I Knitted a Blanket from My Late Mom’s Sweaters for My Baby Brother – My Stepmother Threw It in the Dumpster, but Then My Grandma Made Her Regret It

“If you do, you’ll be out of this house. Understand?”

Andrew woke up again after midnight. I had barely fallen asleep when his crying started again.

I changed his diaper, rocked him, and whispered, “It’s okay, buddy. It’s okay.”

By the third time, I felt like a zombie. My eyes burned from exhaustion.

When my alarm rang for school the next morning, I almost cried.

I dragged myself to the bus stop while yawning every few steps. Melissa stood on the porch, watching me leave. She looked pleased.

My eyes burned from exhaustion.

***

At school, I could barely stay awake.

My best friend, Lily, nudged my arm. “Hey, are you okay?”

I shook my head.

At lunch, I told her everything.

Lily stared at me with wide eyes. “That’s insane!”

“I don’t know what to do. Melissa told me that if I tell Grandma, she’ll kick me out.”

“That’s insane!”

“You can’t live like this,” Lily said firmly.

“What choice do I have?”

“Tell your grandmother.”

I hesitated.

“Your grades are going to crash if you keep losing sleep,” Lily advised. “That punishment could last forever if no one stops it.” She lowered her voice. “Besides, if they actually kick you out, wouldn’t your grandmother take you in?”

“Tell your grandmother.”

Slowly, I nodded.

Lily sat back. “Then there you go.”

***

By the time the final bell rang that afternoon, my decision had been made.

Instead of going home, I took a taxi straight to Grandma’s house.

The moment she opened the door and saw my face again, her expression darkened.

“What happened now?”

I burst into tears again and told her everything.

My decision had been made.

Grandma listened. When I finished, she muttered, “I really didn’t want to do this.” For the second time in a few days, she grabbed her keys. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?” I asked weakly.

“Back to your house. This time we’re finishing the conversation.”

***