It's over. I've lost my sister and who I thought was my best friends over their infatuation for each other. But now, I lose what's left my dignity, as well. Paige has just kicked me out from my house. The one I've worked my ass off on. The one I thought would be my forever home.

Now, it's hers, at least for now. My only hope is that she'll return it to me once she decides to settle at a new place with her beloved Ryan. How can she be so cruel? How can she act so petty only because I questioned her motives and, most importantly, her honesty?

This is proof that she cares little about me and has no hesitation in ruining my life over an argument that could've been sorted out differently. Speaking of that other limey prick, he can get lost, as well. That disastrous hangout has nothing but proven that he faked his supposed good nature all the time.

I can't believe I wasted my time with such an idiot. I can't believe I had to satisfy Paige's whims and accept her toxic behavior to maintain the status quo. I can't believe I have to go back to Mom and Dad's, where endless criticism and belittling awaits me.

What can I do?

***

Work is miserable. I am miserable. There are no other words to describe my sense of despair. Katelyn Blythe, whom I despise as much as my backstabbing sister and ex friend, takes advantage of my dark mood to add salt to the wound.

She passes by and asks, "Again out of your own place, Parkhurst, huh? When will you grow some balls?" These words are enough for me to consider hurling her in the outer space with a punch. However, I choose to stay silent and make her believe her words don't hurt me at all.

She continues. "Are you going to finally find a chick for yourself? I mean, you're still single and desperate." On one hand, she does have a point. On the other, though, she's on the same boat as me. No guy want a ditzy cow as a girlfriend.

"Be sure I'd rather be alone for life than date someone like you. Fuck off." Her face turns beet red. She clicks her heels out of here, ready to report me to the manager for cursing her and get me into further trouble. My job is the last thing I have left. I can't lose it like my fucking dignity.

Good. My grim prediction has just turned true. Our boss, Mrs. Moseley, has just taken in Katelyn's complaint, and is now at my desk, hands on her hips and a menacing glare directed at me. I'm likely to be jobless within the next thirty minutes, I know.

"So, Edward, I see you haven't changed your brash ways towards your colleagues. And, no, I won't take the 'no nonsense attitude' bullshit anymore! It's obvious you have an agenda against poor Katelyn!" Is she serious? It's painfully obvious she has a hard on that brat. She doesn't even try to hide it!

Katelyn, who has joined her, crosses her arms and gives me a smug look. I expect her to laugh as soon as Moseley pronounces these words. Unfortunately for them, I catch the two witches by surprise. "Don't worry, boss, I know what you mean. You can save your breath. I'm quitting."

"Good riddance," is Moseley's mere answer. Katelyn bursts into laughter, which means her reign of terror can continue unbothered. That's not necessarily bad news for me, since I'm out of here. None of my other colleagues show an ounce of sympathy towards me.

Fine. Now I really have nothing to lose anymore.

***

Single, broke, jobless and... broken. I sit on the old cream couch at my parents', never laying my eyes on them. I only look down, ashamed of what I made of myself. An utter idiot. I'm not ready for Mom and Dad to chastise me again for my lack of follow through my scarce ambitions and, eventually, disown me, but at the same time I see it coming.

Mom's reaction to my cold stare at the floor startles me. "Eddie, it's clear you've hit rock bottom. Well, the truth is, your father and I also did." They've never struck me as someone who faced immense struggles, either financially or emotionally. This means only one thing: they've been successful at sweeping it under the rug for so many years.

She sits next to me, putting a hand on my right shoulder, and sighs. "I didn't have it easy in my twenties. Before meeting your father, I used to have another boyfriend. I was deeply in love with him and thought he was the one I'd marry." It really looks like she was so invested in this relationship, to the point that she'd sacrifice herself over that dude. I wonder what drifted them apart from each other.

"One day, I was supposed to visit him and his family for Easter. Unfortunately, I found out he had passed away two days before in a terrible crash. I learnt it through the news." It must've been extremely painful for her to deal with such turmoil and grieve. I can imagine his family suffered a lot, and maybe still do, for his loss.

Mom's story is a climax of scathing surprises. "I went to his funeral, but I wasn't well welcomed there. His parents accused me of being greedy and an attention seeker. I left quietly since it was their place to mourn and didn't want to cause any discussions."

"Then, what?"

"They started smearing my name. I had to leave my beloved hometown over that incident, and have never returned after since. I didn't even say your grandparents goodbye properly. I had no other choice if I didn't want to be lynched." That's terrible. What if Ryan and Paige are like those two insensitive monsters, making sure I'm isolated and have to run away like a fucking thief?

I feel sorry for Mom. I should've shown more affection to her and Dad instead of taking for granted they only care about Paige. I should see my parents as inspiration to restart, to build a new life for myself, away from the toxic people that suck my vital energy from me and feed off it.

Dad takes seat at my right. He points at me to look at him. "Listen, Eddie, I don't want to see you that beaten down again. You know I hate to see you like that. Remember you can count on me, and on your mother, too. Just, believe in yourself more. You're no less than your sister."

I scratch my head, struggling to keep my cool. "Do you really have to mention her, Dad? After what she's done?"

"You have a point, Eddie. But, hey, she made a poor choice. She'll either snap out of it in time to be wiser, or live to regret her decisions." That's not simply a poor choice. That was betrayal. And, worst still, who was supposed to be my best friend was part of it.

Mom intervenes. "How about we have some tea? Just to unwind, to forget negative thoughts... What do you think?"

"Sure, I'd love a cup of tea," I answer. "Are there any cookies, as well?"

"You're lucky, darling. I baked a lot this morning." Exactly what I want to hear now. Mom knows how to strike the right chords. If only I'd realized earlier...