Page 71 of My best friends little sister

I leave angelicas room knowing she is fully unconscious and wont be awake for hours. Yet theres still that doubt, that worry in the back of my mind that i shouldn't leave her alone.

Shes safe Dante. She wont wake up. She cant hurt herself

I try to remind myself that nothing will happen if i just leave for a couple minutes but I'm scared. I dont think i can do that again. Just seeing her like that, completely out of touch with reality and so fucking close to ending her life. God it broke me.

He will set aside his own feelings to help anyone else in need.

I realised that probably too late in our friendship.

Around 17. Ever since then ive made it known to him that he doesnt have to hide his feelings around me just for my sake.

Sometimes its nice to just feel together you know?

Cry together, punch shit together, drink away our feelings together.

Thats what friends do.

I read through the digital file.

Name: Theodore James Brooks

Age: 4 years old

Parents: Dominic William Brooks, Anastasia Mai Brooks (deceased)

His mother died during childbirth and his father resented the fact Theo was still alive but his wife wasn't.

He started drinking and doing drugs. Spending their money on substances instead of basic needs for Theo

Started beating Theo before he even turned one.

Theres multiple hospital records recording injuries Theo had from 9 months old to recent. Some without reasons and others with stupid reasoning like 'fell down the stairs' or 'fell off a swing'

He was enrolled in school but attended no more than 8 classes in his life.

Hospital photos of his bruised body. X-rays of internal damages and broken bones. All of this was recorded and not once were police or child services involved?

I shake my head trying to shake away their words. Theyre wrong. Theyre wrong about everything. I look up at sully and he gives me a blank expression ''sully?'' i plead for an answer. Anything, i just need his advice.

He sighs and looks at both Ivan and Mateo.

''While theyre both right...you also have to view it from Theo's perspective.

This little boy has only ever known abuse.

He then gets taken away and told that hes now safe, but then you just hand him over to someone else?

Somebody new he has to learn to trust? And then theres the risk they'll be worse than his father.

This isn't an easy choice to make and its one both you and angelica will have to discuss and make together''

I look at Theo in that chair and imagine what it would be like to be him. He would stay with us for probably weeks if not a few months until hes healthy, by then he will have learned to trust us and then all of that is shattered because we have to give him up.

The thought of him going to a family that is worse than his father makes me feel sick. Imagining a life like angelica had for this tiny little boy. I cant do it. I cant let it happen.

Ive been sat beside angel all night. I haven't slept, i haven't eaten, i haven't left my seat not even for the bathroom.

Mateo and sully left with Theo to get him set up at home but Ivan has stayed, occasionally going back and forth to give me updates on Theo and give Mateo updates on angelica.

I dont turn when i hear the door open because i know its Stefan. Hes come in every few hours just to monitor angel and make sure shes still okay. Head injuries are very serious especially when they lead to concussions.

I immediately shake my head ''no. Last time i was told to 'go freshen up' while angelica was in the hospital, her heart fucking stopped''

The thing i notice the most is that she said Dante. She said my name. Shes talking to me because she knows I'm here. Not her father

I notice the panic instantly on her face, her eyes wide and her arms trying desperately to break free. ''N-no, no why? Why cant i move?''

Tears fill her eyes at the memory and she tries to stand from the bed. ''Hey, hey. Easy. he's okay'' i push her back down on the bed and keep my hand firmly on her stomach, holding her down.

I look at Stefan and then back to angel. ''I came in here and you were completely spaced out and just, not thinking straight. You thought i was your father and kept begging me not to hurt you'' she looks shocked and its obvious now that she was 100% out of it.

She nods slowly as he talks, taking in all the information and trying to process it.

''I'm going to get you a prescription for antipsychotics.

I wanted to prescribe them to you a few months ago but I decided to hold off based on the progress you had been making with therapy, however this was a very serious incident.

I think it would be beneficial to start taking them now''

She doesnt protest like i expected her to. She says nothing and just nods her head accepting the decision. Stefan looks at me a little confused because this is unlike angel but i just give him a small smile.

He leaves the room, leaving me and angel alone.

She stares at me blankly for what feels like 5 minutes but was probably only a couple seconds before nodding slowly. ''d-do you think...we should take him in?''

I freeze

I didn't expect those words from her, at least not so soon.