Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 105667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Day ran into the den and God stood quickly holding his hand out to stop his partner. God had a feeling he knew what Genesis was talking about now.
“Genesis,” God said slowly.
“The sick fuck recorded it.” Genesis bent and picked up the box and shoved it at God’s chest. “Mom and I saw it all. She found this box buried in the attic. We must have just put it up there without opening it when we moved here. It shows it all!” Genesis’s tears were falling freely as he yelled. “The fights, the beatings, the threats.” Genesis dropped to his knees as if he was in agony. He cried so hard his body jerked with the sobs. “Oh my god, oh my god,” he groaned. Cash shoved the box of old VHS tapes to Day and dropped down to embrace his brother, and Genesis clung to him for dear life.
“The rapes… we saw the rapes, Cash. All those men. Police officers.” Genesis cried.
Jesus. No.
“Shhh, it’s okay, Gen.”
“No it’s not okay.” He sobbed against God’s chest like a child. “You let us push you away, you let us hate you. Why the hell didn’t you tell us, Cashel? We could’ve been a family. I loved you, man. You were everything to me, more than my dad ever was. Then all of a sudden, mom was calling you a killer and then I did too. You should have told us. I hate you for that.”
“I know, Gen. Goddammit, I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell mom the man she’d loved was psycho. I didn’t think she’d believe me. I had no proof. More than that, I did what I thought I had to do to protect you.” God released his brother when he felt Gen pull back. He looked into eyes so much like his own. “But believe when I tell you that I never left y’all. I’ve been watching you the entire time. I moved you guys here shortly after I did and I made sure you were safe and taken care of. I would never have left you and mom, Gen. I just loved you from a distance.”
God let his brother have his moment. He cried silently into his hands. He knew how Genesis felt, he’d shed so many tears that he'd thought he had no more.
God helped him back on the ottoman and then paced the room. Day was sitting on the sofa sifting through the contents of the box. Did God want to watch them?
Fuck no. He’d lived it.
He’d burn them. There was no need for them now. His family had the proof and now it could all be over.
God stopped walking the length of the room and faced his brother. “Where is mom? How is she?”
He saw Genesis wince at his question as a fresh wave of tears flowed. He knew his brother was thinking of the response he’d give God anytime he’d ask about his mother.
God put his hand on Genesis shoulder. “Hey. Stop beating yourself up for how you treated me. You didn’t know. It’s in the past and that’s where I want to leave it.”
Genesis looked into God’s eyes and answered him. “Our mother is having a hard time just like me. She hates herself for not giving you a chance to explain all those years ago. We’ve gone over and over it in our heads thinking there should've been signs. We’ve been in agony these past four days.”
“Y’all found these four days ago,” Day voiced in shock.
“Yes and I’ve been looking for you ever since. It took me a while to figure out what precinct you worked at. I remember him”—Genesis pointed at Day—“saying he was your partner on the force. So I went to the ones closest to where you used to live after I saw you’d moved.”
God came over and knelt in front of his brother. “I know we’ve lost a lot of time, but we can let the past rest and look forward. You're about to turn seventeen.” God gave Genesis a slight smile. “This is going to be exciting times for you. I’d like to be there, if you’ll let me. There will be no more blaming, no regrets, and no what ifs. What’s done is done. I’m all about my future now. My future with the man I love… and now… my future with my brother and my mother. How does that sound to you?”
Genesis wiped his nose on the sleeve of his shirt and nodded his okay. God was startled when Genesis jumped up and threw his arms around God’s middle and held him as tight as he could. God squeezed his eyes shut at the burning in them and hugged his brother back. He hadn't seen this day coming, at least not for a very, very long time. After all the turmoil and heartache he’d endured for so long God was finally receiving some goodness in his life.