I dropped the basin of water and shoved Seth hard, trying to force him out. He managed to break free and leaned down toward my brother with that mocking smile still plastered on his face.
“You know why your brother won’t divorce his wife?” he said, laughing. “Because of you. Meanwhile, she’s out every night screwing around with whoever she pleases.”
“You’re just dead weight, you know that?”
I snapped. I stormed forward and smacked his face, hard. Seth lost his balance and fell straight onto the soaked bedsheets my brother had just soiled.
The boy screamed, flailing like a madman. In turn, he shoved my brother off the bed. Everything crashed at once—monitors, wires, machines. I saw the oxygen tube rip out.
A moment later, the beeping turned into a steady flatline.
Seth froze.
Luna walked in just then and he immediately scrambled behind her like a scared little boy, clutching her arm.
“Professor Luna… Cyrus hit me again…”
I stared at the chaos in front of me, my mind buzzing. I’d thought about letting go so many times, but I never imagined it would happen like this.
I looked down at my brother’s lifeless body and something on his right hand caught my eye—a small black mole.
Just moments ago, I had seen that same hand yank out his own oxygen tube. My brother had ended his own life.
Luna clearly hadn’t expected things to spiral out of control like this. She cleared her throat a few times.
“Look,” she said, her voice surprisingly calm. “Seth won’t hold it against you for hitting him. Let’s just forget about today. Let it go.”
“Your brother’s been paralyzed for so many years. Honestly, a man living like that with no dignity is worse than dying with some honor.”
Her words were casual, like she was talking about something trivial. Yet, they had stolen my brother’s life away.
“Is your dad in more debt again?” she continued, almost bored. “Four hundred fifty thousand dollars, right? I’ll take care of it for you.”
“Cy, stop causing trouble.”
She spoke like she was tossing a coin to a beggar, giving me just enough to dismiss me. After a few more dismissive words, she left.
Cy… She hadn’t called me that in five years.
I wanted to laugh, but there was also the sting of tears behind my eyes. What I felt most, though, was relief.
Finally, I was free.
It was time for all to end.