A little context about me. My name is Tim, I am 18 years old. I have lived with my older sister, Cindy, since our parents passed away when I was 12. We shared the same mom, but different fathers. Her father was white, mine was black. I'd been conceived due to a one night stand affair my mom had, but it didnt result in divorce. Cindy's dad raised me as his own.
Cindy, is 25 years old, works as a registered nurse and had a boyfriend, Rob, who, if one can describe him, lets just say, if there ever was a more "punchable face," then Rob was definitely your guy.
When our parents died, Cindy had just started college in a different state to obtain an RN degree, but our parents dying, really threw a wrench into those plans. She ended up dropping out of school, after learning I'd be put in foster care and that, "Wasn't going to happen," I remember her telling me.
We were lucky because, during the meetings about my parents estate, the attorney let Cindy know we were entitled to life insurance from both of them totaling about two million dollars, but she would be the executor of my portion as well, since I was a minor.
We had been paid our inheritance money four weeks later and, immediately, Cindy went to work, hiring attorneys, in hopes of gaining guardianship over me, preventing me from going "into the system." 4 months and about $75,000 later, she was awarded guardianship of me.
To say the transition was difficult, would be an understatement, but little by little we developed a routine. We stayed in the house our parents owned, she enrolled online with University of Phoenix, which allowed her to be home when I got home from school.
Sure it was tough. I mean here is a 19 year old woman, just beginning her life, having to raise her little brother, by herself. But Cindy threw herself into it. She went to my school conferences, my sporting events, made sure I kept up my grades, etc. But she always made sure our conversation was always open. We could say anything to each other, never hid anything, spoke our minds. But there would never be lecturing, screaming, shaming, or whatnot.
It kind of bothered me how focused she was on me, because I knew she wanted to be an RN. When i broached the subject to her, she was happy I cared.
"Sissy," I remember asking her one day. "When are you going to go back to school and get your degree? It's been 6 months and all you've been focused on, is me."
Cindy countered, "Baby brother, my sole focus wasn't me, it was making sure I didn't lose you to the Courts. Now that I've secured that, I will be going. back. Thank you for loving me so much in spite of the past few months."
One day, when I was 16 and Cindy was making us dinner, there had been a knock on the door. This was my first time meeting Rob. When I opened the door, I saw a guy looking up at me and he asked if Cindy was here. Just then, Cindy comes up from behind me, and I could tell Rob had no idea who I was.
"Rob!" Cindy had screamed, obviously happy he arrived. "This is my baby brother, Timmy! Timmy, this is Robert."
Now I don't know who was more shocked. Me, for never hearing about this guy beforehand, or Rob, because I dont think he expected to be met at the door by a 6'5 250lb. black kid.
"Ummm hey there," Rob quipped, as he stuck out his hand, waiting for me to welcomingly take it.
"Yo, 'sup?" I said, grasping his hand firmly then releasing it just as quick. When I released it, my sister saw the obvious displeasure when I turned around. Kind of like that look you get when you realize you were called for a holding penalty that cost your team the game, and it wasnt even a hold.
Afterward, as we ate dinner, Cindy and Rob were having a conversation and my sister tried involving me in the topic. My indifference and silence spoke volumes as I continued eating, then excused myself and headed for my bedroom.
Thirty minutes later, my sister walks into my bedroom and knew I was not happy.
"You ok?" Cindy queried, as I was playing Call of Duty on my Xbox. "You didn't say anything at dinner, and I felt you were a little standoffish with Rob." She continued, "I thought it was very rude and disrespectful, Timmy."
Hearing this, I shot back, "So when were you planning on telling me you were seeing him Sis?" I continued," I thought we never kept anything from each other!" My voice going up a few decibels.
Realizing the level my voice had gotten, Cindy clapped back, "OMG! Really? Are you serious?" Her voice softening, she continued," I didn't realize that would bother you; Like this is personal, relationship stuff I didn't know was important to you," she pondered, seeing the sad puppy dog look on my face.
Sullenly, yet softly, I retorted, "Yes, it's important to me who is dating my sister. I need to make sure you're safe and the guy isn't gonna hurt you," I mused.
Ultimately the issue was resolved, and we went about our everyday lives. Rob would come over, have dinner with us, he'd start spending the night once a week, then every weekend, until basically he was fulltime at our house. He would show up at my football games, but something just didn't seem right when Cindy would be cheering for me on the field.
After each game, I learned, he would belittle me to my sister, about my weight, a block i might have missed on a defender. He would even start nitpicking things, like if there were dishes in the sink, if I was up late playing Xbox, anything.
