Falling, Alone, and a Mess

Chapter 1: Family Issues

"He didn't know what he was doing, Daniel. He's a child. Did you really expect him to not turn out like this? I mean it's not like the boys are good influences on him."
"I don't care. We're not hiring anymore lawyers and wasting thousands of dollars just so he can make the same mistake. I've had it. He needs to learn his lesson."
Duncan stood there, nervously. He had fucked up and he knew it.
He had heard enough to know he was going to spend the next 4 years in a child prison. He slowly crept away from the kitchen, where his parents were having a discussion about him. He walked back upstairs quietly as he could.
He was shaking like crazy. He couldn't focus on anything. He was just about to start sobbing when he heard someone behind him.
"You okay?"
He turned to see his older sister, Demi, standing by the door. He didn't say anything and continued to pace around his room. His face was flushed and any moment now, he knew he would bust out in tears.
What were you thinking?!
How could you?!
You're pathetic. You'll end up dead before you're even 30.
You deserve everything that's coming.
Every thought he had become more loud and obnoxious than the last. Maybe he was a sociopath.
"Duncan? I asked if you were okay."
Those words had brought him back to the world.
He sat on his bed and started bouncing his knee like crazy. Finally words actually came out of his mouth.
"No. I'm not okay. Dad hates me, he's always has. He hates all of us, except for mom. I made a mistake. I'm going to juvi, Demi. Donnie always talked about how it's hell. I'm not okay, I'm scared out of my fucking mind."
Demi just stood there while her younger brother was having a panic attack. He was shaking uncontrollably and taking heavy, shaky, deep breaths.
She walked over to him slowly and put her hand on his shoulder.
"It'll be okay. Donnie was afraid too. You're going to be fine."
He had calmed down a little by now. She had been rubbing his back in circles for 5 minutes now. He heard footsteps coming from downstairs, making its way into the main hallway. Demi looked at him worriedly and before he knew it, there was a knock on his door.
"It-It's open." He couldn't help but stutter.
When the door opened, his mother was standing there, along with his father.
"Duncan, your father and I have been discussing this for a good time and he-"
His father shot her an ugly look.
"-I mean we, decided we aren't not going to defend you on this case. What you did was ridiculous. I'm so very sorry but I think it's time you realize that your mistakes, always have consequences."
He looked at his father, expecting him to talk about how he regrets ever having another child. But no words came out. He just gave Duncan a cold, hard, stare.
His father walked out of the doorway expecting his mother to follow him. But she stayed.
"Demi, may I have alone time with him?"
She nodded and stepped out. Duncan remained seated on his bed, pushing in the quicks on his fingernails, staring at the ground.
"Duncan, I love you. You're my baby boy. You're my last hope. Your brothers have already decided what they want to be. I don't want you to end up like them. That's why I'm not going to defend you on this. I want you to know what being punished for a serious crime is like. This isn't because I want to see you be miserable. I want you to realize that, crime is not fun. Crime leads to terrible punishments. I love you Duncan, please understand that I'm doing this for you."
Duncan's mother was now stroking his hair. He looked up at her, with his Ice blue, teal eyes.
"I know you love me ma. I love you too."
He stood up and hugged her. He heard her sniffle and hugged her tighter. He was going to have a hard time spending years without his family.

FOUR YEARS LATER

He walked through the doors of his home. Which in his eyes, really wasn't. The furniture had been moved around a bit. There was also a new kitchen set. He wondered if his bedroom had been changed at all.
But regardless, he was glad to be back home.