The brisk night's air hits my warm, tear-covered cheeks as I slam the door behind me.

How dare they fire me!

My skin crawls as I remember the vile sensation of that bastard's unwanted touch. The moment his calloused fingers made contact with my skin, his onyx eyes were dark with lust. Working his way up my thigh felt as if hundreds of bugs were crawling across my skin. Above all, I felt degraded.

All I did was remove his hand and ask him to stop. He and his friends made it seem as if I took a gun to his temple with the way they talked to my manager.

They're garbage, all of them.

The wood stairs that lead up to my apartment creak with every upward step I take. Once I am in front of my door, I jam the key into the lock with a growl.

When the door slams against the paint-chipped walls, my brother jumps from his seat.

Trying to wipe the evidence of my disastrous night, my hand quickly rises to remove any stray tears. "I'm sorry, Dom. I didn't mean to startle you."

He walks over in his Captain America pajamas and wraps his ten-year-old arms around my waist. "Gemma! You're home early!"

Not wanting him to sense my unease, I plaster a fake smile on my face. "Surprise! Did you eat something?" I ask, trying to change the subject of my early arrival. "Did you finish your homework?"

Dom's proud smile shines bright. "I made a grilled cheese sandwich after I finished my homework."

My heart drops to the floor and shatters into hundreds of pieces. I wish I could provide more for my brother than a loaf of bread and some cheese. "Do you want me to get you anything else?"

"No, I'm okay. Mrs. Markus brought over some chocolate chip cookies." Pointing over to the counter, he says, "I left you a few."

I ruffle his thick brown hair before making my way over to the plate of dessert. "Thanks, Kiddo."

Walking into the small galley kitchen, I open the refrigerator door and grab the gallon of milk. The white liquid stops flowing once my glass is half full, and I slam the jug on the counter.

Great, another thing I need to pick up tomorrow.

Thinking about my checking account sends my heart rate into overdrive. My anxiety begins to rise when I start making a list of the basics I will need to purchase. It looks like we are going to have to keep it simple until I find a new job.

Eggs for breakfast. Peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, and some damn ramen for dinner, what a treat.

After dunking my cookie in milk, my sadness disappears as soon as the chocolate morsels hit my taste buds.

Damn, I'm grateful for Mrs. Markus' baking.

Mrs. Markus is the elderly woman across the hall and helps me keep an eye on Dom while I'm at work. I hate that he falls asleep alone most nights, but my worries are somewhat put at ease knowing she is there.

Hearing light footsteps coming from behind, I turn around to a tired-looking Dom. "Why don't you head to bed?"

Dom's drooping eyelids hide his caramel eyes, but he shakes his head, resisting the urge to fall asleep. "I don't want to. It's Friday night. I don't have school tomorrow."

Knowing he will fall asleep quickly, I ask, "Want to watch a movie with me?"

A smile takes over his adorable chubby-cheeked face as he excitedly nods his head.

Walking towards him, I wrap my arm around his small shoulder and bring him close before kissing the top of his head. "Alright, I'll get the cookies, and you put in any movie you want."

Once I grab the plate, I walk into our living area, sit down on my bed, or as others call it— a couch. Bending down, I remove my aching feet from the shoes that are a size too small.

I throw a ratty old fleece blanket over our legs and rest my throbbing feet on the scratched espresso coffee table. Dom rests his head on my shoulder as he holds up the remote control.

The DVD player comes to life and starts to play the trailers before the main attraction. Placing the plate of cookies on my lap, Dom takes one only to smash it into his mouth.

He attempts speaking around his food, mumbling, "Want to tell me why you're home early?"

The incident that occurred starts to replay in my mind, sending icy tendrils up my spine. My body shivers, desperate to remove the uncomfortable feelings coursing through my body. We are very open with each other, but one thing he doesn't need to know is that some piece of scum tried to feel up his sister.

I don't want to keep the whole truth from him, so I settle for, "I got fired."

Dom lifts his head from my shoulder, and his usually smiling face falls at my admission. "I'm sorry, Gem."

Breathing in deeply, I exhale, "No, I'm sorry. Things will be a little different until I find another job. Everything I have saved is going towards bills and necessary groceries."

His emotion-filled face quickly shifts sideways before nodding. "I understand."

When I reach for his hand, Dom's glossy eyes connect with mine. "I know you are no stranger to not having the finer things in life. I want nothing more than to give them to you, but until I have a steady income, every penny needs to be spent carefully. I'm sorry, but we might need to put off getting that new game we have been saving for."

He brings his knees to his chest, wrapping his small arms around them, and I feel as if someone stabbed me in the heart.

As Dom rocks back and forth, I wrap my arms around his narrow frame to help soothe his distress. Tears start to pool in the corner of my eyes while hopelessness settles in my soul as he rests his cheek on my shoulder.

Rubbing circles on his back, my voice cracks, "I'm so sorry, Dom. I wish I could do more."

Dom's head snaps up from its resting position, and his once glossy eyes gaze into mine with such sincerity. "You take care of me better than anyone else, Gemma. I have everything I need."

Not being able to hold it in anymore, a sob escapes. My ten-year-old brother tries to comfort me by tightening his embrace.

An all too familiar song begins to play from the speakers of the tv, and I pull away with my brows furrowed. Wiping away the moisture from my cheeks, I look down at my little brother. "The Sound of Music?"

His chubby cheeks rise, and the dimples I love so much, lift my spirits.

Dom shrugs his shoulders as if putting in my favorite movie is not a big deal. "You came in like you had a shitty night, and I know how much you love it."

For the first time tonight, my lips tug upwards, and a deep-chested laugh erupts from my mouth. "I should be upset that you are using such foul language. it's too funny hearing those words come from such a tiny human."

Dom playfully shoves my arm before adjusting himself and resting his head on my shoulder. "It wasn't that bad. You should hear some of the other words I know."

"No, thank you, I'm good."

Before the music of the opening number comes to an end, I hear hushed snores coming from Dom. Letting him use my legs as a pillow, I reach for the blanket to drape over his steadily rising chest.

Knowing every line to the movie makes it easy to forget the events of today, it helps to slow down my racing brain. It isn't long before my own eyes start to become heavy, and the room becomes a blurry haze. Shifting myself behind my little brother, I hold onto the one person I truly love in the world.

Focusing on his shallow breaths, I try to match his breathing.

Before I doze off, I make a silent promise that I will do whatever it takes to make sure Dom is always well taken care of. He is my only family, and I will make sure that we are always together.