Parents.. with different treatment

Buliding

The days that followed were filled with a heavy silence that seemed to weigh down the entire household. Xander stayed close to Valerie, his quiet shadow. He avoided Colby's gaze, shrinking back anytime his father entered the room. The bond they had been trying so hard to rebuild felt shattered, and the hope that had once flickered in Xander's eyes was gone, replaced by something far darker — distrust, fear, and sadness.

Valerie noticed the changes in Xander immediately. The way he flinched whenever Colby was near, the way he kept his arm tucked close to his body, as if to protect it. She tried to coax him to talk, but he was guarded, his responses clipped and short. She could sense he was afraid to say too much, afraid to let her see the full extent of his pain.

One evening, as Valerie was tucking Xander into bed, she saw the bruise on his arm — a faint, fading mark, but unmistakable. Her heart sank as she traced the outline of it gently, a pit forming in her stomach.

"Xander, sweetheart," she whispered, keeping her voice steady. "What happened to your arm?"

Xander looked away, biting his lip. "Nothing. I... I just fell," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.

But Valerie knew her son too well. She could see the fear in his eyes, the way he clutched his blanket tightly, and the hesitation in his voice. Her heart twisted as she realized the truth. Colby had done this.

She fought to keep her emotions in check, not wanting to frighten Xander further. She pulled him into a gentle hug, feeling him melt into her embrace, as if he'd been waiting for that comfort. "It's okay, Xander," she whispered softly. "You don't have to be scared. I'm here for you, always."

Xander nodded, clinging to her, and Valerie felt her resolve harden. She couldn't let this continue. She wouldn't let her son live in fear.

That night, when Colby came to bed, Valerie was waiting for him, her face pale but determined. She closed the door behind her, taking a deep breath as she steadied herself.

"We need to talk," she said, her voice firm, leaving no room for argument.

Colby looked at her, surprise flickering across his face. He could tell by her expression that this wasn't an ordinary conversation. "What's wrong?"

Valerie took a shaky breath, her heart pounding. "Colby... I know what happened with Xander. I saw the bruise on his arm."

Colby's face fell, and he looked away, guilt flooding his features. "Valerie, I... I didn't mean for it to happen like that. I was just... I was so frustrated, and it was like I couldn't control myself."

She shook her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and anger. "He's six years old, Colby. He's just a little boy. And he's terrified of you now. Do you understand that?"

Colby's shoulders slumped, his voice barely a whisper. "I know. I know I've hurt him, and I can't even look at myself in the mirror anymore because of it. But... I don't know how to stop. I keep trying, but it's like I'm always on edge, and I don't know how to handle it."

Valerie's voice softened, though her resolve remained unshaken. "Then you need more help, Colby. You can't just keep trying on your own. This has gone too far. I won't let Xander live in fear of his own father."

Colby looked at her, pain evident in his eyes. "You think I don't hate myself for this? I do. Every time I see the way he looks at me, I want to take it all back. But I can't. And I don't know how to fix it."

Valerie placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch both a comfort and a reminder. "If you want to fix this, then you need to put in the work. Real, hard work. Therapy, counseling, whatever it takes. Because if you don't... Colby, I can't keep putting Xander through this. I won't."

Her words hung in the air, a quiet ultimatum that left Colby staring at her, the reality of his actions sinking in deeper than ever.

Colby agreed to seek help, though it was a decision weighed down by shame and regret. He started attending more intensive therapy sessions, confronting the depths of his anger and learning coping mechanisms he'd never known before. But he knew that no amount of self-improvement could erase the fear he'd put in Xander's heart.

For Xander, the change was slow, and his mistrust remained. He stayed close to Valerie, the only parent he felt he could rely on. He kept his distance from Colby, flinching whenever his father was near. The wounds ran deep, and even with time, Xander struggled to feel safe.

One evening, Sam visited, sensing the tension in the house and worried for his nephew. He took Xander aside, sitting with him in the quiet of his room.

"Hey, buddy," Sam said softly, pulling Xander into a gentle hug. "I've noticed things have been tough around here lately. Are you doing okay?"

Xander hesitated, looking down at his hands. "It's... it's just hard," he whispered. "Dad... he gets mad, and it's scary. I don't know if he really cares."

Sam's heart broke hearing those words. He hugged Xander tighter, promising him that he'd always have someone who loved him. "Listen, Xander," he said gently, "your dad's going through a hard time, but none of this is your fault, okay? You're such a strong, amazing kid, and you don't deserve to be treated this way. Ever."

Xander looked up, a small glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Do you think... do you think he'll ever really change?"

Sam's expression softened, though his heart ached with uncertainty. "I hope so, Xander. He's trying, but until he shows he's changed, I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Colby's journey was long and filled with setbacks. Every time he felt he was making progress, he'd stumble, feeling the weight of his past mistakes dragging him down. But he kept going, driven by the memory of Xander's frightened eyes and the quiet resolve in Valerie's voice.

Slowly, over the next year, he learned to manage his anger, to confront the fears and insecurities that had fueled his outbursts. He learned to communicate better, to listen, and, most importantly, to take responsibility for the pain he'd caused.

It took a long time for Xander to trust him again, and even then, the trust was fragile, something Colby knew he'd have to nurture every day. He spent hours rebuilding his relationship with his son, showing up in small ways, keeping every promise, no matter how small. Each time Xander looked at him without fear, each time he laughed freely, was a victory for Colby — a reminder of what he was working for.

But the memory of that dark time would always be a part of them, a reminder of the damage that had been done. And for Colby, it served as a constant motivator, a promise to himself and to his family that he would never allow his anger to hurt them again. He had nearly lost everything, but now, he was determined to be the father Xander truly deserved.