Six Months Living With My Adopted Brother

d with a

lit up at

o

dn't a

neteen, when silence became her weapon. A way to s

She thought her mother would call, apologize, beg. But

is birth mother. That she had to give him closur

ta spiraling. That sile

ried to understand how Martin, the adopted kid her mother br

erstanding. Tired of competing with a boy who s

chosen Martin a

't even

denly, he wa

d. Over and over again. "You're strong

n Lorett

n Lorett

needs

ard life at t

a baby,

er wanted the boy to

never un

r could keep choosing Martin, then she

mile, a comforting hand. He seemed like the peace

ecame he

etta realized,

she collapsed into a stranger's cab barefoot and sobb

e went back home to

er call. A different number when blocked. Sometim

me, then come for you

ys made Lorett

inside her, slowly. Until

ry. But she never picked up.

nymore. An apology? A time machine? S

wisted her until it felt easier to ha

he needed som

at in a dark apartment, w

window. The TV murmured somethi

ne lit

o

ed it fa

mother feel a fractio

lume on the TV, pretending she didn't ca

herself even more

, her phone

e Ra

was

tightened as she

re's been an accident. She was driving home. The rain...she

ed were blurry, strun

ar accident.

could process. Slippers on. Wa

ran, breath catching in

umbled through the hospital entrance. Hair soaked. Shoes squeak

e ER doors, breath c

.. where's

ted her do

n she s

rt

s, drenched and pale. He looked up when

e pain came rushing back. He di

ded to care. You finally dec

ze. Her hea

she hissed. "No

our grand return. Pity it took a near-

t of my

said bitterly. "She always did.

re, Martin."

For years. You didn't eve

d to scream that her life the past yea

er! She begged

nger rising. "You th

damn wel

ou don't get to talk like you're some saint. You

owed. "Becaus

ed you, and suddenly nothing I did mattered. You got eve

"I didn't ask to be dumped into your perfe

ted like you belonged. Like you were the real chil

bout me? You think she didn't cry abou

apped, tears brimming. "She chos

e had to, because you couldn't stand

be my mother too!" Lo

sy throwing tantrums to notice anyone else

e street, and somehow you got to sit at the

ruth? She cried about you every damn week.

s brimmed with tears. "I need

e silence was all you gave back. I didn'

isted. "You spoi

ss brot

us bit

ard.

e lande

epped bac

ver. And you are here now just because she had an accident. Ju

her mouth, but

The guilt hurt more

g to diffuse the storm. "Enough. Both of

them look

hundered against t

t move. Th

next room, unconscious

ill bleeding from the same wounds, still clawi

oft-spoken man in navy scrubs

mily?" the doct

etta both turn

down at his chart

face said everything be

ything we could. But... she didn't ma

of stunne

ga

der cracked a

ta sc

it had been buried for years. It echoe

ther w

ver said. I'm sorry. I m

ther w

ees ga

t the

ything w