A montage of events came in quick succession. Quinn and Theo were growing up.

Six-year-old Quinn and Theo were sledding down the hill, Quinn screaming in excitement as Theo had the biggest smile on his face. They flew over a bump on the ground, causing both of them to tumble out of the sled. Quinn shrieked with laughter, and Theo could not stop giggling.

Brenda, Doug, Quinn, and Theo were there when Derrin graduated high school. Two of Brenda and Doug’s other adult children were there to congratulate him as all three of them were officially out of the house.

More foster children came in and out of the house, but Theo and Quinn remained the same. Quinn always helped out to give instructions to the children, whether they were six months old or sixteen. She was simply a chatterbox. Theo remained quiet, but respectful.

Theo and Doug stayed up late on the weekends, watching scary movies. Ten-year-old Theo kept hounding Doug for higher rated movies, but Doug put his foot down.

“Miss Nichole even said I should watch harder stuff! It’s good for me!” Theo said.

“No, Miss Nichole and I both agree nothing past PG-13 until you’re sixteen,” Doug said.

Theo groaned before it shifted to the next scene. It was Quinn’s eleventh birthday, and she was unwrapping one of her presents. She frowned, looking at the game case. “Harvest Moon,” she read out loud.

Theo snorted, then shook his head. “Isn’t that a game for babies?”

“I’ve been asking around,” Brenda said, patting Theo’s shoulder to quiet him. “I know you haven’t been loving the games we got as a family, and Anna said that maybe you should give this one a go.”

“I don’t know,” Quinn said. “Maybe games just aren’t my thing. I’m not real big on the shooting creatures or killing bugs.”

“Oh, no, Anna said this has none of that. It’s more a relaxing game. Repair a farm and get it thriving. It’s in a genre of games that I think it’s called farming simulators?” Brenda checked with Doug, who nodded. “I’m not super familiar with games, either.”

“So… no shooting anything?” Quinn asked.

Brenda shook her head. “Nope.”

“No defending your camp from space alien bugs?” Theo asked.

“I hate that game,” Quinn mumbled, her mind mostly on the game.

“I think you’ll like this. Give it a go. And if you don’t like it, then that’s fine, too,” Doug said.

Quinn shrugged. “I mean, it’s worth a shot.”

The scenes went through rapid succession, Quinn playing game after game after game, her small bookshelf in her room filling with cases of all sorts of farming games.

Thirteen-year-old Quinn and Theo were near a Christmas tree, unwrapping a box holding papers. Brenda and Doug hadn’t had a new child come to the house in months.

“We’ve decided to end our time fostering,” Doug said when Theo gave him a questioning look, holding the papers.

“End fostering so we can finally make it official,” Brenda said.

Quinn gasped, eyes widening in excitement. “Adoption!”

Brenda nodded. “Adoption.”

Doug grunted. “As soon as the judge makes it official.”

“We both agreed they simply can’t split you two up, and the best way to keep you together is to keep you here,” Brenda said. Quinn squealed and hugged Brenda. Brenda hugged Quinn back, smiling.

“So, um…” Theo started to say.

“You can still call us Brenda and Doug if that’s what you want,” Doug said.

Theo nodded, his eyes cast downward. “I would… rather do that, yes.”

Doug gave him an encouraging smile. “That’s just fine.”

The scene shifted, all smiling faces at the courthouse. They each put an arm around each other as they smiled for the camera. Derrin and his siblings were there, too. The family was growing, with one of their adult children already with a baby on her hip.

They were out for ice cream later, just Brenda, Doug, Theo, and Quinn.

“You two needed each other, you know,” Brenda said. “You’re like yin and yang. I’ve never seen two children with two completely different likes and dislikes come together like you two have.”

“We’re not that different,” Quinn said, glancing at Theo. “Are we?”

Doug chuckled, moving his spoon around in his banana split. “Says the person that doesn’t have to go to every horror movie that hits the big screen.”

“Ugh, those are gross,” Quinn said.

“Speak for yourself,” Theo said.

“I am speaking for myself. They’re gross. Why do you watch those?” Quinn asked.

Theo shrugged. “Because they’re cool.”

The scene shifted, and fourteen-year-old Quinn came home from school, shrugging off her backpack and coat.

“Theo!” Quinn shouted. There was no answer. “Theo!”

“What?”

“Did you really punch Richard in the face?” Quinn asked, following the sound of Theo’s voice.

“Sorta,” Theo said.

Quinn pushed open the door to see Theo on the bed with an ice pack against his cheek. “What do you mean sorta?”

“I mean he sorta asked for it. And he punched me back, so no, I don’t feel bad,” Theo said.

“What’d he do?” Quinn asked.

“Oh, come on. You’ve heard the rumors. I was trying to stop it once and for all, because it’s disgusting.”

Quinn furrowed her brows. “You mean of us being adopted? Everyone knows that.”

