M dialed the number, and the phone was answered almost immediately.


    "Hey, M."


    A hoarse and weary voice of a young man came through on the other end.


    "How are you feeling?" M asked, her concern genuine despite the peculiar nature of her brother-inw. They had shared a decent rtionship in the past, and her care for him was sincere.


    "I''m okay," Eugene replied, his voice still raspy. "Thank you, M. If it weren''t for you yesterday, I wouldn''t be here. You saved me again."


    M sighed inwardly, "Eugene, you need to stop putting yourself through this..."


    She wanted to tell him that no matter how much he tried, if his family didn''t love him, they just didn''t, and he was only causing himself pain. But she held back. These were realizations one had toe to on their own, and she understood that all too well.


    Instead, she offered some words offort, however feeble they might be, "Take care of yourself, eat well, and make sure..."


    Before she could finish, Eugene interrupted, "Why are you saying these things all of a sudden?"


    Eugene was perceptive and could sense something was off in her words.


    M decided there was no need to hide the truth from Eugene. He wasn''t close to the Montgomery family and seldom visited them. Even if he were closer, he wasn''t the type to spread gossip.


    "Eugene, your brother and I are getting a divorce."


    "I won''t be part of the Montgomery family anymore. Take care of yourself, and if anything happens, reach out to your brother. He cares about you. Last night, he..."


    Before she couldplete her sentence, Eugene''s voice rose, "M, are you leaving me too?"


    In his voice, M could hear the beginnings of tears.


    He choked out, "I''ve been cast out from the family since I was a child. No one cared for me until you came into the Montgomery family. You brought warmth into my life."


    "You cared for me, looked after me, and cooked meals that tasted like home. It was the first time I felt what family meant."


    "M, you are like a sister, a mother... you''re so important to me... And now, you''re leaving me too?"


    The phone carried the sound of his quiet sobs.


    M was at a loss. She hadn''t anticipated such a strong reaction from Eugene and found herself momentarily speechless.


    After a long pause, she finally said, "Eugene, I''m really sorry, but my mind is made up."


    This marriage had lingered longer than it should have, serving only to waste precious time. She couldn''t drag it on any longer.


    The sobs on the other end halted briefly, and Eugene''s voice, rougher than before, spoke again.


    "M, I support your decision to divorce. I''ve seen how poorly my brother treated you over the years."


    "But M, you can''t just lump me in with my brother."


    "You know I don''t have a good rtionship with the Montgomerys either, even less so than you. I just wanted to say..."


    He paused for a couple of seconds before continuing slowly, "I know divorces involve splitting assets, but can''t you take me with you? I can leave the Montgomerys and stay with you."


    "Don''t worry, I don''t eat much and I''m neen now. I''m smart enough to make my own living and won''t be a burden. I just want to be your family, M... I hope you''ll always care for me."


    M: "..."


    Did he even realize the outrageousness of what he was proposing?