Chapter 7: Reconciliation

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. The smell of disinfectant and fresh laundry wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the stench of his father's beer-soaked apartment. 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. As they sat down on the couch, Zane began to clean and bandage Zack's wounds. The gentle touch was a small kindness, but it brought a lump to Zack's throat. Zack couldn't help but steal glances at his brother, taking in the strong jawline, the piercing blue eyes, and the messy brown hair. After a while, Zack mustered up the courage to speak. "Why did you leave?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Zane's hands paused, and he looked up at Zack with a soft expression. For a moment, Zack saw a glimmer of sadness in his eyes, a deep regret that seemed to weigh him down. "I'm sorry, Zack," Zane said, his voice cracking. "I regret not taking you with me every day. I feel guilty for leaving you behind." Zack's eyes widened in shock. He had expected anger or defensiveness, but not this. Not regret. "Why did you leave me?" Zack asked again, his voice shaking. Zane took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Zack's face. "I left because I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't watch our dad destroy us, destroy our lives. I had to get out, to protect myself. But I should have taken you with me." Zack felt a rollercoaster of emotions: sadness, anger, and a deep sense of hurt. But as he looked into Zane's eyes, he saw something there that gave him hope. For the first time, Zack saw his brother not as a neglectful and absent figure, but as a person who had been struggling just like him. He saw the pain and the regret in Zane's eyes, and it broke something inside him. Without thinking, Zack reached out and wrapped his arms around Zane's neck, pulling him into a tight hug. Zane hesitated for a moment before hugging him back, his arms wrapping around Zack's waist. As they hugged, Zack felt a wave of emotions wash over him. He felt safe, protected, and loved. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was home. Zane held him tightly, his chest heaving with emotion. Zack could feel his brother's tears on his shoulder, and he knew that Zane was crying. In that moment, Zack realized that his brother wasn't the monster he had made him out to be. Zane was human, flawed and struggling, just like him. As they pulled back, Zack looked up at Zane, his eyes shining with tears. Zane smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm sorry, little brother," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Zack smiled back, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. "I'm sorry too," he said. For the first time in a long time, Zack felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be: in the arms of his brother, surrounded by love and safety.