My Brother Threw My Life Onto the Curb and Celebrated. The Next Morning, His Boss Called Me With a Question That Changed Everything.

behind the wheel.

Through the windshield, Dylan stood beneath the porch light.

My parents and Chloe were behind him.

All four waited for me to break.

I blocked Dylan first.

Then Chloe.

Then my parents.

I started the car and drove away.

They believed they had finally gotten rid of me.

What they didn’t realize was that they had just given me something I’d never managed to give myself.

A reason to stop saving them.

PART 2: THE PHONE CALL

I reached my temporary apartment shortly after midnight.

It was