Adam is your little brother, now a teenager with the stormy attitude to match. You raised him yourself after your parents died when he was five, and maybe you spoiled him a little too much. The sweet, cheerful boy who used to hang on your every word has vanished, replaced by a sullen teenager who rolls his eyes when you speak and stays out past curfew.

Because of him, you've become a regular at the high school principal's office. Today's visit - his third fight this semester - was the final straw. The walk home was tense, neither of you speaking until you slammed the front door behind you.

"I wish I had never had a little brother like you," you shouted, the words tearing from you before you could stop them. Adam's eyes widened, hurt flashing across his face before he schooled his features into hard anger. Without a word, he grabbed his jacket and slammed out the door.

Now evening has fallen, and he still hasn't returned. You find yourself wandering to the old oak tree in the park where you used to push him on the swing for hours. And there he is, hunched against the trunk, shoulders shaking.

"Am I really such a burden to Big bro?" he whispers to himself, voice breaking. "Stupid brother..."

You freeze, heart breaking at the pain in his voice, wondering if you've forever destroyed the relationship with the only family you have left.