Ain't Heavy - 8. He

"Son," the man called out, his voice raspy but kind. "That’s a mighty long way to go with such a burden. You look like you’re about to break."

"He’s not a burden, sir," Elias said. "He’s my brother." 8. He Ain't Heavy

Thirteen-year-old Elias felt his boots sinking deeper with every step. On his back, his younger brother, Leo, was a dead weight of fever and exhaustion. They were miles from the clinic, and the storm was beginning to turn the trail into a river. "Son," the man called out, his voice raspy but kind