Ti Amo

Chapter 11

Joseph was stunned. He couldn't speak. He felt like his world was crumbling.

Caesar looked at him. His green eyes seemed eerie now.

Joseph found his voice. "Is your father's name Robert?"

"Yes, that's right." Caesar looked at Joseph. "Why do you look so afraid?" He stepped closer.

Joseph stepped back. "Get ... get away from me."

"Jojo ... it's me, Caesar."

"No." Joseph could not stop shaking his head. "You are not  Caesar."

Caesar's voice began to hold panic. "You said you would keep me safe."

Joseph backed away slowly. He jabbed a finger out, his hand shaking. "You knew. You knew you weren't him."

"That's not true ... well, it is partly true. I suspected I was different when I got older. At some point I figured it out."

"You just found everything about me from a file or something, didn't you ?!!"

"No - yes, there was a file. In Father's office. But I only broke in to find out how to contact you after I remembered you."

"Bullshit!"

Caesar flinched at Jojo's raised voice.

"Is this about money? You want my earnings from my real estate company, my share of Granny's estate."

"I don't want your money." He took a halting step forward. "Jojo ... "

"Stay back. Don't come anywhere near me."

Caesar was very pale. "Please ... let's talk about this. Don't do this. Don't walk away from me. Jojo, I love you."

Joseph's voice was hoarse. "Go back to the guest house. I'm going to see your fa - Robert. He's going to have to come and pick you up."

With that, Joseph turned on his heel and left.

Caesar stood in stunned silence. He said to himself, "I can't go back. I don't remember me."

Did I stop and watch the sunset fade...
What gave me life and took my breath away?
Did I take a last-call stranger home?
So I wouldn't have to wake up alone...

Heard I was a wild one, acting like a child some,
But I really don't recall.
Heard I was a fast one, always was the last one
waiting for the other shoe to fall.
I've seen pictures,
and I've heard stories about the boy I used to be.
But I don't remember me...

Was I just another ghost in this town?
Who was I when no one was around?
Did I even know what I was living without?
Who are all my favorite songs about?

Was my heart beating in my chest?
Was I even alive ... before the day we met?

Heard I was a wild one, acting like a child some
But I really don't recall.
Heard I was a fast one, always was the last one
waiting for the other shoe to fall.
I've seen pictures,
and I've heard stories about the boy I used to be.
But I don't remember me, before you.

////

Joseph's heart pounded as he strode to the car. He didn't know what he would do if Caesar came after him.

He got in the car and took off so fast it left skid marks.

He didn't know what that thing was. But it wasn't Caesar.