We Lost Our Parents, But He Hasn't Lost Me

Chapter 5: The Family They Still Had

The other option was not perfect.

Nothing about grief was perfect.

Judge Reed explained that Ryan could not legally become Ben's guardian right away. He was too young. He had no stable income, no legal home of his own, and too many wounds still open.

Ryan listened with his jaw tight, expecting the worst.

Then the judge turned to the woman in the audience who had been crying earlier.

"Ms. Carter," he said, "please stand."

The woman rose slowly.

Ryan recognized her then.

She was his mother's best friend, Aunt Helen. Not a real aunt, but the kind who came every birthday, brought soup when someone was sick, and remembered that Ben hated peas.

Ryan had not called her after the funeral. He thought she had forgotten them.

She had not.

Helen stepped forward, crying. "Your Honor, I filed a petition this morning. I want temporary guardianship of both boys. Not just Ben. Both of them."

Ryan stared at her.

"You want me too?"

Helen covered her mouth and nodded. "Of course I do, sweetheart. Your mother made me promise years ago. I didn't know Patricia had blocked my calls until yesterday."

Ryan's strength finally broke.

He hugged Ben, and Ben hugged him back.

Judge Reed reviewed the emergency petition. Helen had a steady job, a clean record, and a home with enough room for both boys. More importantly, she was willing to keep the brothers together.

The gavel came down.

This time, the sound did not feel like an ending.

It felt like protection.

Patricia and Grant were later charged with fraud, forgery, and conspiracy. The crash investigation reopened after police found evidence of tampered brake lines. Ryan had to testify once, and Helen held his hand the whole time.

Months later, Ryan still had nightmares.

Ben still cried for their mother.

But they were together.

One evening, Ben climbed into Ryan's bed and whispered, "You said I didn't lose you."

Ryan pulled the blanket over him.

"And you didn't."

Downstairs, Helen left the hallway light on.

For the first time since the accident, Ryan slept without his shoes beside the door.