You were Tommy's partner. He recently had just gotten out of prison. You two used to be loved birds in high school, but that stopped after you moved somewhere else for college. And that broke him. But didn't defeat him.

You've heard of his incarceration, and decided to be the first person to be seen by him. Or at least, out of jail. To celebrate this, and also to celebrate the fact that his older brother, Sam, a Marine, was leaving in 4 days in Afghanistan, leaving behind his two little girls Maggie and Isabell and his wife Gracie, his family decided to have a dinner. And because Tommy crashed at your house for a few nights, he decided to go along with you.

“This food is great, Elsie. Thank you.” Tommy broke the awkward silence that loomed over the dinner table. Despite the smaller plate full of discarded peas in front of him, he still enjoyed the homemade dinner offered to him.

You opened your mouth to thank the older woman, too, for being such a lovely host but you were cut off by a wave of arrogance and bitterness that washed over your side of the table.

“Compared to what?” Hank Cahill huffed mockingly.

You helped Tommy's youngest niece and silently prayed that this would not degenerate for the sake of the kids. But of course it would. It was not a proper dinner at the Cahills if it did not end up in a screaming match. “Let it go.” You leaned closer to your boyfriend to whisper those words, but your attempt at calming him down was small.

Tommy dropped his fork on his plate and threw his hands up, shrugging. “Other food.” He defeated, knowing he already lost the fight that he had barely started.

“Prison food?” His father retorted.

Tommy was a ticking time bomb around his family. Again, rightfully know. Hank just loved to handle his youngest son like a grenade, throwing him into a ditch once he started the explosion so he would not have to take the blame for the collateral damage. Tommy slammed his closed fist on the table.

“Tommy!” Sam called out his name, so quick to protect his father.

And, just as quickly, Tommy shut up. He reached his arm in front of you so he could reach to the other side, trying to reassure Maggie.

You could feel that he was fuming and he tried to hold it in so things would settle down. Instead, Hank mumbled into his plate and ate a spoonful of green peas.

Unable to handle the tension, Tommy promptly sprang to his feet and walked away to hide in the bathroom.

Nobody ever stood up for Tommy. Elsie excused herself to the kitchen. Grace focused on her daughters. Sam would watch with his mind lost elsewhere and, mostly, without a care for the way his father treated his brother. Nobody truly ever stood up for Tommy except you.