Page 21 of My Shining Stepbrother

Her breathing becomes erratic as she stands. Her fists clenched tight into fists. “Then who's fault is it?!”

“Yours!” I snap at her.

Silence falls over all of us. My mom's face falls, and shock washes over her. For years I have let her blame me for everything wrong in her life, but now I’m finally placing blame where it belongs. I won’t be her verbal punching bag.

She takes a step forward with watery eyes. “Is that how you really feel? After I gave you everything in life, you blame me for this?”

“You gave me a lot of trauma and emotional baggage.” I reach forward and take her hands in mine. “Mom, I love you to death, but I need you to see how you treat me.” A tear falls from my eyes.

Damian takes my mom's hands from mine, looking into her eyes. “Sweetheart, I’m willing to work on this with you, but you need to speak to a therapist. You need to talk these feelings out with someone else.”

Her body begins to shake in Damian’s hold. “I… I… I don’t know…” Her voice shakes with her words.

“Anita, please get help for yourself. Your daughters and my father love you and deserve to have the best version of you.” Reese says supportively as he stands up.

“You are the reason she blames me.” My mom let go of Damian's hands and turned to Reese, pointing a finger at him.

Reese runs a hand down his face. “Now you are blaming me?” he says, exhausted.

My mom begins to cry in front of us all. “It's not my fault….” She says, full of pain.

I place my hands on her face making her look at me. “Mom, you need to get help,” my heart breaks watching her this way.

“Rose, you need to come home.” She says with hope and anger.

“I'm not coming home until you agree and start going to therapy.” The severe tone of my voice snaps her out of the pain.

“Fine! I'll go, but you need to come home now,” anger filled her words.

“No, mom." I say with confidence. “I will come home after you go to therapy for a few months, and I start to see progress.”

She raises an eyebrow at me in question. “Where are you going to stay?” She asks calmly.

I shrug my shoulders and sigh. “I'm not sure yet, but I will figure it out. I can't stay with you during this, though.” Sadness fills my words and body.

“She will stay with me.” Reese says as he steps forward.

I turn to face him, and he smiles from ear to ear. I know he wants to keep me safe and doesn't want to let me go. To be honest, I don't want to stay anywhere else.

My mom steps forward to look Reese in his eyes. “Do you really think that is the best idea?” she says with an attitude.

He gives her a devilish smile making her roll her eyes. “I do because then I know she is safe.”

“You could be step siblings, and neither one of you seem to care!” She shouts at us, but neither of us genuinely listens.

“We aren't blood-related, Anita. Also, we are adults. I highly doubt anyone will view us as step-siblings.” His body is relaxed as he moves closer to me in a protective manner.

She throws her hands in the air in her toddler-style tantrum. “Rose, is this what you want?!” Ice fills her eyes and tone.

“Yes.” I respond quickly, not having to overthink my decision.

“Damian, are you sure this is okay with you?!” Her anger comes out toward Damian next.

“Yes, Anita. They are adults, and I will support their decision.” He stays calm and rational toward her.

She doesn’t look at or speak to us as she turns on her heels and storms out of the house. The loud slam at the front door indicated she had finally left.

“Well, it should be fun when I get some of my things from the house.” I comment as I sit back down.

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