Parents.. with different treatment

Breaking point

It was an ordinary Saturday morning in the Brock household, the sun streaming through the kitchen window, illuminating the chaos of toys scattered across the floor. Xander sat at the dining table, focused on his favorite activity: coloring. The bright hues danced across the page, each stroke a small escape into his own world. He loved the feel of the crayons in his hand, the way they transformed blank pages into vibrant creations.

Colby, however, was in a different mood. His frustration with the noise from the kids had been building over the week, and today, it erupted like a volcano.

"Xander! How many times do I have to tell you to keep it down?" Colby's voice boomed from the living room, cutting through Xander's concentration.

Xander flinched, looking up from his coloring. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm just—"

"Just what? Making a mess?" Colby snapped, storming into the kitchen. "You're always in the way. Can't you do anything right?"

Xander's heart sank. He felt a familiar wave of anxiety wash over him. "I'm trying my best," he said quietly, hoping to defuse the situation.

Colby's face twisted with anger. "Your best isn't good enough! You're a burden to this family!" His words cut deeper than any physical blow.

Xander's hands trembled as he tried to grip the crayon, but it slipped from his fingers and rolled across the table. "I didn't mean to—"

Colby slammed his hand on the table, causing the crayons to jump and scatter. "Stop being such a weakling! You need to toughen up!"

Valerie, who had been in the other room with Victoria, rushed in at the sound of the commotion. "Colby! What's going on?" Her voice was steady, but there was an edge of panic underneath.

"Xander is making a mess and driving me crazy!" Colby growled, glaring at his son as if Xander were the source of all his problems.

Valerie stepped in front of Xander protectively. "He's just a kid, Colby! You can't speak to him like that. He's doing his best."

Colby's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to Xander, towering over him. "You need to learn respect, kid. You're nothing but a distraction. Why don't you go to your room until you can act like a normal child?"

Xander felt tears prick his eyes, but he fought them back. He wanted to be brave. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't mean to upset you," he whispered, his voice small.

"Enough!" Colby roared, his face flushed with rage. "You think this is a joke? I'm tired of coddling you. You need to learn what happens when you mess up!"

Without warning, Colby grabbed Xander's arm, pulling him roughly from the chair. Xander winced, the grip painfully tight.

"Dad, please!" Xander cried, trying to pull away.

But Colby just shook him, his frustration boiling over. "You think I'm going to let you keep acting like this? You'll learn to shape up or face the consequences!"

"Stop it!" Valerie shouted, stepping forward. "You're hurting him!"

Colby released Xander, who stumbled back, his heart racing, shame flooding his chest. He felt small and worthless, as if he were nothing more than a nuisance.

"You're lucky I didn't do worse," Colby spat, shooting Xander a final glare before storming out of the room.

Valerie rushed to Xander's side, kneeling down to his level. "Oh, Xander," she whispered, pulling him into a gentle hug. "I'm so sorry. You're not a burden. You're my brave boy."

Xander buried his face in her shoulder, tears flowing freely now. "I don't want to be a burden, Mom," he sobbed.

"You're not. You're perfect just the way you are. It's okay to feel scared and sad. We'll get through this together," Valerie reassured him, holding him tightly.

In that moment, Xander felt a flicker of hope amidst the pain. He knew that he wasn't alone; he had his mother, who believed in him even when his father didn't. And as Valerie comforted him, he realized that he had the strength to rise above the hurtful words and actions.

In the days that followed, Valerie worked tirelessly to create a safe space for Xander, advocating for his needs and shielding him from Colby's anger. They spent time drawing, playing, and laughing, filling the home with warmth and love.

And though the shadows of Colby's words lingered, Xander learned that he was more than his father's anger. He was a creative soul with dreams, a light that couldn't be dimmed by anyone, not even the darkest of storms. Together, with Valerie by his side, he would learn to embrace his uniqueness and find his place in the world, no matter the challenges ahead.