Chapter 2Rewired: Saving My Psycho Brother

My dad, still having a full head of hair, pushed the door open. It was jarring to see; he went bald a few years later.

"Lily, your brother Kaelen has arrived downstairs. Go down and say hello. You'll be living together from now on."

I scrambled out of bed, not even bothering with shoes, and thundered down to the second-floor landing.

Downstairs, a thin, sharp boy stood ramrod straight in the living room, looking up at us with a mix of disdain and intensity.

I leaned over the railing, meeting his hostile gaze.

Stepmom nudged him slightly. "Kaelen, say hello to your sister."

Kaelen tugged the corner of his mouth in a challenging smirk and slowly said, "Nuisance."

Dad and Stepmom’s faces dropped, but I ran down the stairs barefoot, pat-pat-pat, right up to Kaelen and hugged him fiercely around the waist.

"Not a nuisance. I'm your sister."

I looked up, letting the tears stream down my face unchecked.

"Brother, this time, I won't let go of your hand no matter what."