Mastermind

Prologue, Part 3: A Brother's Regret

The ride to the clinic was quiet for the most part; no one spoke too much so as to try and avoid pestering Liam. Max, on the other hand, was determined to try and reach out to his sibling. He wanted to let him know that he stood by him no matter what, and that he was sure that he would get the care and attention he needed.

"Umm.....hey, bro.....how have you been?" Max asked tentatively.

"Fine, I guess....." Liam replied resignedly. "You?"

"My day at school was mostly the usual. Struggled again, had to ask Ruby for help.....you know how it is."

Liam buried his face in his hands out of disappointment and sadness. "Look.....I'm sorry, okay?"

"For what?"

"It should've been me helping you through your troubles. Teaching you what you don't understand, and helping you up when you fall.....like a true older sibling would. But....."

"You can't let go of your habit.....I know."

"It sucks. It eats away at me every single day. Every time I resolve to quit, I end up getting dragged back into it. What makes any of you think this is going to work?!"

Their parents said nothing in reply; although their father was focused on the road, the mother was more worried about making Liam feel worse.

Thankfully, Max picked up the conversation. "I don't know what the specialist has in mind for you this time.....but as long as there are options, we have to try them. I'm your little brother; it hurts me to see you like this. You can be so much more than what you are right now.....if we could only free you from this addiction."

"You, Mom, and Dad may as well give up....." Liam lamented. "I've grappled with it for so long.....sometimes I find myself wondering whether I'll ever get out of it." He reached for the side of his head with one hand and began massaging it; he had started to develop a headache as a result of being off the antidepressants for an extended period of time.

"No.....no, don't say stuff like that, please," Max pleaded. "Even with Mom devoting most of her time to you, we've all been able to get by just fine. Always remember that you're not the problem; the drugs are."

"I've been a terrible older brother.....I've kept falling further and further down while you and our parents have had to go on without me. I'm supposed to look out for you.....and yet I'm the one holding you all back. Not to mention that since we're all Black, we've had a harder time getting the help we need. People view us with heightened suspicion and hostility just for who we are."

"Look.....depression sucks. Society sucks. I get it. The sadness, the misery, the doubt.....the bile, the hatred, and the madness.....they seem to devour you from the inside out. But you want to know the best advice I can give?"

"What's that?"

"Never give up hope. There's always another day.....there's always tomorrow. This is just one phase of your life out of many.....and we're all going to help you through it. The Atkins family sticks together, right?"

The smallest hints of a smile began to appear on Liam's face, much to Max's joy.

"Yeah. Thanks, Maxie. I don't know what it is about you that gives you such optimism. Maybe it's your young age, or your preserved innocence. Some combination of both.....or neither. Regardless.....I couldn't have asked for a better younger brother."