The weight of secrets

Chapter 6

It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon, the kind of day where the skies seemed to mirror the lingering unease in the Bellingham household. Despite their small steps toward reconciliation, things were still strained between Jude and Jobe. They shared cautious conversations and brief exchanges, but the warmth that had once defined their bond was still missing.

Jude had spent the day at training, focused but distant, his mind wandering back to the argument, the betrayal, and the hesitant progress they'd made. As he drove home, the rain beating steadily against the windshield, he noticed his phone buzz in the passenger seat. Ignoring it, he turned up the volume of the music, needing the distraction.

He didn't know that call would change everything.

Back at the house, Denise was pacing the living room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She'd just gotten a call from the hospital. Jobe had been in an accident on his way back from a quick run to the store. A driver had run a red light, slamming into the passenger side of Jobe's car. The injuries weren't life-threatening, but he'd been taken to the hospital with a concussion and a broken arm.

Her hands were shaking as she dialled Jude's number.

Jude parked in the driveway just as his phone buzzed again. He finally grabbed it, frowning when he saw his mum's name flashing on the screen.

"Hey, Mum," he said as he answered.

"Jude," Denise's voice cracked on the other end. "It's Jobe. He's been in an accident."

Jude froze, the words sinking in like ice. "What? What happened? Is he okay?"

"He's at the hospital," she explained quickly. "They said he's stable, but he's hurt. I'm heading there now."

"I'm coming too," Jude said without hesitation, already reversing out of the driveway. The anger, the frustration, the betrayal—it all disappeared in an instant, replaced by a suffocating sense of panic and guilt.

As he drove to the hospital, his heart raced. He thought about Jobe—his little brother, the one he'd shared everything with growing up. The thought of losing him, of something worse happening, was unbearable.

When Jude arrived at the hospital, he rushed to the front desk, where Denise was already waiting. Her face was pale, her worry etched deeply in her features.

"They said he's awake," she told him, her voice shaking. "But they're still running tests."

Jude nodded, his chest tightening. "Can we see him?"

"They're letting me in now. You'll be able to go in soon," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "He'll want to see you, Jude."

Jude nodded again, but he didn't respond. Instead, he sank into a chair, his mind racing.

When it was finally his turn, Jude entered the room cautiously. Jobe was lying in the hospital bed, his left arm in a cast and a bandage wrapped around his head. He looked pale and tired, but his eyes lit up slightly when he saw Jude.

"Hey," Jobe said weakly.

"Hey," Jude replied, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled up a chair and sat down, struggling to find the right words.

Jobe studied him for a moment, his expression filled with guilt. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice breaking. "For everything. I know I've said it before, but... I need you to know how much I mean it. And I need you to know that if this had gone worse... I'd never forgive myself for the way things are between us."

Jude felt a lump rise in his throat. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he let out a shaky breath. "Jobe, stop," he said softly. "You don't have to keep apologising. I get it. I know you're sorry."

"But I—"

"Jobe," Jude interrupted, looking up at him. "When I got the call about the accident... I realized how stupid all of this is. Yeah, I'm hurt. And yeah, it's going to take time for things to feel normal again. But you're my brother. And life is too damn short to hold onto this anger."

Jobe blinked, his eyes filling with tears. "You mean that?"

Jude nodded, a small, sad smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I mean it. I can't promise everything will go back to the way it was right away, but I'm done pushing you away. I don't want to lose you, Jobe."

Jobe wiped at his face with his uninjured hand, his relief palpable. "I don't deserve you, Jude."

"Don't say that," Jude replied, shaking his head. "We've both made mistakes. But we're family. And family forgives."

For the first time in weeks, Jobe smiled—a real, genuine smile. "Thank you, Jude. I swear, I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

Jude reached out, placing a hand on Jobe's shoulder. "You already are. Just... focus on getting better, okay? We'll figure the rest out."

Jobe nodded, his heart lighter than it had been in weeks.

As they sat there, the tension that had plagued them finally began to lift. They weren't completely healed, but they were on their way. And for the first time, they both felt like they could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Because no matter what had happened, no matter how far they'd drifted apart, they were still brothers. And that bond was something worth fighting for.