The Imposter

Chapter Ten

It was four thirty in the afternoon. Soon I would be leaving to see my best friend. How would he take the news when I tell him? Daisy came into the room. She explained to me how we would be able to make our great plan work. We would ultimately be lying to Mrs. Salazar. She had been so helpful to me by giving me a home and food. I didn’t want to betray her trust, but I had no choice. I had to let Jonah know what was going on. We let Mrs. Salazar know that we would be heading out to a local boutique. At first, she wasn’t convinced, but Daisy was quick to rebuttal anything she said to us. 

We arrived at the café at five o’clock. I could see Jonah sitting in a corner in the café. He was ordering a coffee from the waitress. It was nerve racking to think that I would soon show my face to my best friend who thought that I was dead. I got out of the car, as I did, I felt Daisy’s hand grab mine. “You need to wear these” she said as she handed me a pair of sunglasses. “It’s just in case anyone sees you.” I put the glasses on my face and walked into the café. I felt silly with these glasses on. What protection did they give me?

I opened the door. As I did, I felt as if all the eyes in that place were on me. All I thought about was how everyone in that room was asking themselves who that boy was. Reality hit as I was halfway to Jonah’s table. The waitress who I had seen helping Jonah asked me if I needed help. I froze, it was the first time in a while that I was talking to someone who didn’t live in the Salazar house. I kindly responded that I was there to see a friend and I pointed to Jonah. She asked if I wanted anything to drink. Water. I asked for water. I continued walking towards the table. I was finally face to face with my best friend. 

I sat down in front of Jonah, he was sipping from his coffee. As he placed his cup back on the table, he looked at me in disbelief. He couldn’t believe that his best friend was sitting in front of him. I could imagine that he had many questions, but he couldn’t even say anything. The waitress arrived with my water and left. “Hey,” I said to start the conversation. “How have you been?” Jonah was still in shock, he didn’t say anything. “I know you have a lot of questions, but I don’t have a lot of time.” At that point, it hit him. “What happened to you?” I could see the concern in his face. How would I explain the unexplainable?

We were told  that you died. The police investigated for some time and didn’t find anything. Where have you been?”

He had so many concerns and I didn’t know how to answer any of them.  I began with the simple things. I told him about the terrible life that I was having at the Jackson’s. About working instead of going to school.But what shocked him the most was hearing about the thing that Mr. Jackson had done that night.  He had tried to kill me, but was unsuccessful. 

Time went by so fast, I looked up at the clock and realized I only had ten minutes. “But how are you here?” he asked. I knew this was going to be the part where I would have to omit many things. I could only tell him the basics. I explained what had happened after the accident, that Mrs. Salazar had  saved me.  I had to tell him about me being an imposter, but time was almost up. 

The last thing that I really wanted to do was ask about my sister. “How is she? Valeria? Is she okay?” I knew that Jonah could see the concern that I had. “She’s devastated. She couldn’t believe that you were dead, but wait until I let her know that I saw you.” I could see the joy in his face, but he couldn't tell anyone. 

“No! You can’t do that!”  I realized the mistake  I had made coming here. “You can’t tell anyone that I’m alive. Pretend that you never saw me.”

 Jonah couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “How could you ask me to pretend that you are dead? Your sister is devastated with everything and you want me to continue with this lie?” He pounded his hands on the table. The people around us looked at us. It was a show. I grabbed my glasses and I placed them back on my face. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come. This was a mistake. Goodbye.” I walked out of the café and got back into the car. He walked out after me. He tried to grab me, but it was too late.  Daisy began to drive away and I saw Jonah in the mirror. I couldn’t look back anymore.