**Chapter 6: Confronting the Past**

The silence between them was deafening. Zack kept his head down, refusing to make eye contact with his brother. Zane's expression was unreadable, but his eyes seemed to bore into Zack's very soul. The air was thick with tension as they stood there, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioning. Without a word, Zane reached out and gently lifted Zack's chin, revealing the full extent of his injuries. Zack flinched, wincing in pain as his brother took in the sight of his battered face. Zane's eyes widened in shock, and his gaze lingered on Zack's bruised and swollen nose, the cut above his eyebrow, and the darkening bruise on his cheek. Zane's face was a mask of calm, but his eyes betrayed a deep concern. "Did your dad do this?" he asked, his voice low and even. Zack nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. He couldn't meet Zane's gaze, couldn't bear to see the look of pity or disgust that might come with it. Zane's expression didn't change, but his eyes seemed to flash with anger. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slowly. "Can I stay the night?" Zack asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Zane hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, of course. Come in." Zack followed Zane into the apartment, feeling a mix of emotions. He was relieved to have a safe place to stay, but he was also nervous about being here with his brother. It had been a year since they'd last seen each other, and Zack wasn't sure what to expect. As they walked into the living room, Zane gestured for Zack to sit down on the couch. Zack collapsed onto the soft cushions, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him. Zane sat down beside him, his eyes never leaving Zack's face. For a while, they just sat there in silence, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the wall. Zack could feel Zane's gaze on him, but he refused to meet his eye. It was Zane who finally broke the silence. "Let me take a look at those injuries," he said, getting up to fetch a first-aid kit from the bathroom. Zack watched as Zane carefully cleaned and bandaged his wounds, his touch gentle and soothing. It was a small kindness, but it brought a lump to Zack's throat. As Zane worked, Zack couldn't help but steal glances at his brother. He looked different, older and stronger than he remembered. But there was something else there too, something that made Zack's heart skip a beat. For a moment, Zack thought he saw a glimmer of sadness in Zane's eyes, a deep regret that seemed to weigh him down. But when Zane looked up, the expression was gone, replaced by a mask of calm. Zack wasn't sure what to make of it, but he felt a spark of hope ignite within him. Maybe, just maybe, things were going to be okay.