There was quarreling downstairs, and I couldn't sleep. It was 2: 00 am, in the freaking morning, and here I was awake and losing beauty sleep. I tried to close my eyes and stack the pillows on my head but the shouts bore through.

It was definitely very awful, but then I heard my name. It piqued my interest so I got out of bed and hid in the staircase where it was dark. From where I was hiding I had a good view of the kitchen and living room.

"Look at yourself. You need to be a man and stay strong for Lex. She lost her mother too."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what got over me." My dad apologized with his head down like he was ashamed of something.

"Drinking, smoking and doing drugs is not going to change what happened. You reek of whiskey. GO CLEAN YOURSELF UP!" Ma shouted at him and I could see the raw expression on her face, disgust dripping from her voice.

My dad snapped. "You're no better than I am. Kaye invited you to Thanksgiving dinner every year and what did you do? You told her you couldn't make it because you were 'busy'."

"Yes, I was busy with the firm. You know that Richard" her voice simmered like she was trying to convince herself.

"Pathetic. That's what you say. Even though you were probably in England sleeping around with some random strippers, drinking and playing poker. Celebrating and having a heck of a time. Then you show up on the day before the funeral, crying as you cared. We called your phone, your workplace and left millions of voicemails. You have no right to judge me."

"Greg is not a stripper!" she defended.

"Get out of my house you hag!" my dad bellowed. My heart clenched.

"Shut your filthy mouth Richard" she warned.

"You're a sorry excuse for a mother. Make sure you're out of my house by 10:00 am today."

"But what will Lex say?" she worriedly asked. My heart jumped and raced like an antelope at the sudden mention of my name.

"Make something up like you always do. You are good at that." He shouted the reply as he walked towards the staircase.

It took me a while to register that he was coming my way but I got away just in time.

I had just witnessed a family feud.