dragged the ladder out of the garage, I had to navigate past a rake that was hanging loose and Sadie’s soccer cleats that she had forgotten about.

I had just begun to move the ladder in the direction of the hallway when I heard the doorbell ring.

Our number of guests is rather low. Not during the weekdays. Not in this area.

After wiping my hands on my thighs, I opened the door to the front of the house.

How are you, Soren? I blinked, uncertain as to whether or not I was seeing correctly.

He was standing there, swaying ever-so-slightly, and he was gripping his baseball hat as if it were something precious.

When he glanced at his face, it seemed as if he hadn’t slept for days. Very light. There are blue half-moons behind the eyes, which are sunken in.

It seemed as if he had been raking his hands through his hair unceasingly since it was stuck up in the back.

“Okay, Annie,” he greeted her. His voice sounded quiet, as if he was comparing it to the word.

I moved sideways without giving it any thought. “Please come in.”

He did not glance around inside the building.

The only thing he did was sit down on the edge of the couch, as if he were going to get up again at any moment.

“Sis, I’m in a lot of trouble.”

He said it in such manner. Deflated and broken.

My heart was starting to rush as I sat in the chair that was directly across from him.

“What exactly is the problem?”

It’s all about the business. Using his hands, he massaged them together.

“The firm focused on landscaping. It’s not working well at all. To be more precise, it’s drowning.”

Because I was silent, I allowed him to speak.

“Since I grew too quickly. Obtaining loans, etc. Acquired brand new vehicles. Additional men were brought on board. After that, the dry season arrived, and customers stopped coming in, and payments were late. Regarding everything, I am behind. Should I fail to make a balloon payment at the end of the month, the situation will be terminated.

The word “Soren…” I let out a sigh as I spoke his name.

He remained seated with his elbows on his knees.

“All I need is some assistance. You are the only person in whom I have faith.

I was unable to breathe.

The weight of something that was too huge was already beginning to crawl into my chest, and I could feel it.

How much is it? My voice was hardly audible above a whisper when I inquired.

He turned his gaze to the ground. After that, look at me.

“Fifty percent.”

I took a seat. A hundred and fifty thousand? the question

He indicated with a nod. “I am aware that it is completely absurd. Nevertheless, I will repay it.

Each and every dime. With much passion. I solemnly swear.”

The first thing that sprang to my mind was Sadie. Her saves for education. It is the contingency fund.

The momentary stillness of thought Brick by brick, Carl and I had constructed them.

On the other hand, Soren was my younger brother.

His mother referred to him as “the dreamer” on a regular basis, and we all had faith in him. And perhaps still did.

While my heart was heavy, I closed my eyes.

“By Friday, I will have transferred it,” I said.

He placed his arms around me, holding me tightly while shaking.

He leaned very close to me and said, “Thank you.”

In that split second, I had the notion that perhaps, just maybe, I was acting in the appropriate manner.

A week later, I was sitting with Tammy in Lulu’s Café, just like I had done every time before.

Despite the fact that the restaurant smelt like charred toast and watered-down coffee, we chose to sit there.

The sunlight that was streaming in caused the sugar packets that were on the table to sparkle like little lanterns. We squeezed into the corner booth that was located near the window.

She spoke nonstop, ranging from the new fence that her neighbor had installed to a ridiculous quarrel that was going on at work.

I swirled my coffee, more out of habit than anything else, and watched as the steam twisted up like cigarette smoke.

Next, she said, “Oh!” Please have a look at this,” she said as she took out her phone.

If I’m being really honest, it seems like this is the ninth time that my buddy has gotten engaged. Take a peek at this rock.

With her eyes wide open, she turned the screen toward me.

That vineyard near Pella was where he made his proposal. That’s the stuff of fairy tales.”

I drew closer to you.

It was there, in the heart of a photo that was perfectly composed, that Soren was. This is my brother. Looking like a young lad at prom with a grin on his face.

A lady who was wearing a tight red dress was encircled by his arm. The clothing was matched with her nails. Her grin was a dazzling display of teeth and charm.

Moreover, she wore a diamond that was so large that it could have been used to communicate with satellites on her ring finger.

I blinked my eyes.

“That’s the fiance of your friend, right?” I inquired while making an effort to suppress the trembling in my voice.

The head of Tammy was nodded.

Over the course of five months, they have been dating. According to her, he purchased the ring on his own. Authentic platinum. “Are you able to imagine that?”

No. Not even close.

For some reason, the flavor of my coffee became acrid and sour. That is, metal.

I was unable to take my eyes off of Soren’s joyful expression as I repeated his words, “I do not require assistance.”

But he did not need assistance. No, not really.

In order for him to perform, he need a stage, and I was the idiot who provided it.

I failed to show up. Did not send an SMS. All I did was drive right over there.

At the end of a street that led nowhere, Soren’s home was tucked away in peace.

The yard seemed worn out, with areas of grass turning yellow as a result of the heat of the summer.

Wrappers from fast food restaurants were blown across the porch by the air, seeming to be broken promises.

