Page 122 of My Family

"What did I do, Dad?" Ethan asks, and there's something terrifying in how calm he sounds. "Tell them. Tell everyone here what I did."

His father leans closer to the screen.

"He's violent. He attacked us. That's why he's there."

"That's not true," Ethan says, his voice so quiet I barely hear it.

His mother's face hardens.

"And Tyler is a drug addict who stole from us constantly. We always knew you'd end up somewhere like this."

Tyler flinches like he's been physically hit.

Ethan's face goes completely blank.

My dad looks away, his jaw tight.

I know he's thinking about his own failures as a parent, but Christ, he always defended me.

At least he's trying.

Marie's face crumples.

She grabs the phone back, her hands shaking.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I thought they'd… I thought it would be different this time."

She ends the call and looks at the boys, apologizing over and over.

Tyler stands abruptly and walks away, his movements stiff and mechanical.

Ethan watches him go but doesn't move.

He can't.

I can see it—he's frozen, his hands shaking slightly.

I don't say anything stupid like I'm sorry or they're terrible people.

Those words don't help.

Instead, I squeeze his hand.

After what feels like forever, Ethan exhales.

He looks at me, his green eyes finding mine.

"I'm not going to let this ruin today. They've ruined enough."

Then he's up, moving with purpose across the yard to find Tyler.

I watch him go, this boy who carries so much, who refuses to break no matter how much weight the world puts on his shoulders.

Marie is still sitting at the table, wiping her eyes.

"I shouldn't have… I just thought…"

"You wanted to help," I tell her, because it's true. "You were trying to bring their family together."