re scattered across the living room floor. A half-eaten bag of chips was

toy truck against the leg of the coffee

t was my one sanctuary in the apartment. B

rkling dust and broken wood, w

d. It was a delicate, hand-carved box from the 19

was de

I asked, my voice

p, his eyes wi

splintered piece of wood. The tiny ballerina

s hands on a towel. He must have bee

he broken music box in my hands. "Oh, that. Yeah, Billy

" I said, my voice tight. "And he's d

with a shrug. "No real harm do

tanding up. The cold anger was back, sha

my face, started to cry.

putting a protective arm around

staggered backward, and tripped over

med, pointing a trembling f

hell is

a mask of fury. She had just gotten home. She saw Billy crying on th

I tried to explain, my voice shak

he yelled, rushing to Billy's side. "Did y

said, my voice rising. "

man screaming at a child, are telling the truth?"

ve you, Liam. You've been jealous of Mark and B

just having a bad day." Then she turned to me, her eyes cold as ice. "Mark and Billy

ving me alone with the shattered remains of my past. They were taking over my home, m