I explained to Jacob that nobody shall be bothering him anymore, and that he could trust me about anything. Jacob was in the dining room with Mrs. Hutchinson, and I and we were all playing a board game together. "Don't tell me you went to the kid's house?"

Mrs. Hutchinson said, wondering.

I cleared my throat, and I explained to Mrs. Hutchinson that it was true, that I did go to the bully's house and confronted him. "I bet you were mad," Mrs. Hutchinson said. I chuckled, "I was more than mad, I was angry." I sighed, and made my turn to play the game. Jacob was flickering his fingers once again, and I sighed, trying to think of what I had to do to play the game.

Mrs. Hutchinson wanted to play the sorry board game to help distract myself from what's been happening. Jacob murmured and I told him it was okay. I sighed, just realizing that if my brother is going to prison, he will be trapped in a cell where people can't understand that he is autistic and that he needs me. I am going to do my best to serve justice for Jacob.

Mrs. Hutchinson just looked at me silently and I sighed, stroking my hair out of my eyes and I looked at Jacob. Then it was Jacob's turn to play the game, and I helped him. I took a deep breath and sighed, and Mrs. Hutchinson just continued to stare at me as she knew how much I loved and cared about Jacob.

I had my eyes closed and I was asleep. Jacob had walked in my room and I was lying flat on my back with my head tilted to the side of my pillow. I had one arm and hand over my stomach, and I was sound asleep.

Jacob then murmured and said,

"Ryan, wake up." I moaned, squeezing my eyes shut and I opened them. I blinked twice and squeezing my eyes once again, and I looked at Jacob and he was standing beside my bed and telling me he had a bad dream. I sighed, and I asked him if he had a bad dream and Jacob just shook his head, yes. "Okay, do you want to sleep with me again?" I asked.

Jacob shook his head, yes once again. I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. I scoot back from the edge of my bed to give Jacob room. He then lied down next to me and I covered Jacob with my blankets. Jacob then fell asleep, and I did as well.

I could've gone to visit mom and dads grave, but it was super far away. I was cleaning up the basement, and doing some housework and I had come across this box. I bent on my knees, I opened the lid and saw old photos of my parents and Jacob and I all together smiling. We looked like a normal and happy family. My mother and father were looking at each other smiling and Jacob was just five and I was fifteen. I swallowed continuing to look at the other pictures, I was blowing Jacobs candles for him at Jacobs seventh birthday party.

Mom and dad were happy as well in this photo, I sighed, just remembering all the good times we had when my parents were still alive. I put the pictures back in the box, and I covered the lid, and I sighed, just feeling like I needed to cry again.

I swallowed, and was holding back my tears. First my parents are killed, and now my brother is accused of a possible crime that could send him to prison for the rest of his life. I sniffed, wiping my tears, and Mandy was calling my name, after she noticed I was down the basement while marching the stairs. Mandy was over at my house today to take Jacob to the park, and she told me she was ready to leave, because Mrs. Hutchinson had caught the flu.

I was trying my best not to cry, and Mandy noticed I was upset. She asked me if I was okay, as she continued her way downstairs. She bent on her knees, and Mandy then started to rub my back and I took a deep breath and sighed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Mandy asked.

I shook my head, no.

"I don't think I can go on like this anymore," I said before wiping my tears once again. "I barely feel like I am drowning, ya know? I feel like everyone is against me." I said, in a heartbreaking voice.

Mandy then rubbed the back of my head. "My brother isn't a murderer, Mandy. He isn't a freaking murderer!" Mandy noticed my face was full of tears and I couldn't stop crying. "I can't– can't bear this pain anymore, it's too much!" I sighed, just feeling like a freak, and Mandy was shushing me. She and I hugged super tight, and I cried into Mandy's arms as she rubbed my back and feeling sorry for me.

Jacob and Mandy decided to skip the park today to keep me company. I was sitting next to Mandy on the couch and I was explaining to her what exactly had happened to my parents since I told Mandy a lie that they died in a car accident instead of telling her they were murdered. I told Mandy I was just eighteen, and Jacob was eight. I had no choice but to take care of Jacob because I knew he needed me. Mandy was listening to me carefully as she was holding my hand. I was just having a hard time adjusting.

After I explained what happened, Mandy then apologized and she sighed. Mandy couldn't even imagine how it must have felt for me losing my parents at a young age.

I sighed, closing my eyes and wiped my tears once again. I was still pretty teary. "I am so so sorry, Ryan, for everything you are going through, and for what happened to your parents." I understood, shaking my head. I thanked Mandy, softly smiling as I looked at her. Mandy then took her hand and rubbed my cheek. "I love you," Mandy softly said. I softly chuckled smiling, "I love you, too."