Parents.. with different treatment

Seizure attack

One cool autumn evening, seven-year-old Xander sat in the family living room, curled up on the couch with his favorite book. Despite his ADHD and the autism that made certain noises and lights seem sharper and harder to bear, reading had always been an escape for him. He felt like he could dive into the pages and drift far away from all the worries and fears of his real life, which sometimes felt overwhelming.

Victoria, his little sister, was babbling happily nearby as she played with her toys, while Xavier was intently building a block tower. Colby sat in a recliner across the room, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the children with a stern expression. Valerie was in the kitchen, humming as she cooked dinner, but she kept glancing over, watching Xander closely. Lately, Valerie had noticed that Xander seemed even quieter than usual. She saw the weight of his "glass child" status — that sense of fragility that set him apart in the family — and how it often went unnoticed by others.

But then, as Xander continued to read, a strange feeling crept up on him. He didn't understand it, but his heart started to beat faster, and his vision blurred slightly. The book felt heavy in his hands. He glanced up, and suddenly, the living room's lights seemed glaringly bright, their white light feeling like sharp needles against his eyes. His hands started to shake, and he felt a wave of panic wash over him.

Valerie noticed Xander's shift first, the way his small body tensed, and his eyes seemed unfocused. "Xander?" she called softly, concern edging into her voice. She stepped closer, only to see that he was now completely still, his body rigid and eyes wide.

Then, almost without warning, Xander's body began to jerk, his small frame twitching uncontrollably as he slipped into a full-blown seizure. His book fell to the floor with a soft thud, barely noticed by anyone else in the room except Valerie, who immediately dropped everything and rushed to his side.

"Colby! Help! Xander's having a seizure!" she called, her voice frantic as she carefully lowered Xander to the floor, making sure he was safe from anything that could hurt him during the episode. Xavier and Victoria, startled by their mom's shout, stopped what they were doing and stared with wide, frightened eyes.

Colby's reaction was slower. He stood up, a dark frown crossing his face as he watched his son on the floor. He looked less worried than frustrated, clearly irritated by the commotion. "This again?" he muttered under his breath, but Valerie ignored him, focusing entirely on Xander.

"Xavier, go grab a pillow from the couch, quick!" Valerie instructed, trying to stay calm for the other kids. Xavier obeyed immediately, though his hands were shaking. He ran to the couch and pulled a pillow, handing it to his mom, who gently placed it under Xander's head to prevent any injury.

"Xander, you're safe, sweetheart. You're safe," Valerie whispered softly, stroking his forehead as his body continued to shake. It was a long, agonizing minute before Xander's convulsions began to subside. His small body finally relaxed, going limp as the seizure ended. But he lay there, breathing heavily, his eyes half-closed, clearly exhausted.

Valerie let out a shaky breath and wiped away the tears that had begun to fall. She looked over at Xavier and Victoria, who were both still staring, unsure and afraid. She gathered them close, giving each of them a reassuring hug. "Xander is okay now," she said softly, trying to comfort them.

After a moment, Xander's eyes flickered open. He looked around, confused and disoriented, and his gaze landed on his mom. Valerie's face softened as she smiled at him, reaching out to hold his hand. "You did so well, sweetheart. I'm right here," she assured him, her heart aching for her son.

Xander gave a weak nod, but when he looked over at Colby, he saw his father's cold, distant expression. There was no warmth, no sympathy. Just that usual harshness that Xander had come to know too well. He turned his gaze back to his mom, feeling safer in her soft, reassuring presence.

As Valerie helped Xander to sit up, Sam Golbach, Colby's best friend and the kids' beloved uncle, entered the room, along with his girlfriend, Katrina. They'd been stopping by to visit and arrived just in time to see the aftermath. Sam took one look at Xander, who was leaning weakly against Valerie, and his face filled with concern.

"Hey, buddy," Sam said gently, crouching down to Xander's level. "You okay?"

Xander nodded slowly, glancing up at his uncle. Sam's presence felt safe, a gentle contrast to the tension that Colby's attitude often brought into the room.

Katrina stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on Valerie's shoulder. "Is there anything we can do?" she asked softly.

Valerie sighed, looking over at Xander, who was leaning against her shoulder, still looking pale and weak. "I think he just needs some rest," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sam picked up Xander carefully, holding him with such gentleness that Xander felt comforted. "How about we all go for some ice cream tomorrow, just you and me, hmm?" Sam whispered as he cradled Xander, who gave him a small, grateful smile.

But as Sam held him, Xander caught a glimpse of his father standing alone, his face twisted with irritation. He knew he'd face Colby's harshness again, maybe even that same coldness the next day. But for now, in his uncle's arms, Xander felt just a little safer, and a little less like a glass child ready to break at any moment.