So much could go into why hadn't he been there when I was a kid or stepped up when my mom fought cancer and lost but...

[ Those eyes of hers, they felt more like a gateway to his soul than hers. He wasn't met with disbelief or criticism. Jessica had clearly said it: she knew what it was like to have people taken away by someone who thought they could make themselves her world. Shadow nearly got carried away by the acceptance, realizing that how she'd done her homework, he hadn't looked into her deeply.

The thought wasn't to protect himself but Shadow questioned if he'd possibly open a wound for her. He needed to finish telling her and give Jessica the opportunity to decide her involvement. ]

...He's just a manipulative selfish bastard. [ Shadow shook his head in disgust and continued. ] Who happens to a be a fucking god.

[ As much as he wanted to think it was the cheap booze getting to his head, Shadow knew better. He grounded himself by fixing his gaze on her eyes. ]

Not God but a god. We met on a Wednesday so I thought he was being funny, having me call him Mr Wednesday. He prefaced it 'today is my day' and I never caught on. It took being a mansion filled with Jesuses to see him suddenly change the perfect weather so he could strike down new gods with lightning before I--

[ That was probably too much. Shadow stopped and just sat with his mouth hanging open. ]