Hey, this one goes to @tiger_pop (s)he just made my day and I thought I'd express my gratitude with this. Anyway, enjoy guys!

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"Bryant?" My voice echoed through the dark. I don't know why I was calling out to him but it was as if I wasn't in control of my actions. My heart sat heavily in my chest and I sucked in a deep breath to calm the bundle of nerves that was forcing me to succumb into the sadness buried deep within me.

My breath hitched in my throat when I saw the darkness being lifted and a scene appeared before me. I could feel tears threatening to break through. I remember this, I thought silently as I tried to contain the sobs rising. I have to be strong. Don't let them see you be weak. Don't give them that satisfaction. You're strong. You are strong. I chanted inside my head as I watched the scene unravel.

There was a swimming pool in the middle of a familiar backyard. I watched as a girl ran towards it in her swimming suit, chased by a boy no older than 8 running behind her. She squealed in glee when the boy was close enough to reach her and took a fleeting decision before jumping into the pool.

She realized what she did too late and soon, she panicked, her limbs flailing around as she fought to rise to the surface. She couldn't swim.

Lucky for the girl, arms wrapped around her small body and tugged her out of the water. Suddenly, she was able to breathe again as she coughed out water through her tear stricken state. The boy held her in her arms as she frantically gulped in air and rubbed her back soothingly.

He cooed at her and silenced her with soothing words. "Shh now, Casey. Nothing bad is going to happen to you as long as I'm here. I won't let anything bad happen to you. Shush now, little Casey, everything's gonna be alright. Promise me you will be strong. Be strong for me and don't cry, Casey." I remember nodding to his words and promising him that I'll stay strong no matter what happens.

I choked on a sob and felt myself die slowly inside. Hearing his voice and watching this scene unfold was so surreal, it almost made me believe that it wasn't just a part of my mind playing tricks on me.

My heart felt like someone was pushing a stake into it, piercing it slowly before twisting it in an excruciatingly painful way.

I watched as the girl giggle at what her brother said to her and all the sadness vanished from her little chubby face. She was okay now, as long as her brother was there, she's not afraid anymore. He was her rock. Her world. Her everything.

Time fast-forwarded itself and the girl was now pinching her nose and scrunching up her face as she laid horizontally, half submerged in water. Her brother's hands the only thing keeping her afloat. He was teaching her how to float on water and despite her love for her brother, she was terrified of drowning again. The feel of panic underwater was not something she wished to ever feel again.

"Relax your limbs, Case. You won't be able to float if you're so tense." Bryant scolded her - well me - but yeah, you get it.

She was hesitant at first but after a second, she let go of the breath she was holding and did as told. She was putting her complete trust in her brother and putting her life in his hands.

After minutes of floating, mulling over the times when her brother told her to trust him, she felt the absence of a pair of hands under her and was filled with complete excitement when she realized she was floating on her own.

"Bry! Bry! I'm-" she lost her balance and a look of sheer terror and panic crossed her face but just like he promised, he caught her the moment that half of her face was submerged.

He laughed joyfully while the girl coughed lightly but still managed to grin widely at him, showing a missing tooth that she lost a week ago.

Anyone could see the evident love in the boy's eyes and the utter admiration and adoration in the girl's eyes as they looked at one another.

I laughed lightly as my memory reminded me of how clumsy and chubby I was. I was about to cover my mouth to hold in a giggle but realized that my cheeks were no longer dry. I was crying.

My giggle dissipated as I watched them both disappear and the darkness returned.

Another scene took place and now, I was facing a crowd. Everywhere I looked, there were headstones. My visions blurred as I realized what I was about to witness and my throat turned as dry as a sandpaper. My heart felt like it was being held in a tight grip and I could feel my whole body tremble as I wrapped my arms around myself.

I approached the crowd and with every step I took, the louder my heart beat until it all came to a stop. My eyes were solely trained on the headstone everyone was crowding over and tears started to prickle my eyes before they slid down my cheeks.

'Bryant Tyler Johnson - a loving son and brother'

The dates of his birth and death was engraved on the stone and I could feel my knees giving out under me and hit the ground. My hands were clenched into fists while I cried. I faced the sky and cried out, unable to keep it together any longer, asking God what I could have done to have my brother be taken away from me.

No one would understand. He was the only one who cared enough to find out why I looked sad. He was the only one who would buy me a chocolate bar and tell me that it'll be okay when I come in his room, crying from a nightmare in the middle of the night.

I was once again engulfed in the darkness. I looked down at where my palms rested on my thighs and continued to sob. Tears were still streaming down my face but I didn't make any move to wipe it away, my hands laying limp on my sides.

I'm sorry, Bry. I'm sorry that I'm being weak. I'm sorry that I can't be strong.

But you're not here to protect me from the bad things anymore.

I don't know how to be strong without you.

~•~•~

I'm sorry for the depressing chapter and the extremely long wait. I had a misunderstanding yesterday with a friend and it still hasn't cleared off and I'm feeling like complete shit. It's really hard to focus on my studies in school today and it's really hard for me to focus on the story but I managed to finish this chapter and I hope it gave you a little insight on how much Bryant means to Casey.

I would also like to dedicate this chapter to my best friend. He's been there for me since 4 years ago and although we have our fights and problems, he stuck with me through thick and thin and he's my Bryant, a brother that I can depend on no matter the odds.

Yesterday, a fight broke out between a few people and I and he stood up for me and I was reminded on how good my friends have been to me. Everyone I'm close with stuck up to me even though I'm to blame.

{For the ones who are not in the mood for religious stuff or don't believe in God or in the lines of that, do stop here and proceed to the next chapter because the next paragraph is going to contain religious stuff but if you're okay with religious talk then continue. This is just a warning not a prohibition. Please don't hate on me, I really can't handle that much right now}

It's rare moments like those that you have to remember to be grateful, even if life's pressuring you and the devil's whispering in your ears that God left you. God would never leave you, through thick and thin, problems are bound to happen in life and the ones you're facing right now are to prepare you for what's to come and to open your eyes to see that everything you need is right there in front of you.

Life is being hard on me right now and I have my moments where I doubt myself and my sense of right and wrong and if one of you are reading this chapter because you want to drown yourself in books and escape your problems, pick your head up, face your problems and no matter what happens, be grateful. Thank the one above for the air he allowed you to breathe today, for the friends he let stand by your side even though you know you don't deserve their kindness. Thank him for the problems he throws your way and know it's the best for you and trust in him that he won't let any of it happen to you if it will not do you any good.

Learn from the problems life throw at you and learn to apologize.

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Thank you for your supports, the comments and the votes, it means a lot to me and for those who are annoyed by my rant, I'm sorry for annoying you.

Thank you guys and I love you all with everything in me. -J