Driven by Achievements

He left the hospital and stepped outside. It was completely dark now. When he had come in, it was just afternoon, but now it was late evening.

Kai called for a taxi. He couldn't drive in his state—he knew that. The taxi took him home.

He barely made it up the stairs—to their home, his home, his parents' home. At least, it still was.

Standing in front of the door, he paused and took a deep breath. Then he turned the doorknob and opened the door.

Inside, he took off his shoes and placed them neatly on the shoe rack. To his left was the kitchen, and further in was the living room.

At the kitchen table sat his aunt and uncle. They looked worn out and heartbroken, their faces pale and tired from the terrible news. When they saw Kai enter, their eyes softened with pity and sorrow. They knew the weight he carried—the loss of his parents, the sudden responsibility now resting on his young shoulders.

Kai's red, swollen eyes met theirs. He looked like a ghost of himself—broken, lost, but still standing. They opened their arms for him, but he only gave a small, tired nod, too numb to respond.

Further inside, on the couch, lay the twins—Leo and Lily. Just three years old. So small, so innocent. They had no idea how much their world had just changed.

Kai felt his chest tighten. The joy of seeing them safe mixed painfully with the crushing weight of knowing he had to take their place now. Not just as a brother, but as their protector, their parent. The thought terrified him.

How could he replace their mother and father? How could he possibly live up to what they had been? Even though they were gone, the expectations seemed to weigh him down like a stone in his heart.

For a moment, Kai paused. He stood still in the quiet room, looking down at the sleeping twins. Their tiny chests rose and fell with each breath, peaceful and untouched by pain. He didn't want to disturb this fragile moment.

He let himself simply watch them — their innocence, their calm. It was a brief, bittersweet comfort in the middle of the storm raging inside him.

His aunt gently broke the silence, her voice soft but trembling as she spoke. She looked as broken as he felt, but strong for his sake.

"They've been waiting for you, Kai. They wanted their bedtime story… but they were too sleepy."

Kai nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

He carefully picked up Leo, holding him close but gentle, afraid to wake him. Carrying him to their bedroom, Kai placed the boy in bed and tucked the blanket carefully around him.

Then he did the same with Lily. She stirred slightly, and his heart leapt with fear, but she only shifted and settled back into sleep.

He kissed each of their foreheads, feeling a flood of love and sadness.

He knew he could never replace their parents. He didn't even know if he could be the brother they needed.

But this—this little moment of peace—reminded him that, somehow, he had to try.

Quietly, he left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

He then went over to his aunt and uncle. They looked at him carefully and saw the pain written all over his face—the exhaustion, the brokenness. Without him saying a word, they stepped forward and pulled him into a warm embrace. It wasn't something he asked for, but they knew he needed it, even if he didn't admit it.

Kai felt lost, like he was drifting without a direction. He wasn't sure what would happen next, or what he was supposed to do now.

His aunt and uncle held him gently and whispered that he didn't have to figure it all out right now. Today was for grieving. Nothing else mattered. He didn't need to worry or be strong today. This was the time to let all the pain out. Tomorrow would come soon enough, and they would face it together—step by step.

They sat with him for a long time, offering quiet comfort. Kai could hear that their words were not just for him, but also for themselves. They were reminding each other that it was okay to grieve today, but from tomorrow on, they had to be strong—for Kai, for the twins, so he wouldn't have to carry the burden alone.

Slowly, they talked. Kai shared what he knew about the accident—what the doctors had told him, what he had seen himself. How a truck had lost control and crashed into his parents' car, how other cars had piled up behind, making the wreck even worse. He described how completely totaled the car was.

His aunt and uncle listened quietly, absorbing every detail, their faces heavy with sorrow.

When the conversation finally died down and silence filled the room, Kai's thoughts drifted to the question that had been haunting him all along. He looked at them, voice shaky as he asked, "How... how am I supposed to replace Mom and Dad? How can I raise Leo and Lily the way they should be raised? I don't know if I can do it."

His aunt gently squeezed his hand and looked him in the eyes. "You will find a way, Kai. We believe in you. Your parents loved you so much—they would want you to live your life, and help the twins live theirs. To be happy, to follow their dreams. That's what matters most."

They smiled softly, trying to give him the hope he needed.

Kai didn't know what the future held, but hearing those words made the weight feel a little lighter.

It was already early in the morning when his aunt and uncle finally left. They had wanted to stay longer, but their own son, who was eleven, needed them too. They could leave him alone for a little while, but they didn't want to be away from him for too long. Luckily, today was Friday—or rather, it was already Saturday morning, around 4 a.m. They told Kai they would come back later, around 11 or 12, bringing their son to help him out.

Once they were gone, Kai sank down onto the living room couch. In his hand, he held a picture of his mom and dad. He stared quietly at their faces for a long time, feeling a mix of love and pain. The room was still and calm, but exhaustion soon took over. His eyes grew heavy, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

He woke up to soft rustling and the quiet voices of Leo and Lily. It sounded like they were awake and playing in their room. The clock showed it was about 9 a.m. Kai was still tired, but he knew he couldn't sleep any longer—not with his little siblings up and about.

