Chapter 13

It’s past midnight, long past it, and I’m standing in the kitchen drinking some water to take an aspirin before I finish up on some of my notes from school all week. I have my one full day I do monthly at the shelter tomorrow as it’s Saturday, so I want all my homework to be up to date because I’ll be too tired later. Sunday, I have plans with Elisa for a much-needed break.

After listening to them fight again, I’m hiding away from my parents in their room. I heard the name Dane so many times I wanted to rip my ears off and came down here to escape it instead. It sounded bad this time.

My mom was yelling like a banshee, which she rarely does, and Bryan was reacting to it, which he never does. He’s such a solid, push-over guy that he normally lets my mom vent and takes it, but I could hear him shouting back. Defending his idiot son and all his shitty behaviors.

Over the past few months, it’s become a regular occurrence. It’s like it builds up: my mom finds fault in ever