A lethal neurotoxin had taken hold of my lungs.

My time is running out.

My mother, Sofia, was the most connected lawyer in Palermo, excelling in burying crimes and twisting the law.

When my brother Vincent mowed me down and shattered my leg, she called in every favor to clear his record.

My father, Tommaso, the most feared private doctor in Sicily, faked my medical files, branding me unstable and delusional, all to mold me into the obedient son they needed.

Then there was Lina, only daughter of Don Vitali, my wife.

She said, “We let him out for Vincent’s liver. What if he says no?”

Dad’s voice went cold.

“He has two choices: lie quietly on that operating table… or waste away in the sanatorium for what’s left of his life.”

I pushed the parlor door open, steady and slow.

My voice was flat.

“I’ll do it.”

Every one of them let out a breath they’d been holding, showering me with hollow words.

They didn’t know there was no life left to threaten.

I had twenty-four hours.

By sunrise, I would be dead either way.

Funny… now that I’m in the ground, why are they all crying?

I didn’t even flinch when I knew the death sentence.

What’s the point?

I’ve been living on borrowed time since they locked me up.

Lina sauntered over, slapped divorce papers down on the table in front of me, looking sad.

“Listen, Nick… Vincent’s liver is failing. You’re the only match. He wants us married before the surgery, so we’re signing these. It’s just for show, alright? I love you, but I just don’t want him going into that operating room with any regrets. Once he recovers, we’ll remarry. I promise.”

I didn’t even reach for the pen.

Of course that’s why they pulled me out of the sanatorium.

Neurotoxin doesn’t target my other organs.

They want the liver, and they can have it.

Little did they know I’d be dead by sunrise.

Before I could answer, my parents closed in.

Mother leaned in, using that tone she wielded like a blade in court.

“Your brother is dying. You’re gonna save him, or you will crawl back to that cell and never see daylight again. We don’t raise selfish cowards in this family.”

My father grunted in agreement.

“She’s right. Don’t make us regret letting you out.”

Lina stayed quiet.

Just stood there, like she didn’t know them.

Fair enough.

I picked up the pen without reading a word.

“I’ll do the surgery.”

Lina’s face lit up

She all but leaped into Vincent’s arms.

Mom rushed over in tears.

Dad shoved the surgical consent form at me before I could even set the pen down.

“There’s my boy,” my dad clapped me on the shoulder.

“Do this, and you’ll get your share of the family holdings. Understood?”

I shook my head and could taste blood in the back of my throat.

“Give it all to Vincent. I don’t need it.”

Mom swatted my arm like I was being dramatic.

“Don’t talk stupid, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”

Then she turned right back to cooing over Vincent, fawning over his every breath.

Three years ago, Vincent ran me off the road and broke my leg.

They begged me not to press charges.

Vincent claimed it wasn’t intentional, saying it was raining too hard to see.

I accepted his apology.

But the next day, I overheard him say that if he’d known he could walk away clean, he would’ve made sure I never got up at all.

So I insisted on filing my lawsuit.

But Mom’s connections buried every trace.

He walked free without a scratch.

After that? I became the problem.

The jealous, petty son, the stain on the family name.

Vincent started lying about me.

My parents ate it up.

They locked me in the family sanatorium after that, ordered regular brutal punishments to “fix” my attitude, all while preaching it was for my own good.

Used to yell and fight back, now I just close my eyes and wait for it to be over.

The three of them huddled on the couch, laughing, like a real family.

I stood in the corner, might as well have been a ghost.

I blinked back the burn in my eyes and turned to leave, but Lina blocked the door.

“Vincent is nervous about the surgery. He wants a quick wedding with me first, just for show, I swear. It’s only to settle his nerves.”

I almost laughed.

Since we were kids, everything Vincent wanted had been handed to him.

My position, my money, my wife.

Everyone let him take it.

Mom came over, put her hand on my arm.

“He’s your little brother, Nick. Family looks out for family. That’s how this works. You owe him this.”

I just smiled.

“Fine. Whatever he wants.”

It’s the last time I’ll ever have to say that.

Once I’m dead, they can have their perfect little family, no troublesome older son to ruin everything.

“I knew you’d be reasonable,” Lina said.

Then Vincent pulled a ring out of his bag and handed it right to Lina.

He whispered something in her ear that made her laugh.

I just stood there, didn’t say a word.

When I walked out, they were still laughing.

No one even called after me.

Got back to the house Lina and I were supposed to live in, packed all my clothes, photos and the stupid gifts I got for all of them over the years, threw them all in the dumpster.

If they don’t want me in their lives, I’m not leaving a single trace of me there.

I leaned against the wall gasping after I was done.

The toxin’s been eating away at me, even walking up the stairs makes me feel like I’m gonna pass out.

I’m really dying here.

I’d barely made it to the bed when the door slammed open.

