“Hi, I’m here to visit Abigale Books.” Brendan said once the clerk at the Children’s Colorado Hospital. It was a cheerful place, though Brendan knew it was far from a cheerful place.

The Clerk gave a nod and smile as she tapped away on her computer, looking down her nose through a pair of reading glasses. “She’s in room 502.” The Clerk answered after a moment of squinting and scrolling. 

“Thanks.” Brendan answered and quickly moved to the elevator. As the elevator ascended, Brendan’s mind wandered a little. When his sister developed Cardiomyopathy, it had scared everyone. And when the Doctors said Abby wasn’t a good candidate for a heart transplant, the whole house had gone quiet for a good two months. The Doctors did everything they could whenever Abby was back in the hospital, but the results were often the same. 

Bing! Fifth Floor.

Brendan jumped from the chime of the elevator, but quickly walked out to find Abby’s room. He kept his eyes down so he couldn’t see into the other rooms he passed. He really didn’t like Hospitals. He was certain there was a reaper waiting around every corner, just out of sight. 

That is until he found Room 502. Smiling and knocked on the door. 

“Yeah?” Came the voice of his fifteen year old Sister. 

Brendan cleared his throat and deepened his voice. “Uh yeah I have a delivery of 1 Dash of Sunshine for an Aubrey Brooks?” He called. 

He smiled at hearing Abby laugh. “Aubrey’s out, but I’ll take the delivery.” 

Brendan opened the door, glad to see his sister smiling. She looked okay, but he knew that too much excitement would upset her heart’s rhythm. Her brown hair was brushed, and her green eyes were bright in comparison to her paler complexion. “I thought you’d be coming on the weekend.” She told him. 

“I heard you were back in the slammer so I thought I’d visit early.” Brendan answered as he shrugged off the backpack and sat next to Abby. “So, whatcha in for this time?” 

“Oh, you know.” Abby answered. “The Usual. Ticker’s Tocking rather than ticking. It’s pretty much routine by now.” 

“Lousy Routine.” Brendan answered. “So, I brought some boredom breakers, and mood lifters.” 

He dug in his bag and produced a Switch. “I added a new game I think you’d like, so let me know what you think after I kick your butt at Smash bros.”

Abby smiled and accepted the game. “Thanks Bren! Oh this will help against that Boredom.” She told him. She looked at her brother and her smile turned into a lopsided grin and a quirked eyebrow. “A man-bun? Seriously?” 

“What?” Brendan asked, laughing as well. “It’s cool!” 

“It makes you look like a hippy.” Abby told him. 

“Hippies have their hair down. So there.” Brendan teased, sticking his tongue out at her. “Besides, girls love man buns.” 

“I’m a girl, and I don’t.” Abby answered. “But I get I could fix that.” 

She motioned him closer and grabbed the brush from her side table before undoing the man bun and brushing out her big brother’s hair. “How’s college?”

“Dull,” Brendan answered. “But it makes mom and dad happy. Just glad I got in with a track Scholarship.” 

“Is it something that makes you happy though?” Abby asked as she started tugging the locks on the side of Bren’s head into a dutch braid. 

“Not really, but you know how Dad is.” Brendan answered. “‘You need a college education to be a respectable young man Brendan. Keep your feet on the ground and your nose in a book.’”

“Yeah, I know.” Abby answered. “He means well though.” 

“I know. He’s stressed, that’s all.” Bren answered with a shrug. 

“But you should do what you love to do.” Abby told him. 

“That would be drawing and painting.” Bren answered. “And that is a hard field to get into.” 

“So? You’re good!” Abby answered. “You told me you sold some pieces a while ago.” 

“Yeah, but it’s inconsistent.” Brendan answered. “It helps makes ends meet, but not a living.” 

“Yet.” Abby commented, finishing his sentence for him. She started tying in the man bun again, her focus on her work for a moment. “After all, your art reminds people that not everything is dreary. There’s… magic, to be found.” 

Brendan chuckled. “You’re just saying that because I painted you as a fairy princess for your thirteenth birthday.” 

“And it’s Still hanging in my room.” Abby answered. “We all need to remember the good things. And that’s what artists do. And that’s what you’re amazing at. So if anything, make this degree work for you, rather than you work for it.”

Brendan chuckled. “Thou art wise for fifteen.” 

“That’s because I’m the little sister.” Abby answered. “I remind you what’s what. There, that looks better.” 

Brendan lifted a hand touched the braid, smiling. “From Hippy to Viking. I like it.” 

“No, just a stylish hippy.” Abby teased. “Vikings have beards.” 

“Hey I can grow a beard! See? Stubble!” He answered, pointing at his chin. 

Abby looked then rubbed her thumb on his chin. “Nope, dust.” 

“Oh, them fighting words Abs.” Brendan teased. 

“Are they?” Abby teased back. “Whatcha gonna do about it, Hippy?”

“Beat you at Smash.” Brendan answered. 

“Oh you’re on!” Abby answered laughing as Brendan got the game set up. 

The two played for hours, Brendan using Icarus and Abby playing Zelda. For a while they both forgot that they were in a hospital room, playing like they were grade schooler and high schooler again after a long day of school. Brendan smiled as he won a couple rounds, but groaned when Abby ended up beating him in the last round. That’s when a knock came to the door and the doctor stepped in. 

“Hey kids, visiting hour’s is ending.” He said, a smile on his own face at watching the two siblings play. 

“Aww,” The two answered, though Brendan got up. 

Brendan smiled and handed Abby one more gift. “I’ll be back again soon, ‘kay Abs?” He promised. 

Abby looked at the picture, finding it was a sketch of her as a fairy, sitting on a sunflower. She smiled and nodded at him. “You’d better be.” She told him. 

“Oh I will be.” Bren answered, shouldering his bag and stepping out, though he swallowed a lump that was forming in his throat. Leaving his sister in here, but she was being cared for here… that’s the important part. 

It was a long drive back to the house, and it was late by the time he got home. Exhausted, Bren went up to his room, dropping his bag by the easel that held his latest commission, a dwarven cavern with glowing gems and a few dwarves scattered around the space, a fiery furnace in the back of the cavern casting light for them to work by. Brendan laid on his bed and looked at the paining, already spotting things he could improve. But as he made mental notes of the painting, his eyes slowly drooped until sleep finally claimed him.