United in Grief 

The night air was calm as Ethan stood at his window, looking out at the large estate. The moonlight lit up the neatly trimmed gardens below, and the only sound was the quiet rustling of the trees. It felt strange to be back in this house that had once felt like a second home, but now seemed more like a tribute to his grandfather's legacy.

Ethan had finished unpacking and freshened up, his mind weighed down by thoughts of the funeral and the difficult conversations that lay ahead. A soft knock on his door broke him from his thoughts.

"Ethan, dinner's ready," came Isabelle's voice, muffled by the thick wooden door.

"I'll be right down," he called back, his voice sounding hollow even to himself.

He took one last look out at the grounds before heading downstairs. The house felt different at night. The corridors were dimly lit, shadows stretching along the floor as if the past itself lingered in the walls. It was hard not to feel like he was walking through a museum, surrounded by relics of a history he could never quite live up to.

Downstairs, the dining room was bathed in the warm glow of the chandelier, the long mahogany table set for an intimate family meal. His parents, sisters, and a few close relatives were already seated, their quiet conversations punctuated by the clink of silverware. The atmosphere was subdued, the usual lighthearted banter absent, replaced by the weight of their collective grief. 

As Ethan sat down between his sisters, Claudia and Isabelle, his parents looked up from their spots at the table. Uncle Richard, seated at the head, had everyone's attention. Even though he seemed calm, Ethan noticed the tiredness in his uncle's eyes. Tomorrow was the funeral, and tonight felt like the quiet before the storm. 

Dinner went by mostly in silence, the clinking of silverware on the fancy plates the only sound filling the room. Ethan could feel the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging in the air, each person too absorbed in their own emotions to break the quiet. He glanced at his sisters; Claudia kept her eyes down, pushing food around her plate, while Isabelle, usually so lively, seemed withdrawn, her gaze focused on her glass as if it held all the answers.

As the plates were cleared and the soft murmur of the kitchen staff briefly filled the room, the tension became palpable. It was as though everyone was bracing themselves for what was to come, yet no one dared to speak first. When the wine was poured, Uncle Richard set down his glass with a deliberate motion, the soft clink echoing louder than it should have. He turned his gaze to Ethan, his expression calm and a small smile on his face.

"How are you doing, Ethan?" Richard asked. "You've grown up so much since I last saw you."

Ethan looked up, meeting his uncle's eyes. "I'm... doing okay, Uncle," he replied, forcing a small smile in return. Richard nodded, acknowledging Ethan's response before glancing over at his sisters.

"How about you two?" Richard prompted. "You've both grown up too."

Claudia glanced up, a hint of a smile on her lips. "I'm hanging in there," she said softly, her tone laced with uncertainty. "It's been a lot to process, but I guess we're all in the same boat."

Isabelle nodded in agreement, her eyes brightening slightly as she added, "Yeah, it feels strange being back here, especially now. But I'm trying to focus on the good memories, even if they feel distant."

Richard smiled at them, appreciating their honesty. "That's a good way to look at it. It's important to hold on to those moments, especially during times like these." His gaze swept across the table, the family's shared grief hanging heavily in the air.

The room buzzed with laughter and chatter as their cousins shared stories from their childhood, each tale funnier than the last. Ethan sat on the sofa, feeling the weight of the day slowly catching up with him. He leaned back, shifting closer to Isabelle, his head naturally coming to rest on her shoulder. The warmth and comfort of being next to his sister, along with the background noise of happy voices, began to lull him into sleep.

Isabelle smiled softly, noticing Ethan dozing off. His glasses had slid down his nose slightly, and without thinking, she reached up and gently removed them, folding them carefully and setting them on the nearby table. She brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead, her touch light so as not to wake him.

Claudia, sitting on the other side of Isabelle, leaned in and whispered, "Look at him."

"Seriously," Nia, one of their cousins, chimed in, her eyes full of amusement. "Ethan always falls asleep first at these family gatherings. It's like a superpower."

Isabelle chuckled softly, glancing down at her sleeping brother. "He's had a long day," she said quietly. "I don't think any of us realized how tired we were until now."

"He looks adorable," Ruby, another cousin, remarked with a grin.

"Let him sleep," Jayden said from across the room, his deep voice calm but commanding. Jayden, the son of their Uncle Richard, had always been especially protective of Ethan, something that didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the family. He waved over a servant. "Could you bring a blanket for Ethan?" he asked. The servant quickly left to get it.

Their parents were in another room, deep in conversation with the elders of the family, leaving the younger cousins to enjoy their own little reunion. 

"Remember that time when a boy wanted to marry Ethan?" Nia said, her eyes lighting up with the memory.

Everyone laughed, and Noah, another cousin, added, "Yeah! And Jayden challenged him to a fight. That poor kid didn't stand a chance."

Nia giggled. "The boy said he'd come back stronger one day to beat Jayden and then he'd marry Ethan."

Jayden smirked. "He'd still lose," he said confidently, just as the servant returned with a blanket. Jayden stood, took the blanket, and walked over to Ethan. He carefully draped it over his cousin, making sure he was comfortable. His actions were gentle, almost instinctive.

Claudia raised an eyebrow as she watched. "Why do you care about Ethan more than the rest of us?" she asked, teasing but genuinely curious.

"Yeah," Nia added, playfully pouting. "You never take care of us like you do him." The other cousins nodded in agreement, all eyes on Jayden.

Jayden sighed, running a hand through his hair as he sat back down. He crossed his arms and looked thoughtful. "I don't really know why," he admitted. "I just feel like I have a closer bond with Ethan."

The room grew quiet for a moment. The cousins exchanged glances, half-teasing but also understanding. Jayden and Ethan's relationship had always been different, a connection that seemed to go beyond the usual cousin bond.

The conversation slowly picked back up, but Ethan remained fast asleep, his breathing soft and steady. The blanket Jayden had placed over him rose and fell gently with each breath.

After a while, the parents came into the room. Julia smiled at Ethan, still asleep on the couch, while Thomas stood beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder. Ethan hadn't moved, still peacefully sleeping.

Nia's mother, Lisa, spoke up. "It's time for bed. Tomorrow's going to be a long day." The cousins nodded in agreement.

Jayden glanced at Ethan. "I'll take Ethan to his room," he said.

"Thanks, Jayden," Julia said softly, and Thomas gave a slight nod in appreciation.

Jayden walked over to Ethan and gently scooped him up in his arms. Ethan shifted a little but stayed fast asleep. Jayden moved carefully, making sure not to wake him.

As Jayden carried Ethan, his dad, Richard, couldn't resist making a joke. "If only this son of mine could find a girlfriend," he said with a grin. 

As Jayden carried Ethan, his dad, Richard, couldn't resist making a joke. "If only this son of mine could find a girlfriend," he said with a grin.

Nia laughed and added, "Yeah, Jayden, you're always so busy looking after Ethan, maybe you forgot about finding one!"

Everyone in the room chuckled and watched as Jayden walked away carrying Ethan. It was something everyone had noticed over the years, Jayden always seemed to look out for him.