He had been living in another state.

Under a different surname.

"Why?"

Daniel said,

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

Julian told him not to publish anything.

The twins deserved to hear it privately.

That evening, Julian sat with Malcolm and Marcus.

"There is something you should know."

He told them.

Marcus became silent.

Malcolm shook his head.

"No."

"His name is Thomas Reed."

"That's not our father."

"It was the name on his records."

Marcus stood.

"Why now?"

"I don't know."

They found Thomas two days later.

He lived in a small apartment.

When he opened the door, he stared at them.

His face changed.

"My boys."

Marcus immediately stepped back.

"Don't call us that."

Thomas nodded.

"I understand."

Malcolm asked,

"Why did you leave?"

Thomas looked down.

"I was young."

"That's not an answer."

"No."

He swallowed.

"I was afraid."

"Of what?"

"Being a father."

The twins said nothing.

Thomas explained that after their mother died, he had been overwhelmed by grief and debt.

He believed the boys would be better with their grandmother.

Then shame kept him away.

Years passed.

Every year he thought about returning.

Every year he waited.

Eventually, he believed he had waited too long.

Marcus looked angry.

"You could have come."

"I know."

"You could have written."

"I know."

Malcolm's voice cracked.

"Grandma died alone."

Thomas closed his eyes.

"I know."

No apology could repair that.

The twins left.

For weeks, they didn't speak about him.

Then Malcolm said,

"I don't want to hate him."

Marcus nodded.

"Neither do I."

They agreed to meet again.

Not as children asking for their father.

As adults deciding whether they wanted him in their lives.

Thomas never asked for money.

Never asked for publicity.

Never asked for forgiveness.

He simply showed up.

Slowly.

He became part of their lives.

Not replacing the grandmother they had lost.

Not erasing the years.

Just becoming someone they could know.

The twins realized something painful.

Their father had failed them.

But he wasn't the only person who had failed them.

Institutions had failed.

Adults had failed.

Circumstances had failed.

Yet they had survived.

And they had chosen not to become bitter.

That choice became the heart of their next album.

They called it Stay.

It was their most personal work.

Every song told a different part of their story.

The album won awards.

But the twins cared more about something else.

A letter arrived from a teenager living in a shelter.

Your music made me believe my life could change.

Marcus read it three times.

Then handed it to Malcolm.

"That's why."

Malcolm nodded.

"Yeah."

Their voices had started as a way to get food.

Now their voices were reaching people who needed hope.

And that was worth more than any award.

Success made the twins busy.

Too busy.

Tours.

Interviews.

Recording.

Charity events.

School.

Family.

One night, Malcolm collapsed from exhaustion backstage.

Marcus panicked.

Doctors said he needed rest.

Nothing dramatic.

Nothing permanent.

Just a seventeen-year-old who had spent too many years learning how to survive and not enough years learning how to stop.

Julian sat beside him.

"You don't have to prove anything."

Malcolm stared at the ceiling.

"I know."

"Do you?"

He didn't answer.

Julian continued.

"You survived homelessness."

"I know."

"You found success."

"I know."

"You helped other people."

"I know."

"Then why are you still acting like you're about to lose everything?"

Malcolm finally looked at him.

"Because I remember what it felt like."

Julian nodded.

"Memory is useful."