Chapter 2: The Empty Desk
The trouble began on a Friday afternoon.
Tasha had spent the entire week looking forward to getting home, finishing her homework, and finally playing a new game she'd been waiting months to try.
Her part-time shift had been exhausting.
Her feet hurt.
Her manager had asked her to stay late.
But the thought of sitting at her desk, putting on her headset, and watching the familiar lights of her gaming PC brighten the room had kept her going.
When she arrived home, the house seemed unusually quiet.
James was still at work.
Devon's shoes were by the front door, suggesting he was home, but his bedroom door was closed.
Tasha didn't think much of it.
She dropped her backpack beside her bed and reached for the light switch.
Then she stopped.
Something was wrong.
Her desk looked strangely bare.
The monitor was still there.
Her keyboard was still there.
Her mouse sat neatly beside the mouse pad.
But the black tower that had occupied the center of her desk was gone.
For several seconds, Tasha simply stared at the empty space.
Her brain refused to make sense of what her eyes were seeing.
She checked beneath the desk.
Nothing.
She looked beside the wardrobe.
Nothing.
Then she rushed into the hallway, searching the living room and the kitchen as if someone might have moved a $2,000 computer into another room without telling her.
“Devon?””
No answer.
She hurried to his bedroom and knocked hard.
“Devon, where's my computer?””
His door opened a few inches.
He appeared in sweatpants, holding his phone.
“What?””
“My gaming PC. Where is it?””
Devon blinked.
Then he looked away.
That tiny movement sent a cold feeling through Tasha's stomach.
“Devon.””
He sighed.
“Oh, that.””
Tasha felt her heart begin to pound.
“What do you mean, 'that'?””
He opened the door wider and leaned against the frame, wearing an expression of mild annoyance.
“I sold it.””
The hallway seemed to tilt.
For a moment, Tasha couldn't even speak.
“You WHAT?””
“Keep your voice down.””
“My computer?””
“Yeah.””
“You sold my computer?””
Devon looked at her as though she were being unreasonable.
“I needed money.””
Tasha stared at him.
“You needed money, so you stole something that belonged to me?””
“Don't be dramatic. I didn't steal it.””
“You took it out of my room!””
“And sold it. Technically, it's already done.””
His casual tone made everything worse.
Tasha's eyes filled with tears, but anger kept her voice steady.
“Where did you take it?””
“A pawnshop.””
“How much did you get?””
Devon hesitated.
“Enough.””
“How much?””
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Not as much as I expected, okay?””
Tasha felt sick.
She had spent two years choosing parts, comparing prices, working extra shifts, and saving every dollar she could.
Devon had taken all of it apart from her life in a single afternoon.
“What did you do with the money?””
He glanced at his phone.
“Bought VIP concert tickets.””
Silence.
Tasha looked at him, waiting for the punchline.
There wasn't one.
“You sold my $2,000 computer for concert tickets?””
“Not exactly $2,000. Pawnshops don't pay retail.””
“That doesn't make it better!””
Devon threw up his hands.
“Look, the tickets were limited. If I waited, they'd be gone.””
Tasha couldn't believe what she was hearing.
“So you decided my property was yours to sell?””
“It's just a computer.””
The words struck harder than a shout.
Just a computer.
Not the late nights.
Not the overtime.
Not the weekends she had sacrificed.
Not the pride she had felt when the machine finally worked.
Just a computer.
Tasha stepped back, struggling to breathe normally.
“I'm telling Dad.””
Devon's expression changed immediately.
“Seriously?””
“Yes!””
“You're going to get Dad involved over a computer?””
“MY computer!””
He scoffed.
“Wow. You're really going to ruin everything over this?””
Tasha turned and hurried toward the living room, pulling out her phone to call James.
Behind her, Devon followed.
“Wait. Don't make this into some huge family drama.””
She turned on him.
“You made it family drama when you walked into my room and took something you knew I loved!””
Devon crossed his arms.
“We're family, Tasha. Share the wealth.””
She stared at him.
“Family doesn't mean you get to steal from me.””
“Steal? You sound ridiculous.””
“Then tell Dad what you did.””
For the first time, Devon had nothing to say.
Tasha called her father.
James answered after the second ring.
“Hey, kiddo. Everything okay?””
She tried to speak, but her voice broke.
“Dad, you need to come home.””
His tone changed immediately.
“What happened?””
Tasha looked at Devon, who was now watching her with a warning expression.
“He sold my computer.””
There was a pause.
“Who did?””
“Devon.””
Another pause.
Then James asked a question that made Tasha realize just how serious this had become.
“Did he have your permission?””
“No.””
“Don't touch anything else. I'm coming home.””
The call ended.
Devon let out a frustrated breath.
“You didn't have to do that.””
Tasha wiped her face.
“You didn't have to sell my computer.””
He paced across the living room.
“Dad's going to overreact.””
“Good.””
His eyes narrowed.
“You think you're so innocent because you saved up some money?””
Tasha looked at him in disbelief.
“I worked for what I have.””
“And I needed something!””
“Then earn it!””
Devon laughed bitterly.
“You really don't understand how family works.””
Tasha almost answered.
Then she noticed something.
Devon wasn't frightened because he'd hurt her.
He was frightened because James was coming home.
And that told her everything she needed to know about the kind of person standing in front of her.
When James finally walked through the front door, he didn't shout.
He didn't slam anything.
He set down his keys, looked at Tasha's tear-streaked face, and then turned toward Devon.
“Tell me exactly what happened.””
May you like
Devon opened his mouth.
And Tasha realized that whatever excuse he chose next would determine how far this disaster went.
