My brother kept a respectful distance, speaking calmly, never raising his voice or stepping toward the door. He even mentioned that he understood the boundaries I’d set and wasn’t asking for access to the house or anyone’s money. He only wanted to let our parents know he was trying to build a better version of himself.
Watching that moment, I realized how much time I had spent expecting the worst from him, to the point where I had never considered the possibility of genuine change. Whether or not this was permanent, the effort he showed that day felt sincere. Later that night, I called him for the first time in years.
