The Outsider in My Own Family

My wife forgot to log out of her messages on my laptop.

I was about to close the window for her when a notification popped up on the screen.

Tonight's family dinner is a celebration for Dylan's promotion.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked on the group.

There were only four people in it.

My dad, my mom, my wife, and my cousin, Dylan Reed.

My wife, Sera, replied, "It'll just be the four of us. Don't invite Leo Sterling."

"He's always so petty anyway. Remember when he fought Dylan over a damn apple?"

I froze. It turned out I had been an outsider in my own home for a long time.

01

Right then, my phone buzzed. It was Sera.

"Leo, I have some stuff to take care of, so I'll be home late tonight."

"Take the laundry off the rack on the balcony and fold it for me."

"Oh, and my parents and Dylan are busy today too."

"Don't wait up for us. Just find something to eat on your own."

She hung up before I could even get a word in.

I walked out to the balcony.

The sight of everyone's clothes hanging there made my mind go blank.

The signs had been there all along.

I was just the one lying to myself.

I didn't know when I started becoming a stranger to this family.

Earlier that day, I had grabbed the last apple in the house.

Dylan said he wanted it, and the whole family demanded I give it up.

I cut the apple in half to share it with him.

But all I got was a lecture from my wife.

"Half an apple? That's not even a snack!"

She snatched the piece from Dylan's hand and threw it in the trash.

Then she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door.

"Come on, Dylan! Your sister-in-law will buy you as many as you want!"

My mother had glared at me, her teeth clenched.

"Are you really that pathetic? Fighting Dylan over a piece of fruit?"

My father just sat there, acting like it had nothing to do with him.

I used to think they acted this way because Dylan was a guest.

I thought they were just being extra nice since he was staying with us.

I was wrong.

I was the guest. I was the intruder.

I gathered the clothes, folded them, and put them in their respective rooms.

Their beds looked soft and inviting.

I glanced at the folding cot I had set up on the balcony. A wave of bitterness washed over me.

It started the second morning Dylan moved in.

He had dark circles under his eyes.

Sera asked him if he had slept okay.

He acted shy and said he wasn't used to sharing a room with anyone.

So, I was the one told to move my bed to the balcony.

His parents had just passed away, and I felt sorry for his loss.

I didn't want my parents to feel awkward, so I agreed willingly.

But my kindness only invited more cruelty.

Because I was understanding, I had to give up everything for him.

Because I was understanding, my mom only did Dylan's laundry while I did my own.

Because I was understanding, I became the unpaid servant of the house.

But they weren't like this before he arrived.

They used to love me. What changed?

I sat on my cot, aimlessly scrolling through social media.

I saw a post from a burner account Dylan used.

In the photo, my parents, my wife, and Dylan were all laughing.

They looked like a perfect, happy family.

The caption read: "Thank you to my godparents and my sister-in-law for giving me a second home."

The comments were just as painful.

"Congrats! A family like that is a true blessing."

"So happy for you. Wishing you guys eternal happiness."

I hit the like button on the post.

Then, I typed a comment: "I hope your family stays happy forever."

A few seconds later, the post vanished.

He probably forgot that he had followed me on that burner account once.

A moment later, my phone rang.

"Hey, Leo. Don't read too much into that post. I was just messing around."

02

I laughed.

His ability to act like a saint while being a devil was truly impressive.

In front of my parents and Sera, he was the innocent, grieving boy.

Behind their backs, he acted like the king of the castle because he knew he was the favorite.

I had endured it all.

He could take anything from me, and the family would just call me petty.

I tried to explain myself once, but they only scolded me more.

Since I didn't respond to his call, Dylan's voice started to crack with fake tears.

"Leo, you're mad, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I just I just wanted to feel loved"

He started sobbing into the phone.

Before I could say a word, Sera's voice boomed from the background.

"Leo Sterling, that is enough! It was just one post! Why are you always such a jerk?"

"You've made Dylan cry. Apologize to him right now!"

My heart felt like it was sinking into a cold abyss.

I hadn't even done anything, yet I was the one who had to apologize.

I let out a cold laugh. "Apologize? For what? What did I do wrong?"

Sera was fuming.

"You know exactly what you did! Upsetting Dylan is the same as upsetting this entire family!"

"I don't care what your excuse is. Apologize, or I'll make you regret it!"

My mom's voice filtered through the line next.

"Sera, don't talk to Leo like that. He's still your husband."

Then, she addressed me directly.

"Leo, don't take Sera's words to heart."

"We're just having a quick dinner together. Don't be so sensitive about it."

Hearing my mother's voice made my chest tighten.

I said coldly, "You don't need to explain. You guys are the real family here, after all."

That comment set my mother off.

Her voice sharpened instantly.

"Leo! How can you say something so heartless?"

"So what if we didn't bring you to dinner? Are you really going to make a scene over this?"

"If you're that hungry, I'll Venmo you thirty bucks so you can gorge yourself."

A second later, a notification popped up on my phone showing the transfer.

"There. I sent the money. Now drop this nonsense."

She hung up on me.

I laughed out loud, but it was a dry, hollow sound.

If this was what family and love looked like, I didn't want any part of it.

I dialed my best friend's number.

"Hey, Zane. That project you mentioned is the offer still open?"

Zane answered immediately. "Of course it is!"

"Leo, I've been waiting for you to join my team forever!"

"When can you get here? I'll book your flight right now."

I didn't hesitate for a single second.

"Tomorrow. As soon as possible."

After I hung up, a strange sense of peace settled over me.

Zane had asked me to join him dozens of times, but I always said no because it was too far from home.

