Things are Complicated

Chapter 23: Don't worry, big brothers to the rescue?

Hours passed and the pain medication wore off with disastrous consequences. Huddled in the corner of my empty room, I took to hiding in the closet just in case someone decided to peak in.

One after another, my angry brothers- well… half-brothers- cursed at each other. First Steve blamed Brien for touching his stuff, then Brien yelled at Butch for rearranging his closet and finally Frank shouted at them all for stealing his magazines. All the while I asked myself if I really moved any of their possessions that far.

Listening to their bickering brought back the only fond memories I had with them. Whenever a bug crawled up their butts about sharing games or equipment, they showed vague interest in my existence. On these rare occasions, Steve taught me to throw a football through a hole in the fence. Brien taught me to kick a soccer ball. Frank taught me core exercises to improve my running. Butch simply shoved me into the deep end of the pool and told me to kick, but eventually he showed me a thing or two.

Who would have guessed, after all these years of praying to be adopted, I was actually the mistake they made me feel like I am. Now I’m cancerous, unwanted and have no idea what to do with myself.

Dad’s laptop not only didn’t have any energy, but a password to crack once fully charged. I tried for weeks to figure it out when he was alive. Now, there’s a large amount doubt hanging over my head that I'd be able to get through. Oddly, I get the feeling my life depends on it to a certain degree.

Not to be dramatic or anything, but my ‘mother’ clearly hasn’t made it her job to keep records of my father’s family history let alone my real mother’s. If the doctors need more accurate information, they may have to wait awhile. Perhaps autopsy?

“-yeah, just move your stuff in here.”

The door opened and I peeked through the slated opening to see Butch helping D’Angelo carry in a few moving boxes.

“Thanks, let’s just pack everything in and I’ll rearrange it.” D took a moment to glance around.

“Yeah sure,” Butch dropped the box in the corner.

D pulled out his phone and frowned at it, he swiped his finger across the screen and glared.

“Something the matter?” Butch glanced over his shoulder.

“Girl problems,” He muttered and jammed it back into his pocket.

The two of them trudged out of the room and just when I gathered the nerves to leave, Steve came in the door carrying the front of the mattress. Behind him is Brien. The two grunted and groaned as the maneuvered the queen sized mattress into the corner.

Once the two of them stepped away, I got a good look at the damage I’d done. Steve’s chin looked black, purple, yellow and blue, Brien’s cheek held a gash deep enough for stitches and both seemed to limp a little.

More and more boxes of D’s possessions filled the small corners of my former room. When they carried in the last of it, Frank stopped them from leaving.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” His swollen purple eyes looked painful and embarrassingly large.

D looked between the four brothers and leaned back a bit. “Do I really have a choice?”

“No,” Steve shrugged and immediately winced, he reached up and touched his rib.

“Ask away,” D gestured with his hands for them to give it a shot.

“Why did Jed do this to us?” Frank pointed to his face.

D’s eyes traveled from one brother to the next as he pondered his answer. “What makes you think I know the answer to that?”