It was the first time I had laid eyes on my ex in months. Even through the tinted windows I could see he had gained weight. Only when he flung open the door, rolled out of the back seat of the rental car and placed a leg as large as a tree trunk on the ground did I realize just how much rounder he was.

Is that really Steven?

He was a shadow of his former self. His hair hair had receded even further on his head, his face was pudgier, and his gut protruded from his body like that of a pregnant lady.

I believe that being fat doesn't mean someone is ugly or stupid. Anyone who thinks that way needs to grow up and realize that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. I also know that my manipulative, narcissistic, abusive ex husband is ugly on the inside, and no amount of makeovers will ever fix that.

Steven's parents were in the front seats of the car. Both of them got out and followed after their son. As Steven lumbered across the lawn towards the open front door, he noticed me gawking at him from the front porch.

"You did this, Shy," he said, gesturing towards himself. "You did this to me."

"I'm not your Mom," I retorted, placing my hands on my hips. "You're an adult, you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself."

Before he could say anything, Oliver walked down the front porch steps and waved at his father.

"Hi Dad!"

"Hey, kiddo," Steven said while offering him a high five. Oliver tapped it with his own hand and giggled.

"Here's his overnight stuff," I said while offering my ex husband a plastic bag full of folded clothes, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. "Also, here's his backpack for school tomorrow. I sent you an email with the details for what time to drop him off at and pick him up."

Steven took the bag and backpack from my hands, passed them to his mother, then glared at me. "I need his books too."

"There's two books in his backpack," I began, not understanding what he was getting at.

"I want all of his books in his room."

"What?" I scoffed.

"I'm the one who paid for them since I'm the one who worked."

That's because you wouldn't let me get a job!

I wanted to yell at him, but Oliver was right there, so I swallowed my thoughts down my throat.

"That's unreasonable. We're going to court tomorrow. This is what our son needs for spending the night with you."

Steven walked past me and tried to barge into the house, but Clare's friends stood in the doorway, making sure he couldn't get in.

"Who are they?" Steven roared, pointing an accusing finger at me. "Are you fucking with them?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at his accusations, which made him even more furious. "Wow, really? You're going to curse in front of our son?"

"I said are you fucking with them?" Stephen yelled, his face growing increasingly red.

"Steven, calm down," his mother said from the lawn, her voice nervous.

"Let's just take Oliver and go," Steven's father said as he took his grandson's hand and made his way back towards the car. I noticed they had brought a carseat for Oliver to ride in.

Steven, still enraged, barreled his way across the lawn and headed towards the garage instead. Oliver's bike was parked in front of it.

"I'm taking this then!" my ex shouted, then grabbed the bicycle and dragged it towards the rental car.

"Hey! You can't do that!" Clare yelled from behind me. She ran up to Steven and grabbed the bike's seat. "You can't just show up and take whatever you want!"

"Clare, it's not worth fighting over," I said, but my words fell on deaf ears. Within seconds Steven and Clare were having a tugging contest over my son's bicycle.

Joe and the other three friends circled around the fighting pair, all of them unsure of what to do.

"Steven, we can't take that to the hotel," my ex mother in law said as she drew closer to her son.

"Listen to us!" my ex father in law commanded from the rental car. "Let the bike go."

Steven pushed Clare, causing her to fall to the ground, then let the bicycle fall to the ground. I immediately leapt forward and helped my sister back up.

"Just leave!" I shouted in exasperation at my ex. "Oliver, I love you!" I said in a softer tone in the direction of the rental car. "I'll see you later!"

"Sorry, he really is a kind boy," Steven's mom apologized, then grabbed her son's arm and led him away.

I resisted the urge to correct her. You're so delusional.

"You okay?" I asked Clare, who was brushing the dirt off her knees.

"Yeah," she huffed. "I recorded the whole thing on my phone."

I smiled and took my cell from my pocket. "Me too. All on audio recording."

Joe and her friends each raised their phones in the air. "Video recordings."

"Can you all send what you have to me?" I asked, then gave out my contact information. Within minutes, I had four different videos and two audio recordings of Steven cursing in front of Oliver and assaulting my sister.

"I bet I can use this in court tomorrow," I said, then looked at everyone's faces. "Thank you all for being there for me."

Even though Clare wasn't supportive of me playing music, at least she was there to fight against Steven with me. I was grateful for that, but then I remembered that she was still moving out of the house in another week.

I can't keep the house.

I watched Clare and her friends drive off before closing and locking the front door.

Salvador is right, I have to move out of here and live somewhere I can afford by myself.