Just Another Secret.

Chapter 55

Kahlil

Mom calls Jude down here.

She and Keisha... well, Keisha is yelling at Jude.

"You lied to my face! Were you gonna tell me or were you waiting for me to find out on my own! You started working more than usual to avoid me! You tried to fight me when I read Bryson's letter because you knew he'd write the truth! I didn't believe him. I went to go see him and he told me everything! Milly told me he had a seizure! You kept telling me he was coming home soon! You lied! You lied to me! You lied to me!"

It just gets hard to hear. I step in and grab Keisha as she keeps screaming through her sobs that she was lied to.

"Leave me alone!" She screams at me and I don't think I've ever heard pain quite like that before.

I let go of her and she storms out of my house.

I go after her. I refuse to leave her like this.

"Keisha—"

"Leave me alone!"

"Keisha stop!" I grab her hand.

"Let go of me."

I shake my head. She's always the rational voice when I am upset. I should do the same for her.

"Keisha your Mom—"

"Lied to me!"

"What was she supposed to say? How do you think she's feeling? How was she supposed to tell you your favourite person on earth... that you weren't going to see him again? That he wasn't coming home? We all know you are still on the fence about Bryson. Your Dad told me everything that went down with your Grandfather. You still haven't finished mourning his death. I saw that first hand when I saw you in the cellar of the cabin. Keisha, she is all you have right now—"

"Kahlil, you need to let go of me—"

"No. You are not okay."

"You are pissing me off right now!"

"I just want to help you—"

"YOU DONT UNDERSTAND! You will never understand. The last thing we talked about was court dates. He was going through the adoption process, that meant everything to me and now legally I can't even say he's mine! He's not going to see me graduate. I don't get to call him old or make fun of his weird dancing. I don't get to see his growth from raising me as his daughter. I don't get to hug him. I don't get to tell him I love him—I don't remember the last time I told him that! He was sick and I didn't know! He looked healthy. He was pushing himself and I didn't see how he was struggling to even get up in the morning! I thought he was joking around with me, No he was showing symptoms and I played along! Huntingtons? That's an illness that kills you slowly. He's been dying and I didn't know! He's been dying since before I was born! You won't make me feel better leave me alone! I'm so done with you!"

I freeze up and she escapes from my grip.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"This. You expect me to think about us right now?"

"Keisha, you've been drifting and I've given you space. I just don't think that this is the right time I leave you alone."

"I don't want to do us right now."

I step closer to her, "I won't allow that. I let you the first time. It's not happening again."

"That's not your choice."

"Give me one good real reason you are trying to break up with me." I desperately try to keep my tone calm and level.

She doesn't say anything and walks. I don't chase after her but I do say, "I'll get your stuff from school. If you decide you no longer want to be alone, my balcony will be open tonight—"