Forty Four

I touched his hand, showing him I was listening and that I was there for him. I moved closer to him.

He sighed. "I left the house and went to my grandfather. I was begging him to tell me everything. That's the first time I met my other sister, Arrabella. Grandpa told me everything that broke my heart. I never saw her. After giving birth to my little sister, my mother could not cope with her son being taken from her.

She was depressed, afraid Arrabella would be taken. My mother begged my father to bring me to her. Father did not care.” Zach's jaws tensed. “He had no heart for doing it to my mother. Arrabella was five when our mother died of a drug overdose.”

His eyes were filled with tears. "She wanted to see me, but it didn't happen. I hated my father and the family he cared for. He never cared for his first wife. He killed her!”

I can't help but be affected by his cry, and tears well up in my eyes. I embraced him, his forehead resting on my shoulder, as his shoulder shook.

"If my