Justin dragged himself from bed as sunlight poured through the window. Getting dressed held no enthusiasm, like most tasks lately. All he felt was hollowness.
The cold wood floors sent a shiver through Justin's feet as he wandered downstairs. It had been another restless night, haunted by memories of his brother. He replayed their last moments together, wishing he could change what happened. Grabbing a glass of water didn't help dull the ache in his heart. Justin sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly ahead. Photos of happier times with Derek just made the pain feel fresh. How could he be gone? It didn't seem real.
Anna had arrived at Justin's house early because she wanted to make sure he was doing okay before church. It had been a tough time for him lately, and she knew that Sundays could be especially difficult. She had planned to meet him at church but then decided to come over to his house instead, hoping to catch him before he left for church. As she sat in the kitchen, waiting for Justin to come downstairs, she heard footsteps and then saw him walk into the room. He looked a bit disheveled from sleep, but as soon as he saw me, a smile spread across his face.
"Hey, Anna," he said, sounding surprised but happy to see her. "What are you doing here? I thought we were meeting at church."
She stood up and walked over to him and gave him a gentle hug. "I wanted to see how you were doing before church," she said. "I know Sundays can be tough for you, and I didn't want you to have to face it alone."
Justin's expression softened, and he looked at her with gratitude. "Thanks, Anna," he said. "That means a lot to me. I'm glad you're here."
As they hugged, Anna could feel the tension in his body begin to ease, and she knew that she had made the right decision to come over to his house early. She was happy to be there for him, to support him and help him through this challenging time.
