Falling Into Euphoria

Chapter 4 : Breaking Points

The tension from earlier hadn't left; it hung in the house like smoke, thick and suffocating. Derek's words from yesterday echoed in my mind, unrelenting. I couldn't stop thinking about what he had said - about Ethan "not being Dad's blood." And now, as he stumbled into the living room again, reeking of alcohol and chemicals, I knew the storm wasn't over.

"Tell me, Alisha," Derek spat suddenly, voice sharp and venomous, "are you sure Caleb is even Dad's son?"

My stomach dropped. Caleb, my little brother, looked up at Derek, his small frame trembling. I stepped in front of him instinctively. "Derek... stop it!" I shouted, my voice louder than I meant. "Don't say that to him!"

Ethan's jaw tightened. He had been calm, measured before, but the last straw had been crossed. He stepped forward, eyes blazing. And then, before I could stop him, his fist connected with Derek's face. The room seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. Derek staggered back, stunned, fury igniting in his eyes.

"You think you can hit me?!" Derek yelled, wiping his lip. "I've had enough of all of you!"

The fight was on. Chairs scraped across the floor. Fists flew. Shouts and curses filled the air. Mom screamed, trying to intervene, but neither boy would listen. I grabbed Caleb's hand, pulling him close. "Stay back! Stay safe!" I cried, my heart racing. My hands shook as I tried to keep him calm, trying to be the anchor I desperately wished existed for all of us.

Finally, I yelled, "DEREK! STOP IT!" The sound of my own voice cracked, and for a moment, it seemed to reach him. His eyes met mine, wild and dangerous, and then he stopped.

He leaned against the wall, breathing hard, glaring at all of us. "Don't follow in Mom's footsteps," he muttered, his voice rough. "Don't..." His words trailed off. I didn't understand what he meant, but something about the way he said it made my chest tighten.

Ethan's voice cut in, low and steady. "Alisha, don't listen to him. He's not thinking straight."

I nodded slowly, but inside, I couldn't shake the words. Derek wasn't just angry; he was broken. And I didn't know how to fix it, or how to protect myself from it.

After he stormed out again, the house felt unbearably quiet. Caleb clung to me, silent, tears slipping down his cheeks. I held him close, whispering words I didn't fully believe myself. I went to my room, closing the door, shutting out the sounds of the world. But shutting it out didn't work. Derek's face, Ethan's fist, Mom's terrified expression - all of it replayed in my mind over and over.

I sank onto my bed, hugging myself, trying to make sense of it. My chest ached, my hands trembled, and I couldn't stop thinking about how fragile everything had become. The weight of grief, fear, and anger pressed down on me, heavier than I thought a sixteen-year-old could bear.

Downstairs, I could hear Mom and Ethan speaking quietly. Their words were muffled but urgent. I strained to listen. "...we'll go ahead with the move this week... once the lawyers finish," Ethan said.

Mom's voice was soft but resolute. "It's for the best. A fresh start... we need it."

I stayed in my room, staring at the ceiling, feeling small and helpless. The house wasn't safe, the family wasn't safe, and I wasn't sure if I could be strong enough to hold any of it together. All I knew was that life had shifted again, and the cracks were only getting bigger.