Running Bases With You

Chapter 60

{unedited}

*Annabeth's POV*

I'm cleaning up in the washroom when my mum walks in, a sorrowful frown on her face.

"Mum..."

She holds up a hand to stop me. "Annabeth, it's alright. I've known for some time now. I just never cared to admit to myself that I was right."

I hang my head low, feeling more than a little ashamed of myself. My heart aches at the thought of what my mother, my father, and my little brother, wherever he may be, are thinking about all this.

My mum moves closer to me, taking a seat on the edge of the tub. Our bodies face each other, each of us looking tired and worn.

"Annabeth, I'm not upset with you, baby. I could never be upset with you. I just want to know why you never told us it was this bad?" She asks, her voice cracking and low.

I sigh, rubbing my hands over my face. I'm too afraid to look up and see how broken my mother's eyes must look.

"I kept telling myself it wasn't important. I didn't want to bother you with it. You already have so many problems, so many other more important things to worry about; the last thing you needed was for me to tell you that I had an anxiety disorder so bad I was actually passing out. It felt so embarrassing. I felt ashamed that I'm this way. I don't want to feel like this. I don't want to have to admit to my parents, my own family, that I have a problem that I can't fix."

My mum takes my hands in hers and grips them tight. "Annabeth, we're your family. Family is here to help you, to build you up. You shouldn't feel embarrassed or ashamed to tell us anything, baby. We love you so much and all we want is to help you. If I would've known..."

I immediately shake my head. "No, no, God, no. Mumma, please don't blame yourself. It's no one's fault, but mine. I should've told you all, much, much sooner. I was too afraid."

Mum takes a deep breath. "I myself had many mental health issues as a young adult, you know."

I look up at her through my wet eyes. "You... You did?"

"Oh, yes. Especially during Uni. But then... I met your father. And things began to change, slowly, but surely. I saw a counselor, after much convincing of course. I began to heal, both in the inside and on the outside. It was almost as if I was a completely different person. I was smiling again, actually laughing.. It was like I was a young girl again."

Mum smiled lightly, patting my hand.

"I never knew." I say, barely in a whisper.

Mum laughs, bluntly without humor. "Oh, I guess you could say I was like you are now. Too embarrassed, too ashamed, and too afraid."

I lay my head on her chest like I used to when I was a small girl and wipe my eyes. My mum wraps her small arms around me in a gentle hug, holding me close to her in a warm embrace. I can hear her heart beating, a soft sound that brings a smile to my face.

"I love you, Mumma."

She leans down and kisses me on the top of my head. "And I love you, Annabeth."

We stay this way for awhile, relishing in the silence. A knock on the door breaks us apart.

"Come in."

The door creaks open and my father pops his head in, a weak smile on his face.

His eyes go over both my mum and I. "All cleaned up now?"

I nod. "Yes. I feel much better now." My smile falters momentarily. "I'm really sorry, dad."

My dad shakes his head, just like he always does when I'm being stubborn.