The Choice

29) Joe

Her moans fill my ears.

I flick the tip of my cigarette then inhale another puff of smoke. I glance at the phone screen viewing the girl as she pleases herself in front of the camera. "Ah, Joey" she slurs throwing her head back. I smirk, "mhmm touch yourself, Tats." She moans again, I lick my lips focusing on her features.

Meh. I lounge back on the couch listening at her squeaky moans as I give her instructions with my camera closed so, she won't notice that I'm not on my high like her. I stopped getting aroused from girls since so long. She moans my name again, but the doorbell rings interrupting me.

"Ugh Ali, you couldn't use your goddamn key. Wait here, Tat. Don't come till I come back, hmm?" she nods and I discard the phone and head for the door with the cig between my lips.

I open it and freeze, Omer and Aurora are standing in the hallway. I'm still not used to see him and he looks like it too because I notice the flicker of emotion pass through his eyes before he clamps his cold mask again. I look at the woman next to him and couldn't stop the grin from spreading on my face. "Belle!" I hug her, I notice too the flare in Omer's eyes. She pats my back and I stop in front of him. He eyes me then cracks a tiny smile then opens his arms as I hug my big brother back. I pull back then blurt, "mom is here. Asleep, but here. Won't wake up till..." I look at the clock then back at them, "the next hour." Aurora frowns then asks, "is she on a certain medication?" I nod. Omer shifts with something close to a grimace on his face. I usher them in and close the door before the earphones at my luck disconnects and a moan fills the living room.

Aurora freezes her eyes wide and Omer doesn't move a lash. I rush for the phone muttering, "fuck. Sorry, belle. Ugh I'll go now Tat." "but, Joe we still- I hang up before she blurts something else and look back at them. Aurora presses her lips in a thin line and Omer just fixes me with a gaze. I got caught a lot. Really A LOT. But today feels like I really did get caught doing something really naughty. I clear my throat, "sorry, um. Well, -" It's okay. Totally fine." Aurora smiles softly and I give her a thankful smile back. We sit across from each other. I notice Omer's eyes roam the place then they set on Aurora.

" Where's Leo? And Eli? " Aurora asks," Leo is out I don't know where. Woke and didn't find him. Eli is probably at her piano school or home." She nods then her eyes drop to my phone before snickering. "Girl, stop." She raises her palms, "sorry." Then she giggles. I pick up the pillow and lower it the same moment as I catch Omer's look at what I was going to do. She perks up, "if she's asleep, can I go in and check on her? Your mom." I feel my heart soften at her concern and nod. She looks at Omer and he too nods then she stands to go to my mom's room.

Omer looks at the phone then to me, I find myself explaining to him, "she's a friend of mine. We were- uh." I never felt that nervous. He shrugs smoothly, "you don't have to explain yourself, Joe." I find myself smiling at that, "thanks". He perks up at Aurora's and mom's voices. "I can get you away." I tell him alerted and he just shakes his head. I widen my eyes, "you-you'll meet her?" He gives a shallow nod. So, Aurora went to wake her up. Aurora my queen.

"I thought you didn't like it here, you left early." I hear my mom's soft voice.

"No, I had to go. But here I am!" Aurora chirps as she takes her arm leading her to where we're sitting.

The door jiggles and opens revealing Ali. Good, I was about to call anyways. He should be here today. He too freezes, his eyes widening at the scene in front of him.

Aurora and mom are standing in the hallway. Omer on the couch his gaze fixed on Aurora's back.

Mom and Omer still didn't see each other.

Aurora is the only barrier between the two.

Well, and I'm sitting on the couch I guess.

I slide my eyes at my older brother. Tense, very tense and his palms are flattened next to him on the couch ready to stand. Or flee I don't know.

" I asked Joe for your number. He didn't give it to me." Mom murmurs and Aurora looks down at her lovingly, "I'll give it to you myself." She hesitates back stiff then adds, "I – I want you to meet someone." Mom looks up at her then nods.

That's it, Aurora moves revealing Omer.

He stands, clenching and unclenching his fists. I stand too as I catch Ali shift Omer's way.

Mom frowns as she scans Omer. She looks at Aurora then back at him.

Her lips part and his eyes soften. She frowns again then tilts her head. A tear slips from his eye. We all are holding our breaths after mom grips Aurora's hand then takes a step.

Then another. Then another. She stops two steps from him. She looks so small and young next to him. She looks like my mom. Not the robot we've been living with. A tear slips from her eyes too.

"You look like someone I knew." She mumbles as another tear slips from Omer's eyes.

"You look like my son." She lifts a hand approaching him slowly.

"You look like my lost soul." I mistake my ears as I hear a small gasp of breath from Omer. She finally touches his face. He closes his eyes leaning into her hands then opens them again.

"You look like Omer."

I have tears, Ali has tears, Aurora has tears.

We all break when Omer says, voice young and broken. Our old Omer speaks,

"I am Omer,... m-mom."

A sob breaks from her throat as she falls to her knees and we all rush for their side. He sits on his kneed in front of her as he catches her trembling body, "Is this one of my dreams? Am I seeing you in my hallucinations again, my baby? Did God finally respond to my pleas and took my life away?" she sobs and he shakes his head and grabs her face.

She gasps, "he took you. I didn't say goodbye. I am sorry. I didn't fight back. Please forgive your mother. But please don't leave this dream. Don't leave me like every time to complete it in my head and imagine that you're here." She sobs again and he starts pulling her towards him.

" Mom, I'm here. Not a dream. " she cracks as she falls into his embrace. Weeping loudly.

Aurora sniffs and Ali wraps an arm around her kissing her hair. I join them too wrapping an arm around her other side.

Mom pulls back face red from crying as she scans him, touches all over his face then kisses her hands placing them on her chest. She kisses his forehead then cheeks then hair then buries her face in his embrace again as her body gives up. He cradles her soothing her back placing soft kisses on her hair as her sobs quiet. He searches our eyes then stops at Aurora. She smiles softly, proud. There's a proud gleam in her eyes that brings the softest smile out of him.

She grabs our hands and pulls us inside giving them some privacy.