daniel ulysses 11. | cbd2 fin

My family will certainly hate to admit it, but I'm the glue that holds this family together. They desperately wish I wasn't. That's the thing about glue, though. It's sticky and messy, and if it's strong enough, it can marry two things that were never supposed to be kept together in the first place.

I live with Grandma, Grandpa, and my little brothers and sisters. They're real old-timers, and after my dad's death five years ago, the prestigious fucks who think they know what's best decided that my grandparents were the best equipped to take care of us. My siblings didn't know any better. They were too young to live. From bike chasing in abandoned fields to smashing flower vases like pinatas, they missed those experiences with mom and dad. Grandpa's got them gathered up at the dining room table holdin' hands and prayin' grace. Not me! I've got places to be and places to see. And a loss of a lousy allowance, judging by their 'consequences' for misbehaving… but fuck that.

Nobody needs to worry about me when I'm out on my own. When we have to stay at home, well, that's when we have a problem. Grandpa and Grandma love their traditions. My name, Daniel, is probably a symptom of that (it's Grandpa's name, too, as well as dad's.) They would've killed my dad before cancer if he named me something like Kirito or Harbinger. I go by Ulysses now, which is an improvement from DaNiEl UlYsSeS tHe ThIrD. Anything to stay as far away from them as possible.

Being the glue is an honor and sacrifice all in one. I'm the rebel so my baby siblings can grow up at least somewhat normal. Whatever punishments, groundings, and extra chores I've gotta do while I'm home seem a bit more worthwhile when it means they'll never have to start life over again as I did.