TO THE FUTURE AND WHATEVER IT HOLDS

Leo walked into his house, expecting to find it empty. But instead, he was surprised to see his cousin Don sitting in the living room, nursing a glass of Manhattan whisky. Leo raised an eyebrow, curious about what brought Don here. He hadn't seen his cousin in weeks, and they had only spoken briefly on the phone a few days ago.

"Hey, man," Don said, looking up at Leo. "I hope you don't mind me helping myself to your liquor cabinet."

Leo smiled and shook his head. "Not at all, Don. Make yourself at home. What brings you here?"

Don is Leo's cousin and also his only friend.

Don sighed and took a sip of his drink. "Just needed a place to crash for a bit, you know? Been thinking a lot about our conversation the other day."

Leo's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? Which conversation was that?"

Don looked at him seriously. "About your search for a way to become totally human, Leo. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I have to tell you, I don't think it's possible."

Leo felt a pang of disappointment, but he tried to stay optimistic. "What do you mean? You think it's impossible for me to become human?"

Don nodded. "I've never heard of a supernatural becoming totally human,Leo. It's just not something that can be done. We're creatures of the night, Leo. We're not meant to change who we are".

Leo felt a surge of frustration. He had been searching for so long, and he had finally thought he was getting close. But now, his friend was telling him it was all for nothing.

"Why are you telling me this, Don?" Leo asked, trying to keep his temper in check. "Why are you trying to crush my dreams?"

Don looked at him sympathetically. "Because I don't want you to waste your time, Leo. You're a great guy, and you deserve to be happy. But searching for something that's impossible is only going to lead to heartache. Trust me, I know. I've been there myself."

Leo sighed and rubbed his temples. He didn't know what to think. Part of him wanted to keep searching, to keep hoping that there was a way to become human. But another part of him was starting to think that Don was right.

The two brothers sat in silence for a moment, sipping their drinks and lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Leo spoke up.

"Thanks for telling me, Don. I appreciate your honesty."

Don nodded. "Anytime, Leo. That's what family are for."

As they sat there, Leo couldn't help but think about his search. He had been so sure that he was close to finding a way to become human. But now, he was starting to doubt himself. Was it really worth it, he wondered? Was it really worth risking everything for a chance at humanity?

As he pondered this question, Leo realized that he didn't have an answer. He didn't know what the future held, or what the consequences of his search might be. All he knew was that he had to keep moving forward, no matter what.

And so, with a newfound sense of determination, Leo stood up and clinked his glass against Don's. "To the future," he said, smiling. "Whatever it may hold."

Don smiled back, and the two friends took a sip of their drinks, the tension between them dissipating. They sat there for a while longer, enjoying each other's company and the quiet of the evening. And as they sat there, Leo knew that no matter what the future held, he would always have his cousin Don by his side.