Before The Dreamer - The Rookie

One - Jana*

Today is my older brother Chris's 17th birthday. Only a few people realize just how much Chris means to me. He's my whole world. I've always been closer to him than our mom, though we never say that out loud. The bond between us is unbreakable. Today is the day Chris plans to reveal his true self to our mom.
It's a scary thought for us because she's always been very religious and expects us to follow in her footsteps. That's not who we are, but she doesn't see it that way, and we're unsure how to handle it. However, she had found out about the money and confiscated it. I didn't realize then just how serious things were about to get.
Chris and I were aware of her strong religious beliefs, which made me hopeful that she could look beyond them after Chris came out to her. It's been tough for her ever since our Dad left us a few years ago, and her strictness has increased. She wanted us to share her beliefs so we wouldn't distance ourselves from her. At least, that's how I saw it.
"Chris, I am not going to let you poison my daughter's thoughts with that nonsense that you have created in your head. There is no room for you here; you need to leave."
"But mom-"
"No, I won't listen to you and your lies anymore! I am not your mother anymore! I failed you as a parent because you have grown up to be a disgusting human being."
"You didn't fail me though. That's what you said you did, but I promise you I didn't."
"Yes, I did; you have an hour to get your stuff and leave my house before I call the police. You don't want to mess with me; I don't have any time for intruders like you. That is final. You are not going to make me think differently. You should know that but have betrayed everything, so maybe you don't know."
"I am your-"
"Don't you dare say, son! If you were my son, you would have said that and not acted on it. My children are going to be perfect, just like me."
"Oh, you are way far from perfect. I think that you are being delusional. You think you are perfect, but you are not. You just want to control everyone around you so you get your way. That's what you have been doing for as long as I can remember—no wonder I want to leave. I want to leave you, but leaving my little sister here with you, helpless, hurts me. It aches me."
"Fine, if you want her so badly, take her with you. Both of you are mistaken. I should have ended the pregnancy, but your stupid father insisted and said that he would take care of them, and here we are. He is nowhere to be seen. No one will see him."
After that, it had all gone silent. I was listening to my brother and our mom arguing. A couple of weeks ago, Chris told me something that would change how my mom saw him. Neither of us wanted it to happen, but here we are. 
I was only around 14 then; my brother Chris had just turned 17. He was done hiding who he was, and I just wanted him to be happy. Suddenly, I heard the door open to my brother's room, and he was in tears—tears that I wish I could make go away, but I don't have those magical powers.
"I'm sorry, Jana, I have to go."
As I blinked back tears, I instinctively clung to my brother, unwilling to release him. He was not just my sibling but also my closest friend, and now it felt like my mother was determined to sever our bond. I couldn't comprehend why she was set on destroying something so important to me. Wasn't my happiness her priority? It seemed like she derived pleasure from causing me pain, and I felt trapped in this never-ending cycle. I knew I had to escape this situation. How could she even entertain such destructive thoughts? She was acting irrationally, and I couldn't fathom her reasons.
"Chris, I don't want you to. Why should you have to? You're not even poisoning me with anything. I am on your side here. If they kick you out, they might as well kick me out, too."
"I know, Jana, but you still have a life here to live. I'll be okay. I promise."
"I tell them I am, too, then we can go together."
"Jana, I want you to enjoy being a kid while you can because it won't last forever. You and I both know that. Look at me; I'm getting kicked out of my house on my 17th birthday. You are going to do amazing things, and I know it. I'm sure of it."
"I don't want to be here alone with mom and dad."
"I know you don't, but you don't even have a double-digit number of years left here."
"Four years here, you need to stay at school. This is your first year; whether you like it or not, I will not be why you get kicked out of the house and high school. You need your education. At least I graduated. You can move in with me as soon as you do, and we will be okay."
"Why can't I live with you as soon as you find a place?"
"I must be 18 to put down a payment, and I'm not that yet, so I guess I will stay in a shelter for a little while. Then I'll get a place and find you, okay?"
"Okay."
"On your 18th birthday, I will come and find you. Then we can live happily ever after."
"Okay, I got it."
"Shhh, I hear Mom coming up the stairs, hiding in my closet."
Without even saying anything, I ran and hid in his closet just in time for my mom to open Chris's door.
"Chris, you have 5 minutes, or I am calling the police. Don't even think about saying goodbye to your sister. She doesn't even love you. I mean, it should be clear."
"I'm not leaving Mom, who I love shouldn't matter. Why can't I be myself? Why do both Jana and I have to hide our true selves around you?"
"You are not being true to yourself, that's why. Men can only love women, and women can only love men! You know that you grew up with this. You are lying to yourself; you are just being fake. I don't want someone trying to steer Jana off that path. She deserves to succeed in this world!"
"And I don't deserve it? Is it all because I don't follow what you believe in? That is terrible, no wonder you don't have any friends. Not everyone is going to believe in the same thing as you. If you think that, then you are delusional. I'm still surprised that Dad is still married to you because you are so controlling of everyone around you. No wonder your family doesn't want anything to do with you. "
I was in utter disbelief, witnessing the unthinkable actions of my former mother. I never thought she would stoop so low. She violently slapped my brother, and I could see the pain on his face. It was shocking to see my 'mom' resort to such violence.
Following the incident, she swiftly reached for her phone, dialed three numbers, and spoke to the police. I was so stunned by the situation that I couldn't focus on her conversation with the authorities. I could only wonder what she was telling the police, and I wouldn't be surprised if she were painting herself as the victim instead of my brother.
That's typical of her – she'll do anything to protect herself, even if it means sacrificing others. She has a knack for distorting the truth and creating stories to shield herself from facing consequences. Keeping track of her lies is becoming increasingly challenging, and I doubt she can even keep up with her fabrications.