Ar Hyd a Nos

It's dark.

So dark.

"I did this," I say dully, staring at Trace, who stares blankly back at me across the table. "I did this to us."

"Fuck," is all he says, as if he can't comprehend what just happened to him. "Fuck."

He shoves the papers off the table in a violent burst, and then buries his face in his hands.

"Ken, what's fore-forecl"-- Adie attempts to ask.

"Foreclosure, stupid," Drew snaps, chucking his math book at the door Adam Kudel just closed.

"He can't do that, can he, Trace?" Rory asks, his face pale.

"He is," Trace says dully.

"I'm going to kill him," I say. "I really am."

"That's not all," Trace says, holding out another paper. "Custody fight. Neglect charges."

"What?"

"I'm not a capable guardian," he says bitterly, looking up at me. "That is, unless you move back out."

"I'm going to kill her, too," I announce, and Rory laughs harshly.

"You're both the same," he snarls. "You think that you can solve everything, god fucking damnit you fucked this up by trying to fix it!" He whirls away from his, but not before I can see the tears shining in his eyes, and then slams the door behind him.

Adie starts crying, and Drew kicks his backpack so hard he sends his pencils and notebook flying.

And in all the years I have known him, I have never seen Trace Cain so broken.