It Must Be Your Faith

Psalm 46:1-3

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." - Psalm 46:1-3

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Zach had carefully placed everything back into the box and together they headed home. The next morning, Zach and Cammie sat down her parents and Zach told them everything. He left nothing out. By the end of his story, Lorraine was in tears, Richard was utterly silent, Cammie had a firm grip on his hand, and Zach's head was bent down feeling ashamed for being the product of not only rape, but incest. Lorraine reaches across the table and gently places a hand under Zach's chin before gently lifting it up. "Zach, before we do anything I need you to know something. This story is more than likely going to catch national attention. Something like this has never happened before and people are going to be curious. The entire world will be watching you, but I promise you this. You do not have to go through this alone. We will stand by you as long as it takes. Most importantly, don't you dare ever curse your existence. God brought you into this world for a reason and I think this is it. You were destined to bring this man to justice. You, my darling boy, have the strength and courage your mother never had the chance to discover. You can do this. You will do this. For your sister. For your mother. For your stepfather, but mainly for you. You deserve to have peace." Zach's face crumbled and he gripped Lorraine's hand tightly in return. "Thank you."

The next few days passed by in a blur. Just as Lorraine said, Zach's story caught the media's attention and suddenly the Morgan's were thrust into the spotlight. Zach expected the attention, just not at this magnitude. It overwhelmed them all, but not in the way it overwhelmed Zach. The Morgan's had to disconnect the phone line and call the local police to keep the paparazzi from their yard. Zach tried to ignore the attention as best as he could.

Today, he went on television to ask the public for help on finding his mother since there is no trace of her anywhere. The police have done everything they could to find her with no luck. A few days later officers showed up at their door.

Catherine's body had been found.

Zach was devastated. Her body had been found near a river. Suicide they said. No questions were asked since by now the entire world knew their story. Her funeral was a private affair, but Zach still received warm wishes and gifts from people across the globe. He faintly smiled at each well wish and gift he received for they reminded him that he wasn't alone.

His father was arrested the day after Zach and Cammie presented all evidence to the police. He had another family. A wife and two kids. One of them was a ten year old girl. Zach and Cammie didn't know it at the time, but they saved her from having his mother's fate. When Zach first heard about the kids he was in shock, then came the burning anger. How dare that man have another family after he destroyed his?

Zach's anger scared Cammie. She had never seen him like this before and she didn't know how to help him. Cammie felt just as helpless as her parents did. They tried to kindly suggest therapy and Zach flat out refused.

"I don't need therapy. What I need is for that monster to spend the rest of his life in a jail cell twice as small as his size in absolute isolation. He deserves to feel the kind of darkness he made my sisters feel." Cammie never bought up therapy again. Since the case received such international attention, the trial was held a week after he was arrested. There was no bond set. Zach knew he had to face him in court, but first he wanted to meet his other family.

"Cammie, I don't even know what I am to them. Am I their uncle or their brother? By blood, I know I'm both, but... how should I introduce myself? They're just kids. Do you think they understand?" Cammie took a few moments to collect her thoughts. She wasn't entirely sure how to respond, but she tried her best. "Zach, from what the police officers told us the kids are young. During court, they're going to refer Catherine as your mom, so I think you should call yourself uncle for now. At least until they're old enough understand what really happened. You may not like what I have to say, but the little girl is going to need therapy Zach." Zach immediately opened his mouth to protest, but Cammie gave him a glare.

"That's enough. Zach, this little girl is probably suffering the same fate as your mom. The letter stated your mom had just turned 15 when he raped her after molesting her for years beforehand. Zach... I looked at her file. She's 10. Who knows how many years she spent being afraid of the dark because of him?" Zach lowered his eyes. "I never thought about it that way." Cammie rubbed his back in a soothing manner. "I know. It's okay for you not to think straight right now. That's what I'm here for no?" Zach chuckled lightly in response before looking at the text message he just received. His face dropped. "It's time?" Cammie asked. Zach nodded slowly. "Yeah, it's time to meet my niece and nephew."