At 3 A.M., My Brother Dragged Me Out of My Bedroom While Dad Laughed—He Had No Idea What the Smoke Detector Had Recorded

Directed.

Explained away.

And tried to persuade me to withdraw the process.

Emotionally, his betrayal felt enormous.

Legally, not every aspect of that betrayal supported the same restrictions imposed on Aaron.

I didn’t have to like the difference.

But I understood it.

Afterward, the courthouse staff separated us according to the necessary arrangements.