“Leo’s at school. Safe. But do you have any idea what you’ve done to him?” I asked, my eyes boring into his.
The color drained from his face, and I could see the realization dawning in his eyes. Turning to my wife, I added, “I don’t know why this happened, and maybe we’ll figure it out. But right now, you both need to leave.”
They protested, of course, but I was unyielding.
With Mark’s quiet support, they left, a whirlwind of hurried apologies and promises that rang hollow in the emptiness they left behind. As the door shut, the weight of the day settled onto my shoulders. There would be time to untangle the mess of my marriage and deal with the betrayal of a brother.
But for now, my focus was on Leo, on rebuilding the sense of safety and trust shattered by the day’s events. I knew that together, we would find a way forward.
