SandScript 2023 [Digital Exclusive]

probably end with him scoffing and saying that’s not what it’s about.
Jack groans when the drawstring on the left still isn’t correct. He’s so frustrated that he just
yanks hard on one end, nearly making the other end disappear. Jaiden shifts so he’s facing
Jack’s chest. He adjusts the drawstrings till they’re even. He does it without thinking, some
instinct kicking in without his knowledge.
“Thanks,” Jack mumbles, “I could’ve gotten it myself though.”
“Yeah, sure,” Jaiden said softly as he readjusts to his original position. “Do you have anything
else you want to say?”
“I was thinking,” Jack stops. He looks like he’s debating on saying what he was about to.
“That maybe I could help out a bit you know?”
Jaiden doesn’t say anything in response. He isn’t sure what he could say in this instance.
“I mean,” Jack tries to rectify and Jaiden is pretty sure this is the most he’s heard his brother
talk in the last week. “You’re no longer the only one.”
“Oh, that’s…thank you.” Jaiden supplies lamely, it’s a pathetic response.
All things considered, he should be happy someone wants to help him out. That would solve
everything he’d just been waxing poetic about. At least, he hoped it would. It should relieve
him of this pressing weight on his chest. The kind that sits there, that you both forget and can’t
ignore. Yet, all it did was make Jaiden sag down a bit further.
That’s the problem, isn’t it? He wanted the freedom to find himself but that means losing
everything he currently is. He may not know if his normal is who he is but at least he’s doing
something. Facing the reality of his wishes doesn’t excite him, it makes him retreat. Forces him
to accept his current reality because the other option is unknown and that’s terrifying.
He doesn’t have the bravery to do what he wants when the opportunity presents itself. He
doesn’t have anything really. He doesn’t have some specific talent, he’s not passionate about
anything. He’s just Jaiden and that’s the only label he’s ever going to have.
He feels the tears but forces them back, refusing to let Jack see him break at the mere mention
of help. Instead, he said, “I’ll let you know if I need help, okay?”
Jaiden can feel Jack’s stare. He focuses on Jack’s jacket instead, there’s a piece of lint on it.
He absentmindedly picks it off and brushes his shoulder for good measure. Jack doesn’t say
anything and Jaiden is selfishly grateful that his brother hardly ever knows what to say.
“You’re never going to ask for it are you?”
Well, he didn’t really need to call him out on it. Jaiden was just giving him praise about not
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