Five Thousand Dollar Betrayal

n' t feel like mine anymore. My father' s old game design documents, his notebooks, his first clunky computer

ic pulsed from inside, and the lawn was crowded with cars. I recogni

oss the porch: "Happy 18th Birt

owing him a birthday party. In my fathe

front door was open. I slipped inside, unnoticed i

utiful, stood beside Kevin as he opened a mountain of gifts. R

ded for the stairs. My

rowed, and he excused himself,

y," he hissed, getting in my face. He

id, trying to push past him. "

hat pile of junk in the attic? We were going to

hard. "Get ou

hoved back, my anger finally boi

s face turning red. "And I don' t wan

rrible feeling dawning in my gut. He went straight for the

were ripped open. His notebooks, filled with a lifetim

s for "Star Wanderer," my father' s pass

hat made him go bankrupt?" Ke

ose," I said, my voi

rip the pages in half. He tore through years of my father' s work, the intricate dr

inside m

dust and the ruined memories. I threw a punch, connecting with his jaw. He cried out, a pathetic, surpris

grabbed my shoulders and threw me against the wa

med. "Are you insane? You' re at

floor. She didn' t ask what happened. She just saw me,

lappe

across the face that

es wild. "Get out of my house ri

rickle of blood on his lip. He was looking at her,

e and utter lack of concern for me or for the legacy of the ma

p faded, replaced by

rt," I said, my v

e, confused. "What a

n hers. "He can' t be hurt by this. He

he folded paper the funeral home had give

the last word. "I just paid for his cremation t

s. It fluttered to the floor, landi

d to fade away. The only sound

cker of doubt, of horror,

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