Manifestation

15: Prophecy & Parenting

My dad and I used to watch Star Wars together when I was a kid. I remembered episode five when Luke Skywalker found out that Darth Vader was his father. I was truly shocked. My dad didn't seemed phased by it he had seen it so many times. That's what I felt like right now.

Why didn't she tell me? Why wait so long? My whole life seemed like a lie.

"Ari, are you ok?"

My knees buckled and I fell to the ground. I didn't bother to get up. My mom rushed to my side and put a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off.

"You lied to me." I said softly.

"I had a good reason-"

"Why couldn't you tell me?"

"Arizona, your mother-"

I stood up. "You shut up. You don't have a say in this right now."

Michael looked taken aback.

"Arizona! Don't talk to him like that!"

"What? Because he is my father? I barely know him!"

"Take a seat." Michael said calmly.

"No! You don't get to explain anything. You have lied to me and betrayed me and left me in the dark!"

I whipped open the door and stomped out. My face was hot and tears filled my eyes. I heard my mom walking after me.

"Go away!"

"Arizona, let me explain-"

I turned around. "Why didn't you just tell me?!"

"Because, when Hunter was around he couldn't know."

"You mean Hunter the guy I thought was my dad?! Why couldn't he know?! I'm sure if he was around, he would want to know who his daughter actually was!"

"He would've killed Michael-"

"Maybe that's how it should be!" I turned back around and stomped down the stairs to the runway.

Tears spilled over my eyes and people stared at me as I walked by. I walked all the way to the corner of the runway where no planes were and collapsed into sobs on the ground.

What other secrets was she keeping from me? Next thing I know, Ryan might be my brother. She had made me mourn a fake dad. A dad I sobbed for hours over when he left. I almost died thinking that Hunter was my dad. It's all a lie.

I felt arms wrap around me from behind and thought it was my mom, but realized that Ryan was holding me.

I turned around and cried into his shirt. He smelled like trees and gunpowder.

"You're ok." He whispered. He kissed the top of my head. "I'm sorry."

I tried to calm down. I was overreacting. We sat there for another five minutes until I felt a small hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw my mom standing over me, Michael was behind her.

I moved closer into Ryan's chest and we stood up. He turned me away from her and I could feel him giving her dirty looks.

"You can't hide from the truth forever-"

I broke free of Ryan's embrace. "It's what you did to me!"

"There was never the right time. The fight, you got sick-"

"Before that! You couldn't have told me after dad left?!"

"You didn't know who Michael was anyway. It would be useless." She said in a calm voice.