22 - Family Tree

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"Okay, so obviously it's a map of some sort right?" John b says as we all stare down at it on the table at the house

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"Okay, so obviously it's a map of some sort right?" John b says as we all stare down at it on the table at the house.

"Yeah but looks like a trippy mosaic" JJ adds.

"It's so weird. It's all scrambled" kie says

"What are we supposed to do with this?" I ask, rubbing my temples.

My head is already pounding, like it knows it's about to learn something it's not ready for.

"Decode it. That's what we're supposed to do." JJ says

"But how?" Kie asks, titling her head.

"With the code breaker that's how. All right everythings coming into focus now. You've just gotta let your eyes go out focus to focus in" JJ says

John b passes me the cigarette and I take it without thinking.

"I think we're mind melding" John b says

Kie looks at me. Really looks at me, with that mom look.

"What are you doing?" She asks

"Shit- shit. I forgot. Here" I mumble quickly, handing it to her.
"Sorry" I whisper

My heart stutters. I almost slipped again. Again. Everything feels fragile lately- my body, my secrets, my future.

The room goes dead silent.
A noise outside.

"What was that?" JJ asks

Move movement. Footsteps.

"I knew we shouldn't have come back here" kie mumbles

JJ and John b grabs whatever they can, ready to fight. Kie throws a jacket over the map. My pulse roars in my ears as I scan the room, every shadow suddenly hostile.

JJ checks one door. John b checks the other.

"Nothing on your side?" JJ asks

"No nothing. That's so weird. It kinda sounded like maybe it was-" John b started

The door opens.

"I'm sorry- I'm sorry."

We all exhale at once.

Groff.

"JJ. You made it. I uh I'm sorry to bother you here. I swam... I swam all the way in." He said, coughing.

"What are you doing here?" JJ asks

"I had no where else to go son" he said

Son.

The word lands like a gunshot.

My stomach drops. My chest tightens.
JJ looks at us. Then he moves to help him without another word.

So it's true.







"So... you're JJ's real dad?" Kie asks carefully.

"I don't deserve the title. But yes I am JJ's biological father. I could have done better by him, I know that. I look forward to telling you all about it." He said.

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