A few days later, Gheorghe and his family arrived at Alexei’s place. Julia entered first, holding the hand of Olea, a little girl with messy hair and big, curious eyes. Gheorghe followed with suitcases and a backpack full of cameras.
— Brother, how are you! he shouted cheerfully, embracing Alexei. The house looks wonderful! Right by the sea!
Alexei smiled. He missed his brother, his infectious energy, his childish laughter. He showed them the newly arranged room in the annex. It smelled of fresh paint and new wood. Julia opened the window and looked at the sea sparkling in the sun.
— It’s like in those vacation stories, she murmured delightedly.
Olea was already running around the yard, wanting to see the cat, the flowers, everything. Gheorghe set down his equipment and took out his phone to start taking pictures. Alexei laughed. Some things never change.
In the evening, they sat on the terrace. They ate tomato salad with onion and cheese, and drank wine from the winery near the village. Gheorghe was telling stories about the last wedding he photographed, how the groom fainted from emotion just before the dance. Julia laughed, Alexei listened. Everything felt simple, natural, like before.
Only Alexei felt something strange. He couldn’t figure out what it was. Maybe it was too quiet. Vera was missing, and the house without her felt empty, even though it was full of people and laughter.
The next day, Gheorghe asked if he could help with something. Alexei thought and told him he still had some window sills to paint in the annex. They worked together all morning. Gheorghe was always talking, but not about important things. He talked about the times when they were kids, about how they ran through the hills, about their first bicycle that they shared.
— Do you remember when we broke the neighbor’s window with the ball? Gheorghe asked, laughing. I ran away, you stayed and got beaten by dad.
— I remember, Alexei said with a smile. You left me alone.
— But you never turned me in.
They looked at each other. Something sparkled in Gheorghe’s eyes, something Alexei hadn’t seen in a long time. Gratitude, perhaps. Or regret.
On the third day, Julia asked if she could make cookies. Alexei happily agreed. The kitchen filled with the smell of cinnamon and vanilla. Olea sat on a chair mixing the dough with a wooden spoon, covered in flour up to her hair. Julia spoke little, but at one point she said:
— I’m sorry we didn’t have time to visit you earlier. I know Vera invited us a few times.
— It’s okay, Alexei replied. The important thing is that you are here now.
Julia fell silent, then added slowly:
— Gheorghe talks a lot about you. He says you are the only one who supported him when everyone else mocked him for his photos.
Alexei didn’t know what to say. He remembered how their parents laughed at Gheorghe, how they told him that photography was just a game, that he needed to find a real job. Alexei was the only one who told him: do what you feel.
On the fourth day, Gheorghe suggested going to the sea. They took towels, took Olea, and left. Alexei wasn’t in the mood, but he couldn’t refuse. The beach was deserted. The sand was hot, the waves came lazily. Olea ran to the water, shouting with joy.
Gheorghe stood next to Alexei and looked at the horizon.
— I made a big mistake, he said suddenly.
Alexei turned to him.
— What kind of mistake?
— With the money. I borrowed from some… shady people. I have to pay them back in two months, otherwise… well, it won’t be pretty.
Alexei’s heart tightened. He understood why they had really come. It wasn’t a visit for pleasure. It was a flight.
— How much? he asked calmly.
— Fifteen thousand lei. I know it’s a lot. I wanted to set up a photo studio, but things didn’t go as planned. The main client tricked me, the contract fell through…
Gheorghe’s voice broke. Alexei saw how tired his brother was, how much he had aged in the past year. He felt guilty for not noticing it sooner.
— Since when do you know? Alexei asked.
— For a month. I tried to solve it on my own. But I can’t. And I don’t want Julia and Olea to suffer because of my stupidity.
Alexei stood up. He went to the water, wetting his feet. His thoughts were racing chaotically. Fifteen thousand. It wasn’t a small amount, but it wasn’t impossible either. He had savings. He also had a business that was doing well.
He returned to Gheorghe.
— I’ll give you the money, he said. But not as a loan. As a gift. With one condition: never get involved with people like that again. If you have problems, come to me. We are brothers.
Gheorghe looked up. His eyes were filled with tears.
— I can’t accept it like this…
— You can. And you will.
Gheorghe stood up and hugged him. He was crying. Alexei held him tightly, feeling how everything that had been between them — all the distance, all the silence — melted away.
When they returned home, Julia looked at both of them. She didn’t ask anything, but there was contentment in her eyes.
That evening, they sat on the terrace again. This time they talked about the future. Gheorghe said he wanted to open a small photo studio in town, something simple, for family portraits. Alexei gave him advice, talked about contracts, about clients. Julia listened and smiled.
The next day, Vera came with Natașa. The little girls screamed with joy when they saw each other. They ran into the yard, played with the cat, and ate pies.
Vera looked at Alexei questioningly. He just smiled and took her hand.
— Everything is fine, he whispered.
On the last evening, before they left, Gheorghe gave Alexei a bag.
— What’s this? Alexei asked.
— Open it.
Inside was a photo album. Each page had pictures from their childhood. The two of them running through the hills. On the first bicycle. By the river. At their grandparents’. Photos that Alexei thought he had lost long ago.
— I saved them from mom, Gheorghe said. I wanted to surprise you. For everything you’ve done for me.
Alexei couldn’t say anything more. He just opened the album and looked. On the last page was a new photo. The two of them on the beach, smiling. Julia had taken it secretly.
Under the photo, Gheorghe had written in his own hand: “Brothers never let each other down.”
When they left, Alexei and Vera sat on the terrace and watched their car disappear down the road. The sea whispered behind them. The sun was setting red.
— You did a good thing, Vera said softly.
— I only did what I had to, Alexei replied.
She kissed him on the cheek and went inside. Alexei stayed outside. He felt his heart fill with something warm, something that couldn’t be bought with any money in the world.
Family. That’s what it truly meant.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not assume responsibility for the accuracy of events or for the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed belong to the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