Along the side of the stairs, there was a footprint depression in the side of an empty Amazon box that was partially crushed.

After stepping over a bag that was smeared with ketchup, I knocked.

Slowly, he opened the door for us. His complexion was pale and his eyes were inflamed, as if he hadn’t seen the sun in days.

“What’s up, Annie?”

“We need to have a conversation.”

After taking a step back, he did not utter a single word. After I went in, my heart began to sink.

The living area was a full of clutter. The coffee table was covered with a stack of takeout bags. An unfinished burrito presented on a platter.

The odor of stale fries and perfume lingered in the air like a recollection of unpleasant experiences.

The heel of one pair of stilettos was twisted as they were propped up against the sofa.

When a wine glass was left on the floor, lipstick stains began to bleed down the side of the glass.

It seemed as if gravity had simply been amplified as he collapsed into the chair.

My response was, “You lied to me.”

His eyes darted toward the window as he jerked back and forth.

“I saw the ring,” I continued, my voice becoming more resolute every time.

It was silent from him. It seemed as if he was trying to erase himself by running both hands over his face.

“I handed up the funds that my family had. Both mine and Carl’s. In the event of an emergency, that money was intended for Sadie’s college expenses. We put forth a lot of effort throughout the years. You also purchased a ring, right?

His mouth was opened, then closed, and then he finally spoke out and said, “It wasn’t… I had no intention of doing so. Oh, I swore!”

His voice was shaking. All of the remaining words rushed out in a flurry, with words tripping over each other.

“Annie, she is not as you expect. I had the impression that she made me feel like I was noticed. Her ex-boyfriend, she said, never gave her anything and never treated her in a fair manner. I wanted her to sense that she was unique. As a result, I purchased the ring for her. She was able to take her places. Purchased several items. Because of that, she smiled. However, it was never sufficient. “She was always looking for more.”

At the very edge of the sofa, I sat down. I felt a great burden of icy rage in my chest.

Then you made advantage of me.

Oh, no! He moved his body forward.

“I mean, yes,” she said. But I had no desire to do so. I had no other choice. The failure of my company is imminent. I have trouble thinking clearly. But I know I can’t let her go. Yes, I adore her.

The way I looked at him was really serious. Continue to be my little brother. Continued to pursue love as if it were a commodity that could be purchased with money.

I got to my feet.

I then proceeded to say, “Then allow me to tell you who she truly is.”

It was a blink.

Say, “Come with me.”

My vehicle was parked just across the street at Oak & Ember, which is often considered to be the most upscale establishment in the city.

White tablecloths, gentle yellow lighting in the windows, and valet service were all features of this establishment.

It’s the type of venue you reserve for special occasions like anniversaries, not for weekday evenings.

There was Soren sitting next to me, and his knee was moving like a piston as he sat there. As he sat there, his hands were clenched into fists. I did not make any statements. Just now, I was observing the entryway.

Finally, the door was opened.

As for her, she was there.

The same outfit in red. This time, we are wearing a different pair of shoes—shiny black heels with gold buckles.

It seemed as if she had a staff working on her hair since it was curled perfectly.

As she left, she was accompanied by a tall and smooth-looking male who was dressed in a blue business suit.

A ray of light illuminated his watch. Not a single scuff could be seen on his footwear.

All of them were giggling. It is loud. Not bothered. An example would be two children smuggling liquor behind the bleachers.

Soren took a deep breath in and out. Rather of hearing it, I experienced it.

Then came the kiss, which was gentle and well-rehearsed, as if they had done it a hundred times before.

An very little velvet box was extracted from the man’s pocket as he reached inside it. She let out a gasp.

She immediately put her palm to her chest as if she had just won the jackpot.

He grinned, beaming with pride, and kissed her once again.

They then climbed into his Tesla and drove away, the taillights disappearing into the darkness as they did so.

Soren remained still. He had lost all of his vitality, and his face had become a light color.

He gave off the impression that he was trying to suppress a scream or even a sob.

I apologized softly while placing my hand on his shoulder and said, “I’m sorry.”

He did not glance in my direction. Nothing just staring forward.

She informed me that I was the only one here.

I gave a little nod.

“She has shared that information with a great number of males. Someone I know cautioned me. She engages in a game. The presents. Assurances made. However, she did not remain.”

When Soren spoke, his voice became hardly audible.

Because I adored her.

“Yes, I am aware,” I said.

Soren came back to his home and sat on the stairs of the porch with his elbows on his knees.

I sat down next to him. Someone’s barbecue was carried down the street by the wind, and it smelled delicious. Children laughed from a block away.

It was him who declared, “I’ll fix this.” You are owed money. The whole penny.”

I responded by saying, “I did not come here for the money.” The phrase “I came for my brother”

He had a gleaming glance.

“I was a complete idiot.”

“Love prevailed over you.”

The laugh he gave was acrid.

I entered a state of trance.

I stood up. Extended my hand to you.

It’s time for you to get up, Soren.

It was taken by him.