Lina stormed in first, my parents holding Vincent up between them.

He looked like he was gonna faint any second.

Lina spat, eyes all angry.

“You promised you’d let me marry Vincent, then you ran to Don Vitali, my dad, and told him what was going on? He called Vincent a leech, a bastard!”

Vincent coughed, voice all weak and wobbly.

“I know you’re mad, Nick, but you didn’t have to go to the don. He ordered a private lashing for Lina because of me. It’s my fault, not Lina’s”

Mother’s brow creased with rage.

“What the hell is wrong with you? We don’t air family business outside the house! Now you’re gonna apologize to Vincent, and you’re gonna tell the don you made the whole thing up.”

I knew what had really happened.

Vincent had bragged to his idiot friends, word reached the Vitali crew, and the don found out.

He’d helped me more times than I could count over the years.

He just never stepped in ‘cause it was family business.

When he’d learned what they’d done, he’d dragged Lina home and ordered the lashings without hesitation.

“Not just an apology,” Lina said, staring daggers at me.

“You’re gonna put out a statement saying you asked for the divorce, no hard feelings.”

Lina grabbed my arm and tried to yank me up.

But I was so weak I stumbled and fell right at Vincent’s feet.

I looked up, and he was grinning, no more fake sick act, just pure smug.

My mind flashed back to five years ago, the night they threw me out.

Rain was pouring down in Palermo. I was soaked to the bone, blood trickling from a cut on my head, walking aimlessly down the street.

Lina pulled up next to me, held an umbrella over my head, bought me a slice of pizza at the corner shop, sat there for hours listening to me yell about how my family hated me.

She’d sworn to be by my side forever, saying she hated Vincent more than anyone.

When did that change?

When Vincent started bringing her diamonds and taking her to fancy restaurants behind my back? When he kept showing up to all our dates, hanging off her like a leech?

When they started sneaking out together at 2 a.m.?

The woman I’d loved had chosen my worst enemy.

A faint, sharp twinge pricked my deadened heart.

But it didn’t matter.

I’m dying.

They can have everything.

I pushed myself up from the floor.

“Yeah, it’s my fault Lina got hit. I’ll go talk to the don.”

All of them froze, surprised I’d agreed so easily.

Mom looked at me, almost soft for a second.

“Now you’re acting like a proper older brother. Your father and I are proud of you.”

Dad nodded.

“We love you, kid, we just want you to look out for your brother.”

Even Lina seemed briefly guilty. She helped me up.

“I’ll go with you. I can calm my father down.”

I just smiled and said nothing.

There’s no coming back from this, not for me.

But Vincent opened his mouth again, all fake innocent.

“The don’s not gonna let it go that easy. However many lashes Lina took, you take double. Film it and send it to him—that’s the only way he’ll believe you’re sorry.”

While our parents weren’t looking, he winked and mouthed, “You can’t win,” before slipping back into his frail act.

Before I could respond, Lina cut in.

“Forget that. Let’s just go see the don now.”

But my parents immediately overruled her.

“No. This is the way it has to be. Come on, Nick! Be a man. It’s just a beating. You’ll apologize while it happens. Endure a little and it’ll be over.”

My mother added, her voice firm,

“You have to do this so the don will forgive Vincent. You’re the older brother. You carry the weight.”

Without letting me speak, they grabbed my arms and dragged me out into the courtyard.

My dad had a leather whip in his hand, and my mother was holding her phone up to film.

“Just hold still, Nick,” Mom said, like she was doing me a favor.

“This is the only way the don won’t come after Vincent. You’re the older brother, you take the hit for the family.”

I didn’t say a word, just bit down on my tongue so hard I tasted blood when the first whip hit my back.

It burned like hell, but I made no sound.

I watched them as they did it.

My parents were only worried about Vincent.

Lina stood off to the side, frowning, but she never once told them to stop.

Whatever. I’ve always been the disposable one.

When they were done, my back was covered in blood, my shirt stuck to the wounds.

Mom hit send on the video, glancing at my back like it was nothing.

“You’re tough, you’ll be fine. Patch yourself up, don’t be late for surgery tomorrow. We’re taking Vincent to see the don now.”

Lina knelt down next to me, voice all soft.

“Once this is all over, we’ll move to Tuscany. Just us. Wait for me.”

Watching them drive away, I started laughing.

A harsh, broken sound that turned into a cough, and I spat a mouthful of blood onto the wet stones.

Between the toxin and the beating, I was done.

Through the blur, I saw the old clock on the courtyard wall.

Twenty-four hours were up.

Vision went fuzzy, felt like all the life was draining out of me.

It started raining again, just like that night five years ago.

They’ll be so happy once I’m gone, no more hassle.

I closed my eyes, right before I passed out I only heard a sudden sound of brakes and my father's shout.

"Nick, get up! Stop pretending”