C24 Never Place Someone Above Yourself

My father, Quinton Smith, remained silent for a moment before nodding. “That’s what men are made of,” he said firmly. “Strength.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Take this as a lesson, son. Never place someone above yourself. Work hard. Become stronger. If you want something in life, achieve it through your own strength and perseverance.” I nodded. For the first time that day, I felt a small sense of peace.

Seeing that I was stable, Chris finally stood up. “Brother, I’ll see you tomorrow at work.” He smiled. “And don’t spend the whole night overthinking.” I laughed lightly. “I’ll try.”

Chris said goodbye, and together with his mother, they left.

I wasn’t hungry. The thought of food didn’t interest me. So I told my parents that I was heading to my room. They eventually went to their bedroom as well.

That night, I was alone with my thoughts. I was lying in bed, exhausted from everything that had happened, sleep eventually took over. It had been one of the worst days of my life.

What I didn’t know was that I wasn’t the only one suffering.