Broken light.

Once in a small town, there lived a boy named Alex. He was fifteen years old, with bright blue eyes and a smile that could light up even the darkest days. But beneath his cheerful exterior was a heavy heart burdened by his family's struggles. His parents were often harsh and unkind. They fought all the time, usually over money or their own failures. Alex tried to ignore their loud voices, focusing instead on his little sister, Lily. Lily was ten and very sick. She had a condition that made her weak, and she often had to stay in bed. Alex took care of her every day. He would read her stories, play games, and tell her jokes to keep her spirits up. "Why did the bicycle fall over? " Alex would ask, and when Lily replied with a curiosity, "Why? " he would laugh and say, "Because it was two-tired! " Her laughter was the best sound in the world to him, even when their home felt so cold. Their parents, however, seemed unaware of the love between the siblings. Their mother was busy trying to make ends meet, and their father often came home in a foul mood. "You are useless, Alex! " he would shout, throwing things around. "Why can’t you be more like other kids? ” Alex would simply smile back, trying not to let the insults sink in. He believed that staying positive would help them through their troubles. Every day, he would greet his father with a gentle smile, hoping for understanding, but instead, he only received cold stares and harsh words. At school, Alex put on his happy face for everyone. His classmates knew him as the boy who always cheered them up. He helped them with their homework and entertained them during lunch breaks. No one knew the pain he carried inside, not even his best friend, Sam. “Hey, man, you’re always so happy! What’s your secret? ” Sam would ask, and Alex would swallow hard and reply, “It’s easy when you have friends. ” One chilly afternoon, Alex returned home from school to find Lily looking more fragile than usual. She lay on her bed, her tiny frame wrapped in blankets, and her face was pale. Alex rushed to her side, his heart racing. “Lily, how are you? ” he asked, forcing a smile despite the worry knotting his stomach. “I’m okay, Alex,” she whispered, but Alex could see the pain in her eyes. He held her hand tightly, refusing to let her go. “I’ll make you soup,” he said, trying to sound cheerful. He walked into the kitchen, where the room felt heavy and cold. Their parents were arguing again, their voices creeping into the kitchen like a shadow. “You just don’t get it! ” his father barked at his mother. “You’ve spent all our money on her treatments, and for what? ” Alex bit his lip, feeling anger and sadness bubble up inside him. He didn’t understand how they could care so little for Lily—their own daughter. Days turned into weeks, and Lily’s health began to worsen. Alex worked harder to make her laugh, telling her silly stories and pretending to be a knight fighting dragons. “You are the bravest princess! ” he would tell her, bringing light to her tired eyes. “We will win this battle together. ” But as winter deepened, so did Lily’s illness. One night, Alex woke up to a silence that felt deafening. He rushed to Lily’s room and found her breathing faintly. “Stay with me, Lily,” he whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks. But she smiled weakly and said, “I love you, big brother. ” Those were her last words, and they shattered Alex's heart. Lily passed away that night, leaving behind an empty room and a brother filled with despair. Alex felt utterly alone. He didn’t cry; he felt he had no tears left. Instead, he walked into the living room to find his parents, who sat quietly for the first time. Their faces were pale, and for the first time, they looked at Alex not with anger but with regret. “Alex, we’re sorry,” his mother said, her voice trembling. His father nodded, looking shamefaced. “We didn’t realize how hard you were trying. We… we just didn’t see. ” Alex’s heart ached, but no words came out. He wanted to scream at them for their neglect, for not seeing him, for not seeing Lily. But deep down, he knew that it was too late. The only person who understood him was gone. Alex walked to his room, feeling the weight of their words and the absence of laughter. He sat on his bed and pulled out his notebook. He stared at the blank page, longing to express all that he felt but knowing the words wouldn’t come. In a moment fueled by despair, he wrote a final message to his parents. "I tried my best. I was always smiling for you and Lily. I loved her more than you know. I hope one day you can forgive yourselves because I can’t forgive you. I wish I could have done more for her. I love you, but I can’t stay here anymore. " With that, he made a choice, a choice that would end his suffering. He took a deep breath and let go of the pain that had filled his young heart for too long. The next morning, Alex's parents found the note. They felt a wave of guilt wash over them, knowing they had lost not just Lily but also their son. They cried freely now, realizing the consequences of their actions, wishing they could turn back time. But time couldn't be rewound, and the family they once had was now only a memory. In the small town, Alex’s story spread like wildfire. Everyone remembered the boy with the bright smile who always cheered them on. No one, it seemed, had known the truth behind that smile. And in their hearts, they hoped that in whatever place Alex and Lily had gone, they could finally be at peace together, free from sadness and hurt.