Chapter 8 - The Reunion
Two hours later, the heavy iron doors of the county juvenile detention facility swung open.
Eli walked out into the afternoon sunlight, wearing his gray hoodie and jeans, holding a small brown paper bag containing his personal belongings.
Standing near the bottom of the concrete steps was Detective Miller’s cruiser.
Evan was standing beside the passenger door, wrapping his arms tightly around himself, looking down at his shoes in deep, crushing shame.
Eli walked slowly down the steps, his shoes crunching against the gravel driveway. He stopped five feet away from his twin brother.
The silence between them felt heavier than the walls of the cell Eli had just left.
Evan looked up, his eyes swollen and red from hours of crying.
"Eli..." Evan choked out, his voice barely audible. "I'm... I'm so sorry... I was so scared of Dad... he told me—"
Before Evan could finish his sentence, Eli stepped forward and threw his arms around his brother’s neck, pulling him into a tight, desperate embrace.
Evan froze in shock for a fraction of a second, before burying his face in Eli’s shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably, his hands clutching the back of Eli’s hoodie.
"I know, Evan," Eli whispered, tears pouring down his own cheeks as he held his twin close. "I know he scared you. I know."
"I almost ruined your life," Evan wept, his body shaking with deep, ragged sobs. "I lied to the police... I let them take you away..."
"You fixed it," Eli said, pulling back slightly to look his brother in the eyes, placing a hands on Evan’s shoulders. "You walked into that police station alone and told the truth. That took more courage than anything Dad ever did."
May you like
Detective Miller stepped out of the driver's side of the cruiser, a soft smile touching his tired face.
"Come on, boys," Miller said gently, opening the rear door of the car. "Your mother is waiting for you at the hospital."
