They’d been yelling at him since birth it seemed.

Moving under the bed a little closer to the wall the young boy sighed as long fingers coiled about the flashlight he’d taken and squeezed with frustration, as if everything should be as easily fixed as he wished it to be. Their voices rose much like he’d expected when Daithe stepped through the door and of course their Mother had been prepping herself for this since she’d gotten the fifth call this week that his older Brother had been skipping school yet again.

“It’s not about school anymore!” She screamed in reply to Daithe. “You are my son and you should do what you’re told. Haven’t you learned enough from your mistakes Daithe Edward Adal? You cost this family more than it could handle and we’re still here beside you. We still believe in you! All I ask you to do is PICK YOUR BROTHER UP..” He knew how important it was to get Cord after school, they’d had to relocate because Owen had died and along with him their families security. Now Daithe was putting it all in danger just by being a self-indulgent child.

Cord cringed under the bed because he knew what might happen next, Daithe would attempt to apologize and give her his usual excuse but their Mother wouldn’t have any of it. “He was waiting for four hours, Daithe! Four fucking hours before you even remembered he was there! How could you forget a ten year old boy like that?” She continued the hurt sounding in her worn voice. Up until this point it was pretty even in terms of who was the best yeller, but now silence.. so loud. Cord idly wished that they would start yelling again..

But they didn’t.

Helena’s hand swung to slap her son in anger and instead of her hand meeting with the young man’s face, Daithe reacted instinctually and blocked her hand before it ever made contact. He held it there for a few moments while both Mother and Son felt reality reeling out of control.. Long fingers tightened upon her wrist before letting go and Helena’s eldest son stepped away from the woman lest he be tempted to retaliate.

“Mom..”

“You make me sick.” She whispered with her fingers on her forehead, sinking into a chair the woman covered her face and sighed into her hands. “All I’ve ever given, all I have ever fought for Daithe was to keep you alive and healthy.. and when I pass that responsibility on to you. When I ask you to help me with your Brother, you can not even grasp the concept.” A worn hand slammed down on the wooden arm of the rocking chair as a surge of anger propelled the words from her brain and into a waiting mouth where they were spewed like gasoline, waiting to be lit by a spark. “I can’t even look at you because you remind me of your Father, I can’t even listen to you argue because you remind me of him..” She cried, standing with both hands on her hips. Helena stepped closer to the towering boy in front of her with a determined agility. “And now you are acting like him more each and everyday. I have tried to be an example for you; I have tried to lead you in another direction Daithe.” Her footfalls halted as she paused a mere foot away from him with furious chocolate eyes settled upon his own green. “You are a thankless, selfish, ignorant little boy and if you remember anything from your life with this family it should be that you couldn’t have had any better. Get out Daithe. GET OUT. Go see if your Father wants you.”

Brown eyes watched her as his breath came in heavy ragged gasps, all of his life she’d been hard on him because of where he’d come from. And although Daithe could barely remember what it was like to live among the pack that had taken Helena, he had no understanding of what choosing to keep him had meant for her. So.. quietly he listened, waiting.. always waiting. Then the wait stopped, he knew that she was serious because both of her hands struck his chest harder with every word that came from her mouth. But he did not flinch, he took each and every blow with a shocked look on his face.. What else could he do?

Turning slowly, green eyes didn’t even waver in the direction of Cord’s room. His heart didn’t fall with each footstep closer to the door. He felt nothing. The door opened when he pushed on it and still he felt nothing. Down the steps, nothing.. It was all gone now.

Everything.

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