Timo sat on the edge of the couch, his eyes red and swollen. He clutched Jeffrey’s electric guitar awkwardly, as though it might attack him at any moment. His brothers gathered around him, each trying to offer comfort in their own way. Morton, the second youngest, who always seemed to have a song in his heart, hummed softly, hoping to soothe his brother's pain. Jeremiah, the third oldest, stood nearby with his bass guitar, ready to support Timo with the deep, resonant notes that were his specialty. Josiah, the eldest, played the tambourine gently, the jingling sound a quiet counterpoint to the tension in the room.
Marvin, the youngest brother, sat quietly on Jeffrey's lap. He fiddled nervously with his fingers, glancing up now and then at the man who seemed more like a storm than a father. Marvin wanted so desperately to be part of the performance, to stand beside his brothers and add his voice to theirs.
"It's okay, Timo. We'll make it through this," Josiah said, his voice steady and reassuring.
"I know," Timo replied, sniffing as he tried to blink back more tears.
The brothers exchanged determined glances, a silent agreement passing between them. They started to play, their music filling the room with a haunting melody that spoke of their shared pain and unyielding bond. Timo's hands moved over the guitar strings, tentative at first, but growing stronger as the music enveloped him.
"Let's show them what we can do," Morton said, his voice a gentle encouragement that matched his melody.
Marvin watched his brothers, his eyes wide with awe. He imagined himself joining them, his small hands reaching for his imaginary instrument.
"Can I sing too?" Marvin asked, his voice barely a whisper, yet filled with hope.
"Hush now, you're too little," Jeffrey replied, his voice gruff but lacking its usual harshness.
Timo looked at his brothers, his heart full of gratitude. The night's events had brought them closer, their music a refuge from the storm that was their father. For a moment, Timo forgot about the pain, about the belt, about Jeffrey's anger. He was surrounded by love, and that was enough.
"We'll get through it, together," Josiah repeated, his eyes shining with conviction.
"Yeah, together," Jeremiah echoed, nodding in agreement.
Marvin smiled up at his brothers, his heart full of dreams. He knew that one day he would stand beside them, not just watching, but contributing to their song.
Timo placed the guitar on the floor gently, feeling a sense of peace. He knew the challenges were far from over, but with his brothers by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next.
