has a jewelry shop near some marina.”
“That’s great, Ana-it sounds like you have some things in common.”
Ana grinned, thinking she had escaped without too much humiliation, then her aunt continued, “I was wondering though-why you haven’t told him yet?” Aunt Tera asked gently, not wanting to upset her niece.
“Nice, Mom. Thanks for talking about me behind my back,” Ana glared at her mother, upset. Ana told Melissa in confidence that she hadn’t said anything about her health yet. Her mother was concerned about her choice and counseled her to be honest. “It will only be harder the longer you take,” she warned.
Melissa’s eyes flinched and she guiltily looked back at Ana, as though she was watching a balloon blown up to bursting point. “I’m just concerned, Baby. I know you like him-and understand why you don’t want to. I just worry that holding onto your secret will hurt you more in the end.”
“It always ruins everything !” Ana mumbled in anger. “I’m enjoying being normal. Everything will fall apart anyways. So, I might as well enjoy a piece of cake before it goes bad .” Ana stewed quietly not wanting to alert anyone in the other room about what was being discussed.
“Ana,” Aunt Tera said with a bewildered look.
Not wanting pity, or to see it reflected in her aunt’s eyes, Ana walked out the back door to get a breath of fresh air. Overwhelmed and with eyes stinging, she ran through the path to her sanctuary.
Perched cross-legged on the rock, her vision blurred as she let the tears flow, only held back by hardened practice. The warm drops found a pathway down her cheeks and a soft groan broke from her lips. She picked up a piece of shale from the rock below her and threw it as far as she could, watching it arc and fall into the darkening wilderness.
A snapping branch behind her made her turn and see Melissa emerge from the trail. Ana turned back and folded her arms across her chest.
“I’m sorry to intrude. I need to apologize though. I’m sorry I talked to Aunt Tera about everything. You know I’ll support you in all of your decisions and try not to question you. You’re old enough to make your own choices. After all…you are an adult now.”
Ana grimaced at the horizon and released her tension, opening her palms upward. “I know you just worry about me, Mom…I know you mean the best. It’s just that…it’s been bothering me too.”
Ana felt the tears start again.
“I don’t want to lie to Chance. Maybe it isn’t really lying, but it feels like it. I don’t want him to know. I’m afraid he’s just going to leave when he finds out.” Ana threw her head into her hands in defeat, her shoulders slumping toward the earth. As her mind spiraled into a tornado, her mother’s hand anchored lightly on her shoulder.
“Baby, it was never your fault. Your dad didn’t leave because of you. I don’t want you carrying around this pain inside. Dad and I just weren’t meant to be. He would have left even if you weren’t born…different. He was never mature enough to have a wife and kids. Don’t let your dad ruin what you have with Chance. I can see how you feel about him and I want you to be happy. You’re a caring, unique person who deserves to be loved-broken heart and all.”
Ana saw her mother’s worried eyes and the love within. Her mother was right. But she couldn’t help feeling like a bug repellant for people-extra strength formula.
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
Inspecting her hands, she noted the slight purple tinge near the tips and sighed. “I know you’re right, I just want a little more time .”
In so many ways, she thought to herself.
“If he hangs around for another two weeks, I’ll tell him after my doctor appointment-no later. I will tell him.”
Melissa faced the dying light and grinned. “I can’t remember where I heard it, but it clicked for me- ‘The truth will set you free, but first, it’ll piss you off.’”
An
“That’s great, Ana-it sounds like you have some things in common.”
Ana grinned, thinking she had escaped without too much humiliation, then her aunt continued, “I was wondering though-why you haven’t told him yet?” Aunt Tera asked gently, not wanting to upset her niece.
“Nice, Mom. Thanks for talking about me behind my back,” Ana glared at her mother, upset. Ana told Melissa in confidence that she hadn’t said anything about her health yet. Her mother was concerned about her choice and counseled her to be honest. “It will only be harder the longer you take,” she warned.
Melissa’s eyes flinched and she guiltily looked back at Ana, as though she was watching a balloon blown up to bursting point. “I’m just concerned, Baby. I know you like him-and understand why you don’t want to. I just worry that holding onto your secret will hurt you more in the end.”
“It always ruins everything !” Ana mumbled in anger. “I’m enjoying being normal. Everything will fall apart anyways. So, I might as well enjoy a piece of cake before it goes bad .” Ana stewed quietly not wanting to alert anyone in the other room about what was being discussed.
“Ana,” Aunt Tera said with a bewildered look.
Not wanting pity, or to see it reflected in her aunt’s eyes, Ana walked out the back door to get a breath of fresh air. Overwhelmed and with eyes stinging, she ran through the path to her sanctuary.
Perched cross-legged on the rock, her vision blurred as she let the tears flow, only held back by hardened practice. The warm drops found a pathway down her cheeks and a soft groan broke from her lips. She picked up a piece of shale from the rock below her and threw it as far as she could, watching it arc and fall into the darkening wilderness.
A snapping branch behind her made her turn and see Melissa emerge from the trail. Ana turned back and folded her arms across her chest.
“I’m sorry to intrude. I need to apologize though. I’m sorry I talked to Aunt Tera about everything. You know I’ll support you in all of your decisions and try not to question you. You’re old enough to make your own choices. After all…you are an adult now.”
Ana grimaced at the horizon and released her tension, opening her palms upward. “I know you just worry about me, Mom…I know you mean the best. It’s just that…it’s been bothering me too.”
Ana felt the tears start again.
“I don’t want to lie to Chance. Maybe it isn’t really lying, but it feels like it. I don’t want him to know. I’m afraid he’s just going to leave when he finds out.” Ana threw her head into her hands in defeat, her shoulders slumping toward the earth. As her mind spiraled into a tornado, her mother’s hand anchored lightly on her shoulder.
“Baby, it was never your fault. Your dad didn’t leave because of you. I don’t want you carrying around this pain inside. Dad and I just weren’t meant to be. He would have left even if you weren’t born…different. He was never mature enough to have a wife and kids. Don’t let your dad ruin what you have with Chance. I can see how you feel about him and I want you to be happy. You’re a caring, unique person who deserves to be loved-broken heart and all.”
Ana saw her mother’s worried eyes and the love within. Her mother was right. But she couldn’t help feeling like a bug repellant for people-extra strength formula.
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
Inspecting her hands, she noted the slight purple tinge near the tips and sighed. “I know you’re right, I just want a little more time .”
In so many ways, she thought to herself.
“If he hangs around for another two weeks, I’ll tell him after my doctor appointment-no later. I will tell him.”
Melissa faced the dying light and grinned. “I can’t remember where I heard it, but it clicked for me- ‘The truth will set you free, but first, it’ll piss you off.’”
An
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