“Please, Harper,” Bobby pleaded, his breath coming in small gasps. “Do this. For me.”

“Anything for you, Bobby,” she vowed, and held his chilled hands. “Anything.” She still didn’t understand what he was talking about, but she’d do whatever he asked. She owed him that. He’d always been there for her. She would do the same for him. Tears streaked down her face, mingling with the rain, then dropped onto the blood-spattered pile of clothing draped over his chest.

“Thanks, Harpie.” He smiled weakly. And closed his eyes. “Didn’t know w-what else to do.”

“Bobby, what’s going on?” she asked again.

“I’m s-sorry. You’ll know…what to do” was all he said in response, the words slurred and hushed. “Love you, sis.” He said it so quietly that she wasn’t even sure he’d spoken.

“Love you, big bro,” she choked out. She leaned over him and reached behind his shoulders, pulling his weak body to hers in a tight hug, desperately trying to give him comfort. Hoping for some miracle to save his life.

“Be careful…”

After a slight shudder and a doting smile, he closed his eyes for the last time, and his body went still in her arms.

Harper crushed Bobby’s lifeless body against her. Shock poured through her every fiber, chilling and bitter. The driving rain continued in heavy sheets and pounded against her while she just held him with disbelieving ferocity.

Her mind raced with questions she feared would never be answered and words she knew would never be spoken. Why? Why had her brother been shot? What had he done to deserve having his life taken away in such a grisly and abrupt way? Who would have done this? And what in the world did he leave for her that had cost him his life?

Time meant nothing. How long had she sat there, clutching the cold shell of her brother? Wasn’t it just minutes ago that she was annoyed with him for not picking her up and for making her walk in the drizzle?