Chapter 2

I'd been living like that for so many years that I was almost used to it.

While they were still talking, my mother rushed into Miles's room and started checking him over.

The moment she'd heard about the accident, she'd taken the first flight home from another state.

Like Dad, she only saw the boy she'd watched grow up.

Once she confirmed Miles was fine, relief washed over her face.

Then she turned angry.

"I've said it for years. Elliot is a curse on this family. Ever since Miles was born, how many times has Elliot hurt him?"

Miles immediately leaned into the opportunity.

"Please don't be mad, Marilyn. Even if Elliot caused all of this, I'm sure he didn't mean it."

The entire room exploded.

Dad slammed a hand against the table.

"What? He did it?"

Cassandra clenched her teeth.

"That bastard. I'm done letting him get away with this."

Mom looked as if she wanted me torn apart.

Miles's expression flickered.

Maybe he realized he'd pushed too hard.

He hurried to backtrack.

"Cass, Gerald, Marilyn, please don't be angry with Elliot. Maybe I remembered it wrong. No matter what, he's still like a brother to me. He wouldn't do something like that."

Mom gently tapped his forehead.

"You've always been too innocent for your own good. You don't understand how cruel people can be.

Then she smiled.

"I don't know what your father did to deserve a son like you.

She tucked the blanket around him.

"Forget Elliot. Let's focus on getting you well."

Warm evening light spilled across Miles's bed.

The four of them looked like a perfect family.

My soul hovered at the edge of the room.

I felt like an intruder in my own life.

Like I had never been their son, husband, or family.

Like a stray that had wandered in off the street.

I wanted to leave.

But my spirit seemed tethered to Cassandra. I couldn't go far, couldn't speak, couldn't stop them from tearing me apart with words.

A few days later, after the whole family had fussed over him nonstop, Miles was discharged.

Cassandra packed his things.

Dad brought the car around so Miles wouldn't have to walk more than a few steps.

Mom practically refused to let him put on his own shoes.

On the drive home, Mom complained, "That Elliot really is unbelievable. Miles is already out of the hospital and he hasn't shown his face once. Not even an apology. Just wait until I get home and deal with him."

Dad glanced at her.

"I've always said keeping him around was asking for trouble."

Deal with him.

Those words hit something old inside me.

Memories began to surface.

Years ago, a fire had broken out at the house while Mom was unconscious.

Miles had been the one who found her and pulled her out.

After that, my entire family began treating him differently.

From then on, I was expected to give way.

Always.

Once, I accidentally spilled boiling water and scalded Miles.

Everyone panicked.

Cassandra was young then, but she still told me there was something rotten in me.

Mom cried while cleaning the burns.

Dad struck me so hard that my eardrum ruptured.

"You're nothing but bad luck," he shouted. "Miles is such a good kid. How could you hurt him?"

I still remember the disappointment in everyone's eyes.

Another time, when we were in elementary school, Miles and I fought over a toy car, and my father beat me so badly that I couldn't get out of bed for three days.

It was my favorite toy.

Dad had brought it back from a business trip. It had been almost an afterthought, something he bought only because he was already buying Miles a much better gift.

Miles owned more toy cars than he could fit in a stack of boxes.

Still, he went out of his way to take mine.

We pulled it back and forth.

Suddenly, Miles cried out and burst into tears.

Mom immediately wrapped her arms around him and shouted at me through her own tears.

"Elliot! If Miles hadn't saved me, you wouldn't even have a mom right now. Why can't you leave him alone?"

"It wasn't me..."

I never got to finish.

Miles squeezed out a few tears.

"Don't be angry, Marilyn. It was my fault. I shouldn't have caused trouble by fighting Elliot over his toy."

Dad came home in the middle of it.

One look at Miles crying was enough.

He grabbed me and started swinging.

"A cold-hearted child like you would be better off thrown out. All you do is bring trouble into this house."