The evening had been filled with warmth and reminiscing, but eventually, the exhaustion of the day's events caught up with Nalani and her cousin, Zephyr. They had settled on the sofa in the living room, their conversation gradually trailing off into comfortable silence. Nalani had her legs draped over Zephyr's lap, and soon both of them were fast asleep, their faces serene and peaceful.

Mrs. Cortez, noticing their slumber, moved quietly around the room. She fetched a couple of soft blankets and gently tucked them in, ensuring they were comfortable. She smiled at the sight of the two cousins, a rare moment of peace and togetherness that had been missing for so long.

Meanwhile, Henley and Mrs. Cortez moved to the kitchen, where they could talk without disturbing the sleeping pair. Henley's face was etched with concern as he spoke. "I should have visited sooner, but the circumstances... I feel like I've let my brother and Nalani down."

Mrs. Cortez shook her head gently. "You've had your own responsibilities, Henley. It's understandable. But your brother, Geovanni... he's been alone in his own way, despite being surrounded by us. And Nalani, well, she's carried a heavy burden. After Malina passed, she couldn't bear to be here often. The sadness, the memories—it was too much for her. She stayed at school as much as she could or anywhere else, trying to escape the pain."

"Did she ever... resent us?" Henley asked, his voice cracking.

"She did. At one point, maybe she did. I didn't know much because she never spoke a word for almost a year. She refused to eat and locked herself in her room. When she did speak, she said she wanted to attend school but little did I know it was only an excuse to leave the house," Mrs. Cortez replied, holding back her tears. 

"She never tells me such things. Even now, she tells me she's fine but whenever I look into her eyes, there's always that hint of sorrow lingering. Even when she wanted and tried to kill herself, I couldn't do anything but treat her wounds because I can never heal her nor take away her pain," she continued, tears slowly falling from her eyes.

Henley's eyes filled with sorrow and regret. "I wish I had known sooner. I wish I could have done more."

"You're here now," Mrs. Cortez said kindly, patting his shoulders. "That's what matters."

After their conversation, Henley made his way upstairs to his brother's room. He opened the door quietly and saw Alexander sitting in a chair by the window, staring out into the night. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows that seemed to accentuate the melancholic atmosphere.

"Van," Henley said softly as he approached, trying to keep his voice steady. "Do you ever sleep?"

Mrs. Cortez, who had followed him upstairs, answered for Alexander. "He does, but he often stays up like this, just looking out the window. He manages to do things normally like to eat and bathe by himself, but he never leaves this room. It's as if he's always been waiting for Miss Malina to come" 

Henley sat beside Geovanni, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the room. Suddenly, Alexander turned to him, a glimmer of recognition in his eyes.

"Henley?" Geovanni's voice was soft but clear. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Henley's heart leaped with hope. "Yes, Van. It has."

Geovanni's gaze seemed to travel back in time, his expression distant. "I just started to learn the ropes of the business from Dad. It was overwhelming, but exciting. And you... you had started your own business and married Naomi. Is that why you're visiting now? After all this time?"

Henley felt a pang of sorrow mixed with relief. Geovanni's memories were fragmented, stuck in the past, but at least he was speaking. Henley's voice broke as he replied, "Yes, Van, I'm here now." He couldn't hold back his tears any longer and pulled Geovanni into a warm hug. The years of separation, the pain of his brother's condition, and the regret of not being there earlier all poured out in his sobs.

Geovanni hugged him back, a comforting presence despite his fragmented mind. "It's good to see you, Henley. I've been working hard, learning everything I can from Dad. He's a tough teacher, but I know it'll be worth it."

Henley pulled back slightly, wiping his tears. "I'm so sorry, Van. I'm sorry for not being here sooner."

Mrs. Cortez, standing quietly in the doorway, stepped forward to place a comforting hand on Henley's shoulder. "He'll remember someday, Henley. Don't lose hope."

Henley nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Van, there's so much you've missed. So much you need to remember. Your daughter, Nalani, she needs you. She's been carrying so much on her own since Malina passed."

Geovanni's brow furrowed in confusion, the name not sparking any recognition. "Nalani... my daughter?"

"Yes," Henley said gently. "She's grown up to be an amazing artist, just like Malina. But she needs her father, Van. She needs you to remember her."

Geovanni looked down, a shadow of sadness crossing his face. "I don't remember... Malina, where... where is Malina? Is she back?"

"He always ask that" Mrs. Cortez suddenly spoke. "He goes back to when he was 24 and sometimes at the time when she married Malina. He doesn't remember her being pregnant with Nalani and onwards" she added putting her hand on Henley's shoulders.

Henley squeezed his brother's hand, with tears rolling down his cheeks. "We'll help you, Van. Every step of the way. You're not alone."

The room fell silent, the weight of the moment heavy but filled with a glimmer of hope. Mrs. Cortez, ever the pillar of strength, gave Henley a reassuring nod. "We'll all be here for him. He'll find his way back to us."

Henley took comfort in her words, hoping that with time, patience, and love, his brother would find his way back to his family. The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, it felt possible.

Henley reached out, placing a hand on Geovanni's shoulder. "We've been through so much, and I want you to know we're here for you. Nalani and I, we're here."

There was no response from Geovanni, but Henley continued to speak, hoping that some part of his brother could hear him, could understand. "We'll get through this, Van. Together. I'll be here more often, and so will Zeph, your nephew. We're family, and we need each other."

As the night deepened, Henley sat with his brother, offering quiet comfort and hoping against hope that Geovanni's memories might one day return. Downstairs, Nalani and Zephyr slept peacefully, wrapped in the warmth of family and the promise of healing. Mrs. Cortez watched over them all, a silent guardian of the household's fragile peace.