This week, I want you to meet Louis, Princess’s older brother.
Louis had every reason to stay on the reservation. He had only one semester left of high school. He had a job with Uncle Nate at the casino. He was about to turn eighteen, which meant he could make his own choice about where to live and what to do with his life. Staying made sense. It was the logical decision.
But Louis didn’t choose logic. He chose love.
When Uncle Abe asked Louis if he wanted to come to Houston or stay behind with Uncle Nate, Louis didn’t hesitate. “I can be ready by Monday. I’ve barely unpacked anyway.”
He left behind his job. He left behind his final semester of high school. He left behind the life he’d been building on the reservation. And he did it for one reason: “Princess is my baby sister. I want to be there for her through a change as big as this. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for her to leave her home…for good.”
Louis always knew what Princess needed, what she was feeling, even without her saying a word. He’d always been a good big brother. And when it mattered most, when Princess was about to be uprooted from everything she’d ever known, Louis chose to go with her. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t make sense, but she needed him.
There’s something profoundly beautiful about that kind of sacrifice. Louis gave up his own plans, his own stability, his own sense of home, to be there for someone he loved. He understood how difficult the change would be for Princess, and his support meant the world to her.
In Genesis, we see families fracture and scatter. We see brothers betray each other, siblings separated by distance and circumstance. But we also see glimpses of loyalty, of protective love, of choosing to stay together even when it’s hard. Louis embodies that kind of love. The kind that says, “I’ll leave everything behind if it means you don’t have to face this alone.”
Princess felt a surge of love and gratitude for him. She loved him more than she could say. And as they climbed into the RV together, heading south toward an uncertain future, she knew she wasn’t alone.
Let’s Talk
Have you ever left behind your own plans to support someone you love? What did that cost you? And what did it give you in return?
I’d love to hear your story in the comments. This is a space for honest conversation about love over logic, of self-sacrifice.
What’s Next
Next week, we’ll meet Mickie and Uncle Nate, the ones who stayed behind, and explore what it means to say goodbye when you don’t know if you’ll ever see each other again.
If you want to follow Princess’s full journey, subscribe to this newsletter. You’ll get weekly insights into Barren, behind-the-scenes reflections, and discussion prompts for your book clubs. And if you’re ready to read Princess’s complete story right now, Barren is available here:
Get your copy of Barren: – Amazon (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – Barnes & Noble
About the Margins of Genesis Series
Barren is Book One in the Margins of Genesis series. It’s contemporary fiction that reimagines the forgotten biblical characters from Genesis in modern American settings. These are raw, honest explorations of faith, survival, betrayal, and redemption. Because the people in the margins? They have stories worth telling too.
Thank you for being here.
Elizabeth Simon
Lizard Books LLC
P.S. If this email resonated with you, please share it with someone who’s chosen love over logic. And comment below, because I read every single one.
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