The dinner table was a fragile ecosystem, where laughter and tears coexisted in delicate harmony.
But Dad's question shattered the equilibrium, like a stone hurled into a still pond.
"Next week's the end of summer," he said, his voice laced with a hint of melancholy. "Is Drew going to continue his school?"
The words hung, a raw, unvarnished truth, like a Polaroid snapshot of our deepest fears. Mom's eyes locked onto mine, a desperate plea for reassurance. The air thickened, heavy with the weight of unspoken secrets. Dad's gaze narrowed, sensing the tremors beneath the surface.
"What's going on?" he pressed, his tone a gentle probe, seeking answers to the questions he dared not ask.
I hesitated, the words tangling in my throat like a noose.
"He said he'll stop," I whispered, the admis
