FALLEN PROMISE

Outside the door, my little brother broke down sobbing.

"Mom, Ethan wasn't trying to hurt me! Please, open the door!

"He's severely allergic to pollen! What if something happens to him?"

Noah pounded on the door, panic shaking his voice. He begged again and again, but Mom stood her ground.

"No!"

Her face was hard, without a trace of sympathy.

"If I don't put my foot down, he'll never stop scheming against you."

Noah fell silent. Then came the heavy thud of his knees hitting the floor.

"Mom, I was wrong.

"Ethan didn't even place that takeout order. I took his phone and ordered it myself. I was the one who forgot to request no peanuts. It was all my fault. Punish me if you want, but please let him out."

I pressed myself against the door. For one brief moment, a little warmth crept back into me.

Surely she would hesitate now.

Instead, Mom's furious voice rose another octave. She jabbed a finger at Noah, still kneeling on the floor, her anger boiling over.

"Did Ethan tell you to say that? Did he put you up to lying to me?

"Of course he did! He's rotten to the core. All he wants is to turn you into someone like him and ruin your life!

"Now I know I can't let him off today. If I indulge him now, he'll only get bolder. One day he'll do something truly awful. He might even kill somebody!"

All the color drained from Noah's face. Still kneeling, he trembled so badly he could barely speak.

"No, Mom. Nobody told me to say anything. I really did make the mistake.

"Please believe me. Ethan had nothing to do with it."

She refused to hear another word.

"Enough. Stop making excuses for him. He's manipulated you so thoroughly you can't even think straight."

Inside the room, the overpowering scent of flowers filled my nose and lungs. I lay curled among the stems scattered over the floor. Every breath dragged against my swollen throat, sending sharp pain through my chest.

Then my arms and legs began jerking beyond my control.

My foot struck the heavy door with a dull, thunderous bang.

Noah cried out at the sound. He threw himself against the door, hammering it with both fists as his sobs turned frantic.

"Ethan! Are you okay? Please answer me!

"Just apologize to Mom! Tell her you were wrong and she'll open the door. She'll help you!"

My throat had swollen shut. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't force out a single sound.

Mom heard neither an apology nor a plea. To her, the kick was proof that I was challenging her.

Her expression darkened.

"See that? He doesn't regret a thing. He's kicking the door just to defy me.

"If you keep defending him, I'll leave him locked up in there for three whole days!"

Noah went rigid.

Just then, the commotion drew our neighbor's attention. Mrs. Dawson appeared at the doorway, took one look inside, and immediately understood.

"Noah! Has your mother locked your brother in that room again?"