At dinner, my brother sneered, ‘still single, huh? must be lonely being a failure.’ my parents chuckled – so i smiled and said, ‘funny coming from a guy whose rent i’ve paid for 3 years. not anymore, by the way.’

Not because he had changed.

Not because he had apologized.

But because I had finally built something valuable, and they wanted him to have access to it.

“Does he want to apologize?” I asked.

My mother looked down.

“He doesn’t know how to approach you.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

She remained silent.

I leaned forward.

“Does he admit that he stole my work?”

“He made mistakes.”

“Does he admit that he lied to Richard?”

“Derek, please.”

“Does he admit that he used me for money for three years and then publicly humiliated me?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“He’s still your brother.”

I nodded.

“And I’m still his brother. But that doesn’t mean I have to keep letting him hurt me.”

She stood up.

“You’ve changed.”

I looked at her and gave a small smile.

“No, Mom. I think I’m finally becoming the person I should have been years ago.”