At 18, I thought I had seen it all, but nothing prepared me for the day I became a parent to my younger brother, Max, after our parents’ death. Max, just six, didn’t understand what happened, but I promised him I’d never let anyone take him away from me. That promise was tested when our aunt and uncle filed for custody, claiming Max needed a “real home.” But I knew their intentions weren’t out of love—they wanted something else.

I left school and picked up two jobs to support us, living in a tiny apartment. The days were tough, but Max made it bearable. We didn’t have much, but we had each other. I filed for guardianship, determined to keep him safe despite being young and financially struggling. Then came the accusation from Aunt Diane—false claims that I was neglecting and hurting Max. But our neighbor, Ms. Harper, a retired teacher, testified to our love, helping me keep Max.

The worst was when Max came home from a visit with Aunt Diane, crying because she’d told him to call her “Mommy” to get dessert. That night, I overheard Diane and Gary talking about a trust fund for Max—money they were after. I recorded their conversation and presented it in court. The truth came out, and the judge granted me full guardianship. Diane’s smile faded as she lost, and Max and I walked out victorious.

Two years later, Max is thriving in second grade. We’ve built a life together—arguing over cartoons and sharing popcorn. I work full-time and take online classes, but every day, I remind Max that I’ll never give up on him. No matter what happens, I never will.