TW// Death
QUEEN
"She was gone, Queen. Aphrodite committed suicide…”
“No…” I felt the air leave my lungs, my heart froze at the news. "What? Aphrodite is... dead?" The words didn’t feel real. I stood there, paralyzed by shock, unable to fully process the weight of what my brother had just said. I didn’t know how to react. He collapsed into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I held him tight, gently patting his back. "Shh, we'll go there now," I whispered, trying to calm him, though I myself was also troubled.
"Let's go now, the car's ready," King said, panting. He seemed shaken, but there was no time to dwell on his emotions. We had to leave immediately. I took the driver's seat, my hands trembling as I gripped the wheel, my thoughts racing.
When we arrived at Aphrodite's house, the scene that greeted us was chaos—people gathered outside, murmuring in hushed tones. Inside, her mother was unconscious, her grief wss too much for her to bear. Ace rushed to Aphrodite's room, and we followed him. What we saw inside felt like a nightmare—a lifeless body, a brilliant soul is gone too soon.
The pain of what had happened hit us all differently. Ever since their father left them for another woman, Aphrodite’s life had spiraled into a series of heartbreaks. She had failed out of school, lost her scholarship, and struggled to keep up with the bills while working late nights. Ace had tried to help, urging her to focus on her studies, but she had pushed him away, furious at the pressure. He told us all this while we were on the car on the way to her house, and it was clear that despite his best efforts, he couldn’t protect her from the darkness that consumed her.
Her smile, once so radiant, had faded. Her eyes, once full of hope, were now dim. She’d turned into someone we barely recognized. The depression had eaten at her until it was too late.
Depression started to eat her and she became suicidal, but she can't continue it because Ace was always keeping an eye on her. But despite his efforts, her bright smile, her lovely eyes it all faded everything went dull.
I saw how that incident turned her into a different person.
She was like me. We are both lost...
I couldn’t help but feel a strange connection to Aphrodite. She had been like me—lost, searching for something that couldn’t be found. I wondered, as I looked at her body, Why did you choose to leave? It wasn’t just her loss. It was Ace’s loss too, and I could see how it was breaking him.
"Why did you take your life, huh?" I whispered, the tears I didn’t realize were there falling freely down my face. I watched as Ace clung to Aphrodite's lifeless body until Aunt regained consciousness. After offering her a glass of water, I witnessed Ace's desperation as he approached Aphrodite's mother.
His heart shattered right before my eyes, and I could do nothing to stop it.
"What happened, Ma? She said to me before we parted ways, that she feels… she was feeling g-great. And now... Ma tell me, why?"
"She told me that she already forgives M-Mico and the burden she had carried for years was finally gone. I thought she was doing fine, we even shared meals together, and she seemed like her old self again! My Aphrodite. I never imagined she would take her own life... I...” She stops what she was saying and cried while looking at her daughter.
The sweet Aphrodite is already gone. The Scars and fresh cuts adorned her wrists.
I clenched my fists and look at Ace.
The truth was harsh—Aphrodite had left without warning. No goodbyes. No second chances. Her life had ended in a way that felt impossible to accept.
I clenched my fists, the anger and frustration building inside me.
'Why did you have to leave? Why couldn’t you have fought?'
I knew she had her reasons, but that didn’t make it any easier to swallow. She didn’t just leave her family, she left Ace—and Ace would never forgive himself for not seeing it coming.
“We will take our leave now,”
I stared at Ace as he stood over Aphrodite's body. I wanted to scream at her, to ask her why she’d done this, why she’d left us all in this pain. 
'Are you that tired of life, Aphrodite? But why? Do you really think it’s better on the other side? Ace... Do you think Ace is that strong to bear everything? No he was also weak but because of you he was somewhat strong than any person I know'
"Yes."
‘Why did you have to pass the pain into my brother? I will not forgive you.'
"Our deepest condolence."
‘Isn’t that too much? I thought you love him? Why did you choose to hurt him? Why?! Why did you have to ruin his life?!'
"Queen..."
'I fucking hate you.'
"Yes?" I looked at my brother with a surprised face and King held my hand. He was slightly smiling at me.
"Take a break. Eat something inside before going to bed."
"Yeah."
"Don't forget your meds."
"I know." I slightly chuckled and nodded at him. He also nod at me and said good. I know he watch me go inside.
Tomorrow will be the burial and we still haven't seen Aphro's dad. Aunt just want to grieve for three days.
Why did he have to be cruel. I wonder if he did love his daughter, his own flesh and blood.
But I do think not, because if he did. He won't cheat and leave them.
After eating and drinking my meds. I went back outside. It was already 7:34 pm. I look at my brother who was still fixated on the coffin. He still hasn't had a proper sleep for two days. Aunt seems to be better than yesterday because she was now resting inside. But Ace is not.
After a minute I went back inside to take a nap and when I woke up it was already 10 in the evening.
As people began to leave, I started cleaning, picking up trash. In the distance, I spotted a man. Did he know Aphrodite? I was about to call out to him when Ace called my name. I turned to him and gently touched his face. Dark circles under his eyes, a pale complexion, he had lost so much weight. My poor brother.