“Not just about us being adopted,” Theo said, getting up. “About how people figured out we’re not actually biologically brother and sister. Richard’s a sick kid who thought we are secretly dating.”

Quinn blinked, then leaned over, gripped her knees before she made a gagging noise.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“I thought so, too,” Theo said, keeping the ice pack on his cheek.

“What kind of sick rumors are those!” Quinn shouted, still gripping her knees. “Why is this kid your friend?”

“You haven’t heard the rumors?” Theo looked confused. “Seriously, Quinn, aren’t you more popular than me?”

“Well, I mean… maybe talk to more people and you can make better friends than Richard. The sick kid,” Quinn mumbled as she straightened. “I just thought that he… you know…”

Theo raised an eyebrow. “That he what?”

Quinn paused, then her gaze shot to the ground as she shuffled her feet.

“That he what, Quinn? Seriously? What could be worse than rumors of us secretly dating?”

“I just thought Brady finally squealed and told Richard your last name. From… before.”

Theo’s face changed instantly. Despite it almost being ten years ago, the haunted look returned to his face in full force, and it was almost like five-year-old Theo was back.

“I am not Theo Wolfe,” he whispered before stomping off to the kitchen.

Another scene appeared, this one seemed far more relaxed as it lingered on Brenda reading a book on the couch, sipping from a mug of coffee before placing it on the end table. Seven-year-old Quinn walked in the room, arms folded, confused.

“Brenda,” Quinn said, her brows furrowed. “Theo’s… being weird.”

Brenda glanced up from her book. “Oh? What’s he doing?”

“He’s just… in bed. Under his covers. Every time I think it’s because he’s sleeping, but then I leaned over today, and his eyes are open. He’s just staring in the distance. I try to talk to him, but he ignores me. It’s like he actually is asleep, but I can tell he’s not. Do you think he’s sleeping with his eyes open? Ashley says some people can do that.”

Brenda gave a small, sad smile. “It’s so good of you to look after Theo. That’s a lovely quality you have.”

“But what’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing is wrong with him,” Brenda said, closing her book and putting it next to her mug of coffee. “It’s just… Theo has…” Brenda let out a small sigh, trying to organize her thoughts. “Theo has something called depression.”

Quinn frowned. “Depression? What’s that?”

Brenda smiled, patting Quinn’s hand. “Something I hope you never experience, but it’s still important to show compassion to those who have it.”

“But what is it?” Quinn asked.

Brenda pursed her lips, trying to think. As she did so, the scene shifted. It was of little seven-year-old Theo, curled in the bed under the covers, staring at nothing.

“It’s hard to explain depression because it’s so different for everyone.” Brenda’s voice was still heard, even though the scene remained on Theo, curled in a bed. “Some people might love doing a hobby, then for weeks or even months just not find enjoyment in it anymore. Some people get really angry at the drop of the hat.”

“Theo does that sometimes,” Quinn said.

In the bed, Theo closed his eyes.

“Yes, he does. It’s because his energy is low, and he has to do so many things and the poor kid is just tired. He will often just lie in bed.”

“So why doesn’t he just sleep?” Quinn asked.

“Because he’s too exhausted.”

“Too exhausted to sleep? I don’t get it.”

“Even though it looks like Theo is asleep, his mind is playing images of the past while depression is filling him with thoughts that don’t leave him alone. Thoughts that make it difficult for him to feel relaxed enough to sleep.”

Theo didn’t move. Sometimes he would open his eyes, sometimes he closed them. Mostly he remained in bed, doing nothing.

The scene returned to Quinn and Brenda talking in the other room.

“How did depression happen?” Quinn asked.

“We’re not sure. Some people are born with it. Some people might only have it during wintertime. For Theo, something bad happened in his past, and the depression comes from that.”

“Is this why you keep telling me not to ask about his family?” Quinn asked.

“Yes,” Brenda said. “And I want you to keep respecting his privacy in that way. He’s working it out with Miss Nichole, and Doug and I are here to help him through it, too. You just be his friend.”

Quinn folded her arms. “But how can I when he never responds? He doesn’t want to play with the toys I give him.”

“No. He wouldn’t have the energy to do that.” Brenda said.

“I don’t get it.” Quinn stared at Brenda, clearly trying to understand.

Brenda tapped her book in thought, then glanced at Quinn. “You know all those movies Theo watches?”

Quinn screwed up her face in disgust. “Yeah. Those are creepy.”

“In a way, Theo is fighting his own monster.”

“Depression is a monster?” Quinn asked.

“For many people, yes.” Brenda said.

“A scary one?”

Brenda nodded. “It can be.”

“Like one of teeth and fur?” Quinn asked.

“Possibly. Though maybe it’s better to imagine it as… as a big black blob of slime.” Brenda said.

