The curly-haired boy presses his face against the cold glass of the window and stares outside. "Elio," he begins, "where does the sun go when it's nighttime?"

Elio stands up and walks over to his brother, looking into his hopeful eyes and smiling. "It goes to sleep."

"But what about the moon?" The boy asks.

"The moon also goes to sleep, but only when the sun is awake. They watch over each other that way, keeping each other safe." Elio explains. "Now, it's time to sleep, Julius."

Julius sighs and hops down from the chair he used to look out the window, then lies down on the mattress in the corner of the room. "Is that why you stay awake while I'm sleeping?"

Elio glances at him. "Stay awake? What do you mean?"

"That's why you stay up all night, right? To protect me?" Julius clarifies.

Elio looks out the window, observing the world his brother doesn't see, the world he strives to shield him from. He closes the blinds and takes a deep breath. "Yes," he replies. "Yes, that's why."

Julius smiles and closes his eyes. "I'll stay awake too. I'll protect you, Elio."

"I'm certain you will, Julius." Elio grabs a gun from the drawer and positions himself by the door. "But for now, let me protect you."