larrysexypaul

The sound of his brother’s strained voice hits him and he has to lean against the desk to support himself. His words hit him square in the chest forcing the air from his lungs as he wills himself not to lose it again. “Okay.” The despair is clear in his voice as he fights off the tears. “Jesus.” He sits heavily in his chair and stifles the sob that threatens to escape.

Instead, he swallows it back and clears his throat. “Thanks, Rob.” His voice hitches and he taps his finger uncomfortably against the phone. “Thanks for calling. And thank you for everything. I know it’s probably not the easiest thing to do, but I really appreciate it.” His tears fall silently down his cheeks as he relays his thanks to his brother. After all, Julian was his nephew and he’d operated on the boy and had to watch him die.

       Rob lets out a heavy sigh, his eyes falling closed as he clears his throat. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way, you know that.” He states, though he himself was also on the verge of losing it. The doctor didn’t go home the previous night, he couldn’t bring himself to leave. “I       I’m sorry, Larry. I just… wish…” At that he stops, clearing his throat desperately, a sign that he was about to lose it. “If you… need anything, don’t hesitate to call, okay?”

The blonde continues to rub Matthew’s back, settling into a bit of silence as she lets her thoughts travel. A darkness had loomed overhead for her ever since Rob had told them that Julian had passed away, and she’d spent a large portion of the last several hours trying to keep that at bay. Though when silence approached, so did it, along with her need to close off and let the grief engulf her.