*FLASHBACK*

October 15, 2010

"I'm so proud of you Danny. That was an amazing game." Papà quickly smiled at me through the rearview mirror as he drove us home after a successful win of my homecoming football game.

"Thanks Papà." I grinned, feeling pretty confident in myself as our team's wide receiver.

Mamma was seated in the passenger seat. She turned around, brightly smiling at me as she placed her hand on my knee. "You did so well Tesoro, keep it up."

I nodded at her, my smile never leaving my face.

"I wish Christian was at my game." I muttered, glancing out the window as I noticed we were in our neighborhood now.

"You know he's coming home for the weekend." Papà spoke up. "He didn't tell you?"

I scoffed, leaning back onto the backseat. "No." Christian doesn't tell me much of anything anymore...

"Well, maybe he wanted it to be a surprise." Mamma spoke softly, seeing I was a bit upset. Papà pulled into the driveway and I saw Christian's car was already parked on the left side. Mamma turned back to look at me. "Look, he's already here." She beamed. "Why don't you go see what he's up to?" Mamma handed me the keys to the front door.

I excitedly nodded, hearing Papà unlock the car and I swiftly stepped out. I held my football helmet in my left hand, hurriedly unlocking the front door. I pushed the door open standing at the doorstep for a moment as I looked into the house.

All the lights were off and it was quiet.

I stepped inside, shutting the door behind me, leaving it unlocked for Mamma and Papà.

Maybe he's just in his room.

"C!" I called out, sprinting towards the stairs, turning on a couple lights on the way so it wasn't so dark. "You missed it dude, we had our homecoming game today!" I laughed, trying to contain my excitement. "You should have been there C; we kicked Silver Creek's ass! 46 to 9!" I breathlessly panted as I reached the top of the stairs.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, subtly catching my breath as I neared the door to his room. "Christian?" I called out again, brushing off the anxious feeling that ran down my spine. He's probably just asleep.

I knocked on his door. "C, are you there?" I leaned forward, putting my ear to the door to see if I could hear anything. I pulled away, hearing a soft thumping sound not really grasping what it was.

My hand slightly shook as I reached for the doorknob, slowly pushing his door open.

"Christian-," I immediately gasped, dropping my helmet to the floor out of fright. My stomach tensed up into knots and my heart dropped.

Christian was on the floor, convulsing as foamy saliva escaped from the corner of his mouth.

I slowly took a couple steps back, inhaling shakily as fear completely consumed me. Tears formed in my eyes as I couldn't take my eyes off him.

"Mamma, Papà!" I shrieked out in desperation. "I think Christian's having a seizure!"

I rushed over to him, kneeling down by his side finding the courage to help him in any way I could before Mamma and Papà showed up. His hair stuck to his forehead from sweating profusely and his skin was hot.

A dark spot slowly began to form on Christian's pants and I grimaced realizing he peed himself. "Papà are you there!?" I cried out again. "I really need your help!"

I looked down at Christian as my tears slipped out of my eyes, rolling down my cheeks. "C, you're gonna be okay, I promise." I turned him over on his side, letting my forearm rest underneath his head so it stopped hitting the floor.

I heard the heavy, hurried steps of Papà coming up the stairs and I felt a wave of relief knowing Papà could do more to help keep Christian safe.

Papà barged into Christian's room and the immediate look of shock on his face scared me. Papà didn't show his emotions that much but when he did, you knew it was something serious.

"Go get your mother." He commanded. "I'll stay with Christian."

"Papà is he gonna be okay?" My voice broke as I looked up at him.

"He'll be fine Danny. Please, just go get your mother." He reassured me in a stern voice. I quickly nodded, getting up as I left Christian's side.

I glanced back at them, seeing Papà dialing 911 on his phone as he crouched by Christian's side, continuing to hold his head.

