Ethan and Jacob: Wish You Were Here
by SalientLane
Chapter 16
Jacob's disheveled hair stuck out in all directions as he tossed and turned in his bed. The comforter was twisted around him like a shroud, adding to the chaotic state of the scene. His eyes, wide and searching the dim shadows of his room, found no comfort. The clock's red digits burned 2:07 AM. With a sigh that carried the weight of his world, he swung his legs over the edge and planted his feet on the cold floor. Feeling a chill, he pulled on a t-shirt, but he was still cold.
He shuffled down the stairs, seeking solace in movement. Each step towards the kitchen was a silent plea for peace. On tiptoeing into the soft yellow glow, Jacob's gaze landed on the silhouette of his mother.
Sophie Teicher sat at the kitchen table, a porcelain cup cradled between her elegant hands, its steam dancing before her thoughtful face. Tax documents lay forgotten beside her, an afterthought compared to the concern etching her brow. Her eyes, pools of compassion, met Jacob's.
"Couldn't sleep either, huh?" Sophie's voice wrapped around him, warm as the tea she nursed.
"Every night's the same," Jacob murmured, voice barely above a whisper. He pulled out a chair and sank into it, the wood creaking under the burden of his unrest.
She reached across the table, her touch light on his hand. "How are you holding up?"
The question unlocked something within him. Words stumbled over his tongue, tripped by sobs he couldn't hold back. "I miss him so much, Mom. It's like... like I'm missing a part of me."
Sophie rose, rounded the table, and enveloped him in an embrace, her arms a fortress against his grief. "Oh, my sweet boy. I know Ethan is out there feeling just as lost without you."
Jacob's breath hitched as he clung to her, the dam inside him breaking.
"Mom," he managed through tears, pulling back to look her in the eyes. "It's more than that. Ethan and I—we love each other. Not just as best friends or brothers. We need each other, like breathing."
Sophie brushed a tear from his cheek, her smile tender but unsurprised. "My dear Jacob, I've seen it all along. You two share a bond that's rare and beautiful. You're soul mates, and nothing—not distance, not time—can change that."
"You knew?" He sniffled, a faint line of hope threading through the despair.
"Of course, I knew." She kissed his forehead. "This isn't the end for you two. I feel it, deep down where mothers know these things. You'll find your way back to each other."
Jacob leaned into her, the warmth of her words seeping into his chilled bones. Maybe, just maybe, there was a glimmer of light in the darkness.
"Thank you, Maman." His voice cracked with gratitude. "I love you."
Sophie held him close, still wanting to protect him. "Always, my love. You and Ethan—you have my blessing, now and forever."
In the silent kitchen, under the watchful eye of his mother, Jacob allowed himself to believe, and feel hope.
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