The counselor's showed up together but took each of them into different rooms to talk. Jeff had a ton of concerns tied to friends, school, where they would go next and the unfairness of being Kayla's only remaining family meaning he would have to be her protector. The counselor agreed that it is more than a lot to expect of a 16 year old, then the counselor began challenging some of Jeff's perceptions of what a "good" future looked like.
"Have you considered what would happen if the two of you were split up? Were you aware that may happen regardless and you may not have a choice?"
"You do realize that nobody, except for perhaps Kayla and yourself, expects you to support her, right?"
"You understand that she has a very real chance of being adopted, more than you if I may be honest, and that would mean she has a family to support her and fall back on after she turns 18? Perhaps someone other than her brother to guide her into becoming a woman?"
"Once you turn 18 in the system you are on your own and need to get an apartment and a job, you won't likely be in a position to support her."
"Also, what if you were offered a full scholarship? Promising her you will stay together will ensure you don't get the opportunity for ongoing education, and that promise could even end up taking a supportive family away from her. The only real chance you have to continue being a family like you were, would be if a family adopted you both and I'm truly sad to say the statistics are not in your favor."
As much as Jeff needed to hear this he hated the counselor for it. "It's not impossible!" Jeff ended up saying through hot tears. "We could get adopted together, or be taken in by a foster family!"
"I know you have lost so much but you still have a future, Jeff. The next few parts of it will be really really hard, but you have options available to you. But those options go away when you take responsibility for someone else's care and well being when you aren't prepared to do so."
"Is she getting the same conversation?" Jeff asked through sobs.
"Her own version of it, yes. You both need to be prepared to take advantage of any opportunity you can to get ahead, without looking back. This is a difficult time, but the two of you can make it so much worse on yourselves by expecting that you, Jeff, will magically be able to become the competent parent of a 10 year old in two years. Its admirable, and its sweet, and your heart is in the right place, and that counts for something, but its misguided."
Jeff shakily went back to their room after saying bye to the counselor. Not thank you, he wasn't feeling very thankful at the moment. About an hour later Kayla came in and without a word Jeff jumped off his cot and knelt down with open arms. Without hesitation Kayla ran into his embrace and they let themselves drown in their sadness for a while. "I don't know where we'll end up but I'll always love you, okay lil sis?"
She just nodded, unable to speak. The emotionally exhaustive day took its toll and despite having not gotten decent food the pair opted for sleep instead. They scrunched together on a single cot and fell asleep.