Out of Reach (PUBLISHED)

25

“Revealing the TRUTH hidden within lies can prove challenging for all parties involved. Occasionally, concealing the truth from our nearest and dearest becomes a necessity, driven by the desire to shield them. However, it’s also a well-established fact that truth can be painful, yet we must acknowledge that a lie can inflict even greater anguish when unveiled at a later point.”

 
***

“Truth?” Georgia mumbled, her heart racing upon hearing Jacob’s words. She made her way to his room, the door slamming against the wall with a resounding thud.

Startled, Jacob cursed, but she paid no heed to it, her urgency overriding politeness. She pressed him, “What truth, brother?”

“Georgia, what on earth? Were you eavesdropping? Couldn’t you have knocked?” Jacob’s voice grew louder. He sighed deeply, closing his eyes briefly, then resumed his conversation on the phone. “I’m going to tell her, Mom. I’m doing it for you and Dad.” With a swift movement, he ended the call and stashed his phone back in his pocket.

She waited in suspense. He said, “Let’s discuss this in the living room.”

As they walked toward the living room, just a few steps away, Jacob’s phone rang again. He retrieved it, glancing at the caller ID, and shrugged. “It’s Mom. I should take this call first.”

Georgia settled onto the sofa, nodding thoughtfully as Jacob answered his phone. He placed a hand on his waist, turning away from her.

“Yes, Mom,” he said into the phone.

Georgia listened, her curiosity growing.

“Okay, but are you sure you can do it? I’m happy to be the one to tell her the truth, anyway.” He sighed. “Fine. I’ll tell her.”

He ended the call and placed his phone on the center table before taking a seat on the single sofa.

Sensing something serious, she asked, “What’s going on?”

Jacob hesitated before saying, “I can’t tell you just yet. Mom doesn’t want me to. She said we should wait for her and Dad. They’ll be the ones to explain everything to you.” He let out another sigh. “For now, why don’t you go wash up? You reek of alcohol.”

Without uttering a word of dissent, she complied with her brother’s request. She retreated to her room and indulged in a lengthy shower, the sound of water masking her sobs.

Her parents had returned during her shower, and her emotions still swirled like a tempest. She pondered why this week had dealt her such a relentless string of misfortune. Rejection and embarrassment gnawed at her, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of being a fool. Most unsettling of all, she harbored little hope that the day would take a turn for the better; instead, she braced herself for more tribulations.

After several minutes, she emerged from the bathroom, prepared to face her family in the living room. Her parents occupied the long sofa before the television, while Jacob remained in his previous spot. She settled on the other side of the room, directly across from her brother.

“Georgia,” her mother, Jessi, spoke softly with a tender smile. “I realize this moment was bound to come, and perhaps I should have been more prepared. But rest assured, we’ll do our utmost to explain everything.”

Her father, Jude, chimed in, his smile tinged with sadness. “This is just as difficult for you as it is for us. But you need to know that what we’ve done, we did it for your own well-being.” He paused for a moment, then added, “Honestly, we hadn’t planned to reveal the truth until Jacob informed us that you’re still fixated on Jimhuesh.”