"Queen, have you eaten yet?" I look at my watch and it's already 12:00.
"I'll eat later. What about you did you already eat dinner? If not, you should join me."
"I don't have an appetite."
"Alright, you should rest then. I can take care of the things that left here." He nods and held my hand.
"Queen, thank you." Then I was surprised when he hugged me, I pat his head. When suddenly his stomach grumbles.
"You should go and eat. I think I still have some sandwiches left. Want to eat that with me?"
"I'm okay..."
"Try to eat just one sandwich and you go rest. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Good boy." I smiled at him and he followed me to the kitchen, I gave him food and a glass of water and he silently eats it. When he was finished eating, I led him to one of the rooms to rest, then he slumps back into the bed and cover his eyes.
"Queen, I regret going to the bar that night. I truly believed she was fine. She told me not to worry anymore. And now that she's gone, I'll never see her smiling face again... never. So this is what it felt. To loose someone you'll never see again.”
"It's hard, but I believe you can overcome this. Be strong. No one wanted this, so don't blame yourself." He nodded, and I felt a sense of relief.
"I will go now, so rest."
"Okay."
"King, keep an eye on Ace." I whispered to my brother and he nod, it is better to be careful, now that she was gone. There might be a possibility that…
"Yeah, what about you? Are you fine there all alone?"
"Mm, and there aren't too many people."
That next day the house felt colder. I watch the people dressed in all black. The sky was heavy with grief, dark clouds hanging above us as we made our way to the cemetery. Ace walked with us, but it was clear his mind was somewhere far away. Aunt is holding Aphrodite's picture, her hands were shaking and was silently crying as they lowered the coffin into the ground. Then suddenly Ace tried to run towards the pit, but dad grabbed his arm, holding him back. “No, Ace. You need to let her go.”
"I can’t, Dad. I can’t let go of her. Not like this," Ace’s voice trembled.
I nervously bit my nails and avert my eyes. It was painful to watch.
"Ace, calm down. Don't ruin everything." It was dad, he still firmly held Ace's arm.
"Ma.. stop them, p-please?" He said it with trembling voice and pleading eyes. "I still can't."
But Ace was shocked when Aphrodite's Mom shake her head. Ace froze there.
"Ace, you have to," Aunt’s voice cracked, and she shook her head. “You can let go now. Let her find peace.”
It was one of the hardest moments I’d ever witnessed—Ace standing there, looking down at Aphro's grave with empty eyes. The weight of everything crushed him. I wanted to run to him, to tell him everything would be okay, but I knew it wouldn’t be. Not yet. Not now.
When the ceremony was over, everyone started to leave but Ace was still there.
"King, Queen well go first." I look at dad, surprised when he placed his hand on my shoulder. I avert my eyes and look at the ground. I heard him sigh and talk to my brother.
"Ace, mom and dad will leave in a moment, let's go now. Just visit her tomorrow."
"Queen, I wanted to be alone for a moment." I stared at him and nod.
"Okay, we will be in the car, be there in a moment. Okay?"
"Yes, Thank you." I motioned to King that I will stay in the car and he nodded. Then after a minute, King gets inside the car and we both watch Ace.
"Are you still not used to being with Dad and Mom?"
"I don't know." He looks at me and shakes his head. I clasp my hands and sigh heavily. "I was just scared. I was shy to look at them straight in the eyes. You know this King, I'm their biggest mistake."
"Queen! What the hell? Don't say that."
"I don't think so. I just can't help to think of it because of my past actions."
"Queen can you just-" Forget?
"No, I won't be able to." He sighed and no one dared to break the silence then suddenly it started to rain hard.
"Oh shit." I tried to find an umbrella and handed it to King.
"Stay here!"
"Yeah." I watch him run and they were soaking wet when they got inside the car.
"Let's go now, and go to the mall to buy clothes for both of you."
The car drove through the rain-soaked streets as we headed to the mall. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was heavy with grief and sorrow. Ace who was sitting in the backseat was blankly staring out the window with tired eyes. King kept his focus on the road and I notice that he tighten his grip on the steering wheel. And I, I couldn't help but replay the events of the past few days in my mind.
We deserve to rest as everyone was exhausted.
When we arrived at the mall the rain continued to pour harder. The three of us rushed inside and made our way to a clothing store. I then began browsing the racks, trying to find something comfortable for Ace and King so they won't catch a cold.
"Is everything okay?" I asked gently.
“Mm.” He replied shortly. I didn’t bother him again and after they changed clothes we decided to go home.
"Thank you, Queen, King.." Ace whispered, his voice trembling. "For being here for me." I reached out and held his hand, squeezing it gently.
"You don't have to thank me, Ace." I embrace him tightly and kissed his forehead. “Go and rest now. Goodnight.”
It was a cold evening for everyone as rain continue pouring heavily. I gave my brother and encouraging pat and leave him alone. You'll be able to overcome this...
I was hoping for my self too.
—IAmRoseee