"Val, do you like my drawing? That's us, see? I'm the yellow one and you're the orange one, with your little flowers."


Valen took the drawing from his younger brother, holding it in front of his face. There were two little stick figures on the piece of paper, one yellow and one orange, just as he said. He smiled to himself when he realised the two stick figures were holding hands.


"Mama told me you wouldn't want to see it, but I wanted you to have it anyway." Clementine looked up at him with wide eyes, waiting for a response.


"It's beautiful, really. I'll keep it here with me so I can look at it when I get homesick." Valen leaned over the edge of his hospital bed to put his hand on top of his brother's, making Clementine smile. He was growing up now, wasn't he? It was weird to imagine that his little baby brother would be turning ten years old soon.


"It's my birthday next week... do you think the doctor will let you come home to see me?" Clementine looked over at the machines hooked up to his brother's body.


His brother was sick, he knew that much. His parents had reassured him his brother would be okay, and he trusted them. So he wouldn't worry about him if they weren't worried as well.


Still... he hoped his brother would be able to come home for his birthday. He had been in the hospital for days.


"I don't know yet, Clem. When Mama and Papa get back with the doctor, we can ask them then, okay?"


Clementine was silent for a short while, but nodded his head. "...Do you think your illness will ever go away?"


"I... I don't have the answer to that, I'm sorry... but I promise I'm trying to become strong again so I can come home soon."


Clementine didn't say anything, so Valen quickly looked around for something to distract his brother with. Noticing the vase of orange lilies in the hospital room, he pointed at them to get Clementine's attention. They were fake, of course, but they were still beautiful. They looked just like the real thing.


"Did you know orange lilies bloom during the summer? They're perennial flowers, so- they live long lives, and they endure a lot. They grow back every year."


"Oh, so they're strong then? Just like my brother!"


"Y-Yeah, exactly. See, you have nothing to worry about. Your big brother will be okay, I promise. Just think about these lilies on my nightstand and how strong they are, too."


"I just hope you can come home soon. When you're not there, Mama gets mean and she doesn't act like herself anymore. Yesterday, she locked me in my room without letting me have dinner because I asked her to help me with my homework. She told me I should be paying more attention in class."


Valen frowned, and then continued. "Well, did you know orange lilies also represent courage? Even in difficult situations, even if you're scared, there are some things you'll have to do."


Clementine didn't say anything, so Valen spoke again.


"You can be brave for me, right, Clem? You'll have to hold on a little bit longer, but once I'm better, I'll come home and I'll make sure she can't hurt you anymore."


"I'll try my best." Clem couldn't look him in the eye.


"It's okay if your best is all you can do. You're just a kid, you shouldn't have to worry about it anyway, just- come here."


Valen opened his arms, and Clementine reached over to hug him, being careful not to disturb any of the wires and machines.


"You're my brother and I love you. Don't forget that, okay?"


"I won't forget. I love you too."