I watched the rain run down the window pane. The thunder outside was loud, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out my parents fighting. I twirled my pencil as I stared outside; I was supposed to be doing an assignment for school, but heck, I wasn't going to do it. The teacher'd probably have a heart attack if I came into class with my homework actually done.

I leaned my chair back and put my feet on my desk – and onto my History book. Mom and Dad were yelling louder, so I turned up the radio, just like I always did. They'd fight for a while, but then things'd usually cool down pretty fast. Usually.

I heard my door creak open, and I looked over my shoulder. "Hey, Juju." Her real name was Julie, but we'd been calling her by her nickname pretty much since she was born.

Juju didn't say anything, just came over and climbed into my lap like she did every time they fought, which seemed to happening a lot more lately. Juju didn't have a radio to drown them out.

"I hate when they fight," she said softly, and, right on cue, something smashed in the kitchen. Juju jumped a little, and I stared at the doorway. Mom and Dad yelled, sure, but it never got to them smashing stuff. It was quiet for a second, then Dad yelled something I wish I'd known was coming so I could've covered Juju's ears. It's not like she hasn't heard swearing before, but still. Even I try to filter it around her. The door slammed, loud, and we both flinched. We sat there for a few seconds, there radio still blaring, then I said, "I'm gonna go see what happened. I'll be right back."

Juju didn't say anything as I set her down and walked slowly out to the kitchen. I stopped dead in my tracks. "Mom…?"

She was sitting at the table, crying and not bothering to hide it. There was broken glass littered all over the floor.

"He's gone," she said, trying to get a hold of herself, but just sobbing all the more. "He isn't coming back."

My stomach dropped. "What?"

"He left us. He's gone for good."

I couldn't do anything but stand there, dumbfounded. So he'd finally done it. He wasn't coming back.

I felt someone slip their hand into mine, and I didn't have to look down to know it was Juju. 'He's gone for good…'

"Daddy's not coming back?" Her eyes were big, scared. As scared as I felt.

"Of course he'll be back, sillyhead," I was I meant to say, but somehow I knew no amount of pretending would change this. I could usually convince myself it'd be alright, no matter it was, if I told myself enough times. But I knew it wouldn't work now. Not this time.