The Lust List

Sigh. I turn up the volume on my headphones to the maximum to drown out the screaming coming from the kitchen downstairs. I lean my head back into my pillow and close my eyes. Why can't they just go to a marriage counselor like a normal couple with marital problems? I feel a tap on my arm and I open my eyes, seeing my younger brother Caleb standing beside my bed. I pull out my earbuds and smile, "Hey, Caleb, what's up?" "They're fighting again." "I know," I murmur as I motion for him to come sit beside me on the bed. He looks down and sits on my bed, resting his head on my shoulder. "It'll be okay, Caleb, I promise." He pulls away and looks up at me with glossy eyes, "How do you know that though? They've been at this for months now. It feels like they're never going to stop." "I just do, okay?" I smile softly and ruffle his hair, "Mom and dad love each other very much, nothing can ever split them apart." Footsteps echo down the hallway and mom appears in my doorway, her expression hard. "You two, please go collect some boxes from downstairs and pack up your rooms. We're leaving by the end of the week." My jaw goes slack and for a moment, I'm unable to form a coherent sentence. Caleb does it for me, "What? Why?" "You heard me, Caleb," Mom says roughly. "Your father and I are getting a divorce. Start packing, now." "Are you kidding me?" Caleb jumps off my bed, his eyes wide. "You can't do this to us! You can't just leave dad!" He quickly stands and runs after her as I sit frozen on my bed, unable to process what she just said. Divorce?