Chapter 27 - The Brother Behind Glass
Emily visited Brandon one month later.
No lawyers.
No reporters.
No negotiation.
Only thick glass between them.
He looked different without the constant calculation behind his eyes.
Not peaceful.
Just tired.
"Did you get your letter?" Emily asked.
"Yes."
"Did you read it?"
"Twenty-three times."
She almost smiled.
"What did she say?"
"That loving me did not make abandoning me right."
Emily nodded.
"Sounds like her."
Brandon looked down.
"She said you owed me nothing."
"She was correct."
"I know."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally Brandon said, "Evelyn changed the letter I received when I was twenty-seven. But I need you to understand something."
Emily waited.
"It doesn't change Blackthorn."
"No."
"I wanted it to."
"I know."
"Part of me still does."
"That part is going to have a difficult life."
A faint laugh escaped him.
He grew serious.
"I've authorized every court request from the Mirror."
"You no longer own it."
"The transfer is still under review."
"It will stand."
"I hope so."
Emily looked at the man who had once stood above her with a hammer.
She could see the boy Margaret had hidden.
The son who had received a poisoned version of his mother's words.
The husband who had transformed his wound into cruelty.
All were Brandon.
None cancelled the others.
He touched the glass.
"I don't expect forgiveness."
"Good."
"Are we family?"
Emily thought carefully.
"We share a mother."
His face fell slightly.
She continued.
"And someday, if the person you become makes the word safe, perhaps there will be more to say."
Brandon lowered his hand.
For once he did not demand an answer larger than the one she could give.
"That's fair."
Emily stood.
"Goodbye, Brandon."
"Goodbye, Emily."
She left without looking back.
May you like
It was not reconciliation.
It was something more honest.