Quinn shook her head. “But he’s not actually getting attacked, is he?”

“In a way, yes. But this sludge monster doesn’t tear him apart limb from limb like in the movies. It covers him, then sucks all the energy out of him before leaving him with thoughts of hopelessness. He has a hard time picking himself back up after each attack.”

“Can he kill it forever?” Quinn asked.

“I don’t know,” Brenda said. “Some people can. But other people…”

The scene changed again, even as Brenda’s quiet sigh was still heard. The scene was of Theo’s bedroom again, but the boy changed, growing older, playing in his room. Sometimes he was fine and happy, playing with friends or drawing some pictures.

“…for other people, it’ll be a constant in their life,” Brenda’s voice said as the scene kept shifting, showing a growing Theo doing homework, then times where he would walk over to his bed, the weight of the world on his shoulders as he collapsed into it. Barely able to do anything else but grab the covers and stare blankly at the wall.

“And it might be a constant for Theo.”

Theo kept growing. Kept smiling. Kept laughing. Kept collapsing in bed. Kept curling into a ball. Kept staring at nothing. Kept closing his eyes like he was asleep, but there was always the furrow on his brow as the thoughts did not give him peace. The weight of life pressed deeper into him as his face grew devoid of emotion.

“But it’s not fair,” Quinn’s seven-year-old voice said.

“No. No it’s not. But until we can figure out a way to kill depression everywhere, Theo will have times when he’s being attacked by a monster none of us can see but him. Miss Nichole, Doug, and I are doing our best to help him fight back. Make it so he’s given the proper weapons to fight it off. I just want you to worry about giving him all the love and compassion I know is in that heart of yours to give him time to recover from each attack.”

Theo remained in bed, hardly moving.

Quinn sighed. “Yeah. Yeah, alright.”

Theo kept staring, kept doing nothing. His face changed and morphed from the years that passed. Child to tween, tween to teenager.

“But why does he watch those scary movies with monsters if he’s fighting a monster himself?” Quinn’s voice asked.

“Well,” Brenda’s voice said. “Because sometimes it’s nice to know that monsters can be defeated.”

“But… but in so many of those movies they never succeed. Theo talks about it a lot. The monsters can’t be killed and the hero… the hero dies.”

“I… don’t know why he’s so drawn to them. But Theo… he has something the heroes in those horror movies don’t have,” Brenda’s voice said.

“What?”

“You. You and your big, loving heart.”

The voices disappeared. Seventeen-year-old Theo remained in bed, staring at the wall, reacting to nothing. He remained there, time passing as he hardly moved a muscle, looking as though he was asleep except for the furrow in his brow or the occasional times his eyes would open and he stared blankly at the wall.

The door opened, and seventeen-year-old Quinn walked in.

“Hey, Theo, did you say you had your AP English te-” Quinn stopped at the sight of Theo in bed, hardly moving, barely doing enough to breathe. Quinn hesitated, then slipped out of the room. Theo remained, staring at the wall, looking like he was asleep, and yet his eyes were open. The only thing that made anyone think he was still alive was his eyes were focused on a point on the wall instead of being sightless.

The door opened again, and Theo didn’t react. Quinn walked in with two handheld gaming consoles. She placed one by Theo with no expectation that he’d take it before she herself sat down on the ground by his bed, her back to Theo. It was much how it was on their first night at Brenda and Doug’s house, yet this time Quinn didn’t talk nonstop. Instead, she turned on her game, remembering where she was and started mining for ores to upgrade her farming tools.

Quinn said nothing. She didn’t have to. She was busy, lost in the rhythm of her game, gathering resources and farming the crops. She sat there with Theo, unafraid of the invisible monster attacking him. The quiet, peaceful music of her game was the only sound. After a while, Theo took a deep breath as though coming to himself and glanced down at the gaming console near him where Quinn left it. He picked it up with trembling hands, turning it on. He loaded his favorite first person shooting game, remaining on the bed as he started playing. In that room, the quiet, peaceful songs of nature from Quinn’s game were interspersed with Theo’s game of gun shots and brain matter hitting the wall. They remained that way for an hour, ignoring their homework and other responsibilities.

“Kids!” Brenda shouted from the kitchen. “Dinner.”

Theo and Quinn both glanced at the door. “Coming!” they shouted back.

Quinn stood up before offering a hand to Theo. He took her hand and forced himself out of bed.

“I hope it’s tater tot casserole. I’m starving,” Quinn said.

“Do you think we’ll ever convince Brenda to make french fries as a side instead of green beans?” Theo asked.

“Doubtful. Besides, tater tots are the fried version of potato. It’s in the casserole itself! I love that stuff,” Quinn said.

Theo kept his arms folded, no smile on his face, but Quinn didn’t expect to see one so soon after an attack. Quinn turned back around to grab the gaming consoles before the two of them left Theo’s room.