15.2: Sunflower, Please
"You killed your brother," I state/ask, my head somewhere else that's not on my neck.
Tobias let's go of Benji's leash and clasps my wrists, teary eyes on my disbelieving ones. "My only brother-"
"Oh my God," I say and suddenly the French air I've been breathing makes no sense. "Tobias, let me go-"
"I regret it every day of my every cycle, Roseline," he tells me, his shell completely falling off. And I realise, what killed him wasn't nice words and big hearts, it was his brother.
"You killed your brother," I repeat like a broken tape.
"That's why I was scared to tell you," he blathers, his eyes disappearing under a year's worth of tears.
"Oh my God," I shake my head, my lips parted.
Tobias blinks at me and shakes his head. "Listen, please," he begs. "It was an accident."
"An accident? How old was he?"
"Five."
My eyes sting. "What did you do?"
"I swear I didn't mean it," he says, choking on his tears. "I swear."