The ones who live hidden in plain sight (A discovery of witches story)

DNA

I won't be, no I won't be like you

By Lia Marie Johnson

On Friday morning, Camille was sitting on the edge of her bed with her phone in her hand. She had been staring at it for several minutes, summoning up the courage to make the call she had been dreading. The longer she waited, the bigger the lump in her stomach grew. Finally, with a shaky breath, she dialled the number. Each ring seemed interminable, until her mother's voice, cold and distant, finally answered.

- Camille? What a surprise,' said her mother, clearly surprised to have her on the line.

Camille gripped the phone a little tighter, trying to steady her voice.

- I've got something important to tell you, she began. I need you to listen to me.

There was a heavy silence, quickly broken by her mother's curt reply.

- What have you been up to?

That coldness, that unquestioning judgement... Camille knew it all too well. She took a deep breath before breaking the news.

- I'm pregnant.

Her mother was silent for a moment, shocked.

- Have you... Have you found someone ?

- Well, it's... more complicated, but...

- Camille!' she interrupted abruptly, her voice sharp. You're not planning to keep this baby, are you?

- Yes,' Camille replied firmly, instinctively defending herself.

The silence stretched on, heavy and oppressive, before her mother resumed, incredulous and stern.

- You have a career, Camille! No husband, no permanent situation... Do you really want to ruin your life for that?

The tears began to flow in spite of herself. She wasn't ruining her life. She knew that becoming a mother wasn't part of her original plan, but this baby was now her reality, and she loved him deeply. But her mother's merciless voice brought her back to reality. Camille sat up automatically, as she had always done in front of her mother.

- I... I'm not wasting my life,' she said, trying to remain calm. I'm going to have this baby, and Andrew and I are going to bring him up together. We'll be co-parents.

She could almost see her mother's face, frozen in indignation. She was expecting the next blow, a mixture of relief and panic that they weren't in the same room.

- Can you hear yourself? Come back down to earth, Camille. There's still time to correct this mistake. Act before it's too late and regain control of your life.

Camille felt a wave of revolt rising up inside her. She'd had enough of bowing to her mother's demands. In a calmer but determined voice, she replied:

- I'm six months pregnant, Mum.

There was an icy silence at the other end of the line.

- Six months pregnant? Have you lost your mind? Roared her mother.

Camille felt a dull anger welling up inside her.

- No! I haven't lost my mind! She retorted, drying her tears.

- Camille Hannah Galloway! Don't talk to me like that!' her mother ranted. What you're doing is irresponsible!

Camille took a deep breath, her body tense. She'd made this decision in good conscience and she wasn't going to let her mother make her doubt it again.