If Only

Chapter Forty-Seven: A Gap Bridged

"It's me, mom..." The words escaped my lips before I could fully process the situation. The dim light cast long shadows, adding to the tension that hung heavy in the air.

My mother stood several feet away, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. With a slow pivot, I turned to face her, my heart pounding in my chest as I braced myself for her reaction.

"Who's that with you?" 

My mother's voice held a genuine curiosity, free from accusations or hurt. It was a simple inquiry, yet the complexity of the situation added layers of hesitation to my response.

"Ja-" I faltered, my gaze flickering briefly to Jared, silently pleading for guidance. In that split second, a whirlwind of thoughts raced through my mind, each one presenting a different path with its own set of consequences.

Time seemed to stretch infinitely as I grappled with the weight of my decision, the enormity of the moment pressing down on me like a heavy burden.

But I needed to think fast, my mom was literally standing there waiting.

There's no way to escape something that's already presented right in front of your face. You can't just run, even if that's one of the things going through my mind right now, running through concealing it with a lie.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Jared took a bold step forward. Stepping into the illuminated section of the sidewalk, he confidently introduced himself, catching me off guard and leaving me in a state of shock with wide eyes and my jaw nearly hitting the ground.

"Good evening, Ma'am. I'm Jared. Jared Thompson," he spoke firmly, yet his posture betrayed a sense of tension and uncertainty. I could hear his breathing as I stood behind him.

My eyes turned to gauge my mother's reaction. She appeared curious, squinting to discern Jared's face in the dim light. However, an uncertain smile soon graced her features as she acknowledged him.

"Oh, well, I'm Jade's mother. I'm just curious, are you one of Jade's friends? I just wanted to ask, since I'm sure I haven't seen you before..." she responded politely

I listened attentively, cautious for any possible hidden dispute or malice in her tone. Surprisingly, my mother's voice remained friendly, and her curiosity seemed genuine. Her tone devoid of any hint of suspicion or resentment.

Jared's eyes briefly glanced downward, and he released a quick, nervous chuckle in response to the question. As he looked up at my mom, a strained smile remained on his face.

"I understand Jade may not have mentioned me to you before, but I'd like to introduce myself. I'm..." He paused, creating a moment of suspense that made my heart race in anticipation of the next words.

Jared took a deep breath, his smile wavering slightly as he began to falter and stammer.

"I'm... I'm Jade's boyfriend..."

The words hung in the air, and a heavy silence followed. The air constricted in my throat, almost causing me to burst out coughing. He did not just...

The tension hung in the air, thick enough to be cut like paper. Anticipation gripped me as I awaited my mother's response. The first few seconds of her silence felt like an eternity.

My mind, still reeling from Jared's unexpected revelation, was racing through various scenarios. Overthinking took a backseat, replaced by the pressing question of what to do now.

Images of my mother running to my father with this newfound information flashed in my mind. Anxiety surged through me, and the realization hit hard—we were both in deep trouble.