Stockholm Syndrome (BWWM)

Chapter 24

My dad sits down on the floor next to me and rubs his face in his hands. I wait patiently for him to begin.

"When Jared was younger your mother and I started noticing some weird behavior going on with him. He didn't get along with the other kids at the playground and he was always angry. We thought he was just being a brat until we had Irina."

Dad gulps and stares down at his hands. "When Irina was little he tried to stab her with a pair of scissors."

I gasp and cover my mouth with my hand. "How does she not remember that?"

"She was so young, maybe three. Jared was eight at the time."

I nod and he continues. "Your mother gave an excuse for him and said that he didn't know any better and that he was just playing around, so we let it slide. But, we noticed more disturbing incidents. One time he tried to drown the family dog and he almost broke his friend's leg. That's when I knew I needed to get him away from the family, especially because your mother was pregnant with you."

"I moved out and took him to California and checked him into one of the best institutions they had to offer. I would travel back and forth between Arizona and California to spend time with you when you were a baby, but Jared was acting out so I decided to stay in Sacramento permanently. Your mother missed me and him terribly and wanted to start our family over so we transferred him to an institution in Arizona with no luck. We couldn't bring him around you and your sister if he would harm you girls."

"So, again. I went back to the west side and lived with Jared while your mom and sister stayed in Arizona. We decided to keep him a secret until he was stable enough to be apart of the family. Your mother told you and Irina that we had gotten a divorce to protect you. I never stayed in close contact because I knew if I heard your voice I would come home."

Tears prick my eyes as I try to digest this story. So my brother was mentally unstable?

"It took us years to get Jared in the right place and I genuinely believed he changed and was healthy. But, when I tried to reach out to you and Irina he flipped and I stayed away longer. When we brought him here to meet you guys I thought he was normal again, but when Irina told us the accident your boyfriend was in I knew something was fishy. I guess he needs our help more than ever."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" I croak.

"I didn't want to face the truth that my own son wanted to cause harm onto others." He whispers.

I swallow my pride and get on my knees and pull my dad into a hug. I hug him to show him I'm moving on and that we can get through this together. I hug him to let him know everything will be alright and Jared will get the help he truly needs. I squeeze as tight as I can trying to erase the years of pain we both received.

"Jared is unstable. He needs our help before he hurts someone else." I say.

"You're right."

**

Richard, Bryce, Chris and I are all relaxing in Sam's private hospital room when he wakes up. I'm curled around a bowl of chicken noodle soup on the couch once his eyes crack open.

"Sam!" I yelp. I hop off the couch and rush to his side. "You don't know how relieved I am."

When he speaks it's barely a whisper. "You can't get rid of me that easily." He smirks.

I laugh and shake my head at him. Leave it up to Sam to be making jokes in a hospital bed.

"How do you feel sir?" Chris asks concerned.

"I feel like shit." Sam coughs and grimaces in pain.

I gasp and press my hand on his shoulder. "Are you in any pain?"