Elsa Jean- Hollie Mack - Sleepi... | -familystrokes-

Tonight, though, the roles had shifted. Hollie was vulnerable, his breathing deep, his guard down. Elsa pulled the knitted blanket from the back of the chair and draped it over him, her fingers brushing his shoulder. He didn’t stir.

“We’re not stepsiblings, Hollie,” Elsa said, her voice breaking. “We’re cousins. And your real father? He’s the reason my real father left.” -FamilyStrokes- Elsa Jean- Hollie Mack - Sleepi...

They sat together as the credits rolled on the forgotten movie. Outside, a car pulled into the driveway—headlights sweeping across the dark room. Their mother was home. And for the first time, the two of them weren’t pretending. Tonight, though, the roles had shifted

Hollie’s eyes snapped open. For a second, he was just a scared boy. Then the mask slid back. “What are you talking about?” He didn’t stir

The silence that followed wasn’t angry. It was the silence of a foundation cracking, of a family stroke that would either shatter them or force them to rebuild. Hollie sat up, took the phone, and stared. Then he did something Elsa never expected.

“Finally,” he said. “A reason why nothing ever made sense.”