Broken homes

Breaking point again

Lily's entire body went rigid as the sound of her father's heavy footsteps echoed through the house. Shawn noticed how her hands curled into fists, her breathing suddenly uneven.

"Lily—"

"Go," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Shawn shook his head. "No."

She turned to him, eyes desperate. "Please, Shawn."

But it was too late.

"Lily!" Marcus's voice boomed from downstairs.

Lily sucked in a sharp breath, already bracing for whatever was about to come.

Shawn clenched his jaw. He had seen Lily upset before—angry, reckless, sarcastic. But this? This was fear.

"I'm staying," he said firmly.

Lily's eyes flashed with frustration. "I don't need you to—"

"Lily!" Her father's voice was closer now.

She let out a curse under her breath. "Fine. Just—stay here."

She slipped out of her room, closing the door behind her.

Shawn didn't listen.

Lily walked downstairs, her heartbeat so loud she could barely hear herself think.

Marcus stood in the middle of the living room, Karen hovering nervously behind him. His expression was unreadable, but Lily knew that look. It was the same one he had when he kicked her mother out.

"Where were you?" Marcus asked, his tone eerily calm.

Lily folded her arms. "At school."

"Don't lie to me."

Her patience was already razor-thin. "I was at school. Where else would I be?"

Marcus let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, I don't know, maybe sneaking around? Drinking behind the library? Skipping class? Want me to keep going?"

Lily's stomach twisted. "Who told you that?"

"That doesn't matter."

She let out a bitter laugh. "Right. Because punishing me for rumors is so fair."

Karen stepped forward. "Lily, sweetie, maybe if you just—"

"Don't." Lily's voice was sharp as a knife. "Don't call me sweetie. You are not my mother."

Marcus slammed his fist on the table, making both Karen and Lily jump.

"Enough, Lily!" he snapped.

Lily's heart pounded.

And then—he sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look—I don't want to fight with you. I just... I don't want you turning into her."

Her blood ran cold.

There it was.

She had been waiting for it.

Lily took a slow step back. "Her."

Marcus hesitated. "Lily, I didn't—"

"You did," she cut him off. Her voice was shaking now, but not from fear—from rage. "You think I don't hear you? The way you talk about her? The way you look at me? You already decided, didn't you?" She let out a bitter laugh. "I am my mother. Isn't that right?"

Marcus shook his head. "Lily, that's not—"

"I knew it!" she yelled. "No matter what I do, it'll never be enough for you! I could be perfect, and you'd still see her!"

Marcus opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Lily laughed again, but this time, there was no humor. Just exhaustion. Just pain.

She turned on her heel, storming back up the stairs.

"Lily—!"

She slammed the door so hard it rattled the walls.

And then—

Shawn.

Still there. Still waiting.

She froze, every emotion she had just buried now boiling over.

"Don't," she whispered, voice cracking. "Don't say anything."

Shawn stepped forward, slowly, cautiously. "Lily..."

Her hands trembled. "Don't."

But then—Shawn did something unexpected.

He didn't try to fix it. He didn't try to tell her it was okay.

Instead, he just stood there.

Silent.

Waiting.

And for the first time in a long time—Lily let herself break.