"Mamma!" I cried out, rushing down the stairs to find her. She was in the living room, seated down on her favorite lounge chair. Her eyes were fixed on a general spot like she was lost in thought, contemplating something.

"Mamma, c'mon." I ran over to her, tugging on her arm. "Christian's in trouble, he needs help!"

I felt her resist and I knitted my eyebrows in confused anger.

I looked down at her, teary eyed as I couldn't understand why she wasn't panicked.

"Why'd you do that?" My voice was hushed.

She took too long to answer for my liking and it made my blood boil.

"Mamma why'd you resist!" I suddenly yelled at her, making her flinch.

"Don't yell at me Tesoro." She quietly warned, now standing up.

"Don't yell at you?...Don't yell at you?!" I repeated, getting more frustrated with her. "Christian's having a full-blown seizure and you're just sitting here like nothing's happening! What the fuck is wrong with you!" I cried.

The palm of her hand swiftly connected with my cheek, leaving a stinging sensation on my skin as the force of her slap made my tears slip out my eyes.

I glared at her. My chest rose and fell, holding in my anger as my body lightly trembled. Mamma looked back at me with regretful eyes. "Danny," She breathed out. "I'm sorry." She apologized softly for hitting me.

"Christian was right about you." I bitterly mumbled. "I don't know what's happening with him, but I'm not gonna let anything worse happen just because you have to think twice about helping him."

I stepped away from her. "He's your son Mamma. You know, normal parents would do anything to make sure their kids are okay."

...

I sat by Christian's hospital bedside, waiting for him to wake up from his nap. I was finally allowed to see him.

After Papà called 911, the paramedics showed up at our house. Of course our nosy ass neighbors peered through their windows, wondering why an ambulance was parked in front of our house.

Christian remained unconscious for a while after his seizure. Papà and I managed to bring Christian's body temperature down with multiple cold compresses.

Mamma pretended to be too emotionally distraught to do anything which only made me angrier.

Christian was eventually carried away on a stretcher and we were told why he had a seizure in the first place.

It was a cocaine overdose.

That explained Christian's behavioral changes. And the nosebleeds he'd get from time to time.

Mamma definitely fake cried when she heard Christian OD'd. On top of that, she's sending him to a rehab center after he recovers in the hospital. I mean, Papà thought it was a good idea too but I just didn't like how she was so quick to send him away.

"Hey Danny." I snapped out of my thoughts, looking at Christian as he weakly smiled at me.

"Hey, you're awake." I lightly smiled back at him. I sighed. "How are you feeling?" I glanced at the IVs in his arm.

"Well, I'm not dead so, I guess I'm alright." He joked.

I faintly chuckled, remembering how scared I was when I found him. "I'm just glad you're okay C. You scared the shit outta me."

"Yeah I know," Christian apologetically looked at me. "Papà told me you found me first. I'm sorry you had to see me like that."

"Mamma hesitated when I told her you needed help." I mumbled sadly.

Christian scoffed, turning away from me as his jaw clenched. "Yeah of course she did. I'm not surprised." He muttered coldly. "I bet she wouldn't even have cared if I died from that overdose."

"Christian don't say shit like that." I frowned at him. I was mad at him for even doing drugs in the first place; but I also didn't blame him. He was going through a lot emotionally and it was clearly Mamma's fault. I guess it was just a way to numb the pain.

I honestly don't know what I would've done if Christian didn't make it.

He could have easily treated me like shit because Mamma favored me over him but he didn't.

He was always looking out for me. I couldn't even count the number of times Christian got in trouble for fighting anyone who picked on me in elementary and middle school.

I'm grateful he's my brother. I don't know where I'd be without him.

When I thought about it, Mamma's neglect towards Christian didn't even make sense to me.

You'd think she would love him for protecting me all the time...

...
Hi guys! I finally updated in decent timing lmao it's been so long. I was really excited to get this chapter out, it's one of my favorites.
My next update should be after the holidays though so until next time !
Thanks for reading <3