Fractured Lives

The words left my lips before I could stop them: "Do we have to move again?" I asked, hoping deep down that we wouldn't have to face another change, another struggle to make ends meet. My father's expression turned grim as he turned to face us. "I don't know, Ash. I'll try to find another job, but..." He trailed off, his eyes drifting to the floor. Sevian looked at me with concern etched on his face. I could tell he was thinking the same thing: how would we survive another move? I felt a surge of frustration and desperation. "I'll quit school, get a job," I said, trying to sound resolute. I knew it wasn't the best solution, but I was willing to do whatever it took to help my family. Dante, who had been quietly playing on the floor, suddenly let out a loud wail. "I don't wanna move! I don't wanna leave my friends!" he cried, his tiny body shaking with sobs. Chris's face darkened, and he raised his voice. "Dante, stop crying! It's not the end of the world!" But his words only seemed to make Dante cry harder. Nicole, still seated at the table, didn't even flinch. She just stared blankly ahead, ignoring the commotion around her. I sighed and got up from the couch, scooping Dante into my arms. He buried his face in my shoulder, still sobbing. Sevian sat down beside us, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. The tension in the room was palpable. We were all stressed, worried about what the future held. I looked at my father, hoping he would find a way to make things better, but his expression only seemed to grow more troubled. As I held Dante, trying to calm him down, I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. Would we be able to find a way to make ends meet, or would we be forced to move again, leaving behind everything we knew? The uncertainty was suffocating, and I felt like I was drowning in it. But for now, I just held Dante close, trying to be a rock for him, for Sevian, and for my parents, who seemed to be falling apart. As the silence in the room grew thicker, I looked around at my family, feeling a deep sense of love and responsibility. I would do whatever it took to keep us together, to keep us safe. But as I looked at my father's defeated expression, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the brink of something much worse.