“Do you understand what you’ve done?” Jay’s voice trembled, barely above a whisper. “You were supposed to look out for Dad, to keep him safe. But you didn’t. You left him alone when he needed you the most.”
Adam’s eyes darted away, unable to meet Jay’s piercing gaze. The weight of their father’s passing hung thick in the air, suffocating them both. Jay’s anger flared, but it was intertwined with sorrow. “He trusted you, Adam! He thought you would always be there.”
“I didn’t mean for this to happen!” Adam’s voice cracked as he finally spoke, desperation lacing his words. “I was just… I was trying to live my life. I thought he was okay.”
“Okay?” Jay scoffed, bitterness flooding his tone. “He was not okay! He needed you. You were too busy chasing your dreams to see the pain he was in.” The silence that followed was deafening. Jay felt his heart shatter a little more with each passing second. He had lost his father, and now he feared losing his brother as well, not to death but to the chasm of blame that had opened between them. “We’re not just brothers anymore, Adam. You’re the reason he’s gone. You need to understand that.” Jay turned away, tears spilling down his cheeks, leaving Adam alone in his remorse, wrestling with the unbearable truth.