My dream was to stay close to the people I loved.

But now, I was finally done.

03

It was nearly midnight when the four of them returned.

The air in the living room reeked of expensive wine and celebration.

I was in the middle of packing my bags.

When they saw what I was doing, my parents' expressions shifted instantly.

My mom rushed over and snatched a shirt out of my hand, throwing it on the floor.

"Leo Sterling, what the hell is this? Are you trying to run away?"

"I already sent you the money! Why are you still throwing a tantrum?"

I slowly picked up the shirt and looked her straight in the eye.

"A tantrum? Is that what you think this is?"

"I saw the group chat. Did any of you ever consider me part of this family?"

My mom's face went pale.

"Leo, let me explain"

I sneered. "Save it. I don't want this house or this family anymore."

My dad finally spoke up, but his words were dripping with judgment.

"It's just a group chat. It doesn't mean anything."

"Leo, you're being incredibly small-minded."

Small-minded?

Fine. Let them think that.

They were always going to make me the villain anyway.

I ignored them and went back to packing.

Sera stepped forward to block my path.

"Leo, did you look through my messages?"

Dylan suddenly burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

"If I hadn't come here, the family wouldn't be falling apart like this."

He reached out and grabbed my arm.

"Leo, please don't be mad at me."

"If anyone should leave, it's me. You're the one who belongs here."

I shoved his arm away.

"Cut the act, Dylan. I'm not buying your fake tears anymore."

I didn't use much force, but Dylan stumbled back and hit the corner of the table.

Sera caught him just in time.

She shielded him behind her back and shoved me hard.

I wasn't expecting it, and I crashed heavily onto the floor.

My knee hit the hardwood with a sickening crack, and tears of pain stung my eyes.

She didn't look guilty at all.

In fact, she looked satisfied.

"That's what you get for putting your hands on Dylan! Consider it a lesson!"

"Maybe now you'll think twice before acting out!"

My mom looked like she was about to help me up for a split second.

But then Dylan started sobbing even louder.

"Mom, Dad maybe I should just go. I'm only causing trouble."

My mother didn't even look at me again. She pulled Dylan into a hug.

"Don't say that, sweetheart. We'd never let you leave. We're all you have."

She turned to me, her eyes filled with nothing but disappointment.

"Leo, you've gone way too far this time."

"I'm truly ashamed of you."

Ashamed?

A twisted smile touched my lips.

She wanted me to let Dylan walk all over me, and I did it.

She wanted me to be the bigger person, and I was.

What was she so disappointed about?

Was she mad that I finally stopped being Dylan's punching bag?

Or was she mad that I finally saw through their lies?

But Mom, I'm a human being.

I have dignity too.

My dad tried to play the peacemaker.

"Leo, your mother is seriously angry now."

"Just apologize to Dylan, and we can put this whole mess behind us."

Apologize. Always apologize.

From start to finish, I was always the one who had to say sorry.

Not this time.

I looked up at them, my voice cold and steady.

"I am not apologizing."

Sera lost it. She stepped toward me, her eyes wild.

"Then I'll see if your pride is stronger than my fist!"

The next thing I knew, her foot connected with my ribs.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and I coughed it up onto the floor.

Sera didn't stop. She kept screaming insults at me.

"Leo Sterling, stop faking it!"

"I'm telling you, if you don't say you're sorry, I'll keep going until you do!"

She raised her foot again.

My dad finally grabbed her. "Sera, stop. He's your husband!"

Sera snapped back, "That's exactly why he needs to be taught a lesson!"

"He's so damn petty. He's an embarrassment to me!"

"I have to make sure he remembers this!"

My mom chimed in from the side.

"Leo, don't blame us for favoring Dylan."

"Look at the way you're acting! I remember when you used to be such a good, obedient boy."

She led Dylan toward his room without another glance at me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dylan smirking at me.

His look said it all: "See? You'll always lose to me."

"Everything you haveDyour house, your parentsDit's all mine now."

Sera, seeing that my mother didn't care, turned back to me like a predator.

My dad saw my mom walk away and decided not to interfere anymore. He went to his own room.

Sera cracked her knuckles.

"I'm giving you one last chance to apologize to Dylan."

"My hands aren't exactly gentle, Leo."

"Don't take a beating for nothing. You'll end up apologizing anyway."

I looked at her and realized I didn't know this woman at all.

She was never particularly warm, but she was never a monster.

Now, she looked at me like I was a criminal who deserved to be flayed alive.

Our problems weren't even that big, but she was ready to destroy me.

Dylan had played them all like fiddles.

First my mom, then my dad, and now my wife.

They were all willing to hurt me for his sake.

I laughed through the pain. "Even if you kill me, I won't apologize."

Sera began to slap me, one hard blow after another.

I didn't make a sound.

Compared to the pain in my heart, this was nothing.

Eventually, my dad came back out to stop her.

"That's enough. We don't want a body on our hands."

Sera seemed bored and finally walked away.

The house fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.

I lay on the cold floor, thinking about every year I had spent with them.

After a while, I heard my parents whispering in their room.

"Do you think we went too far tonight?"

"No. Leo was out of line. He needed to learn a lesson."

"I'll just cook him something nice tomorrow to make up for it."

"You know how he is. He lives for this family. He'll get over it."

I smiled. Because they knew I loved them, they thought they could treat me like garbage.

My phone vibrated.

It was a text from Zane with my flight info for the morning.

I dragged myself up, grabbed my ID, and walked out the front door.

The moment the door clicked shut, I felt a massive weight lift off my shoulders.

I was getting a divorce.

And I was done with this family.