He got up and quietly walked to their room. When he stepped inside, he saw them sitting on the floor, playing with their toys. There were colorful blocks and little stuffed animals, things perfect for three-year-olds. As soon as they saw Kai, their faces lit up. They threw their toys aside and ran over to him, jumping right into his arms.

Kai bent down and caught them gently. Holding them close, he gave them the brightest smile he could manage. His heart felt warm, but deep down, he also felt a heavy guilt. He knew he would have to tell them the terrible news someday. But for now, he wasn't sure how or when.

The twins didn't seem to notice his struggle. They babbled happily, talking about everything—their day yesterday, the toys they played with, how happy they were to see their big brother.

Kai was eighteen years old now. His twin siblings, Leo and Lily, were only three. His parents had him when they were very young—his mother was just nineteen, and his father twenty. Years later, when Kai was fourteen, his mother unexpectedly became pregnant again. They hadn't planned for more children, but they decided not to have an abortion. They said the twins were a miracle and a blessing to be treasured.

So when Kai was fifteen, Leo and Lily were born. The family had always been close. They spent many happy moments together. Kai loved his siblings dearly. Even though they were young, they adored their big brother and often clung to him. Kai didn't mind; he found it cute and always enjoyed the time they spent together.

The only problem was that Kai had school and racing practice, so he was often away. That made the moments they shared even more special.

Thinking about this now, holding his little siblings in his arms, Kai gently told them, "I'll spend more time with you from now on."

Leo's face lit up, and he hugged Kai tighter. "You really stay with us?"

Lily smiled softly, her eyes shining. "We happy. You play with us more?"

Kai smiled warmly as Leo and Lily snuggled closer, their little hands gripping his shirt. Their bright eyes shone with trust and happiness, completely unaware of the sadness swirling inside him. Leo let out a small giggle while Lily clapped her hands excitedly.

Kai's heart softened even more. Despite everything, these moments with his siblings were a rare light in the darkness.

"Hey, what do you two want for breakfast?" Kai asked gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from Lily's forehead.

Leo thought for a moment, then said, "Pancakes!" with a big smile.

Lily nodded eagerly and added, "And strawberries!"

Kai chuckled softly, feeling a little hope in that simple request. "Pancakes and strawberries it is. I'll make you breakfast, okay?"

The days that followed felt both long and short at the same time. Everything moved quickly, yet Kai could barely feel himself moving through it.

By Monday morning, just two days after the accident, things started falling into place—though not without a heavy weight on Kai's chest the entire time.

The first big step came with the reading of the will. His aunt and uncle went with him to the lawyer's office. The room was quiet, the air serious, and Kai sat with his hands clenched on his lap, trying not to tremble. The lawyer, an older man with kind eyes and a calm voice, began reading the document that his parents had written years ago—after the twins were born.

They hadn't expected their will to be used so soon. But they had prepared for the worst, just in case.

The will clearly named Kai as the legal guardian of Leo and Lily. His parents had trusted him, even though he was only eighteen. They had seen how much he loved the twins, how close they all were, and believed in him.

Hearing those words out loud made Kai's eyes burn. He was grateful—deeply—but also scared. It made everything feel even more real.

Along with custody, the apartment they had lived in was passed down to him. It was now officially his and the twins' home. There was also money his parents had saved—a combination of emergency savings, life insurance, and some small investments. It wasn't a fortune, but it was enough to support them for the near future while Kai figured things out.

The lawyer helped him start the paperwork. Because the will was clear, the legal process moved quickly, and with the help of his aunt and uncle—who wrote letters of support confirming their backing and Kai's role as a responsible guardian—he was granted temporary custody within a few days. Full custody would be confirmed shortly after, once the formal checks were completed.

During this time, Mira and Daniel took turns helping him at home. While one stayed with the kids, the other made phone calls—canceling his parents' appointments, speaking to the hospital, and helping with the funeral arrangements.

The funeral was planned for Friday, exactly one week after the accident.

That week, Kai balanced everything: grief, responsibility, legal paperwork, and the constant care of two toddlers who still didn't know the truth.

He cooked meals, cleaned the apartment, played with the twins, and tucked them in every night with a soft story and a heavy heart.

When he was alone, the silence was loud. That was when it hit him most.

Sometimes he'd sit in his parents' room, just staring. Other times he'd hold a photo frame in his hands until his fingers ached. It still didn't feel real.

He didn't sleep much that week. Not because he couldn't—but because every time he closed his eyes, the memories came rushing back.

But through it all, there were moments that gave him strength.

Like when Leo and Lily giggled as they tried to help him make sandwiches and ended up with peanut butter on their noses. Or when they crawled into his lap with their blankets and asked for "just one more story." Or when they looked at him with trust in their eyes, as if they believed everything would be okay just because he was there.

And so, day by day, Kai pushed forward. For them.

By Thursday night, the apartment was quiet again. Clothes were set aside for the funeral. The twins were asleep in their bed, hugging their favorite stuffed animals.

Kai sat alone at the kitchen table, the will, custody papers, and funeral forms spread in front of him.

It had been a week.

A week without his parents.

A week of growing up faster than he ever thought he would.

But he had made it through. Not without pain. Not without tears. But he was still standing.

And tomorrow, he would say goodbye.