Saving Lyrics

Chapter 17

© 2011 Carol Nieves

I was in shock. I couldn't stop looking at the picture in my hand. Why was my mom in the photo? Why was she with the Ellison's in their home?

"That's your mom? How come? I don't understand?"

"I am as confused as you Danielle. I thought that I first met you and your family when I started attending Dalton Hewitt." I only remember meeting them when I was 10. I was just a baby in that picture, there was no way of me remembering that. But why my mom never mentioned anything about the Ellison's? "Can I keep this picture? Just for tonight, I promise I will return it. I just want to asked my parents about it, especially my mom."

Danielle didn't had any problem with me keeping picture. But she gave me a mini lecture before I left. She told me that I needed to let my parents explain, and for me not to jump to any conclusions. There was probably a good reason for the lack of information. Maybe it was something so insignificant that it wasn't worth to mention.

I drove home in a blurred. I didn't know why but I was feeling sort of betrayed by my mother. wasn't she the one that thought me that when you have you have to hide something from your love ones it's because it's not good? And now She was the one hiding something from me. I could expect that from my dad, but mom? I hope there was a good explanation.

I made it to my house, but I couldn't get out of my car. I stayed in the garage for a while. I wanted to know the truth, but at the same time I was afraid. Afraid that I wasn't going to like the explanation. Why would my parents kept this a secret?

I looked at the picture one more time before I gathered up enough courage to face them.

I heard the TV in the living room, it was on some game show. Putting the picture inside my pocket I walked there. Mom looked up from the TV at me and smiled.

"Camden, how are you doing sweetheart? It feels like I haven't seen you much lately. Are you still working on the school project?"

Was that smile fake too? Was my whole life a lie? I couldn't look at her, I needed air, I needed to breathe.

"Are you ok Cam?" She was concerned. She looked for the remote and turned off the tv.

"I'm fine mom, and yes I'm still working on my school project with Danielle Ellison. Do you know her?" perfect way to start the dreaded conversation.

"Of course honey, who doesn't know the Ellison's in this town? They are like local royalty."

"Is that all Mom? Is that the only reason you know the Ellison's?"

She was all serious, and a bit confused "What is going on Camden? Why all of the questions?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose, then scratched the back of my neck. I needed to know. I took the picture out of my pocket and walked towards her.

I handed her the picture. "So are you sure that's why you know them? Because this picture is telling me a different story."

Mom took the picture and looked at it. Then she covered her mouth with her other hand and her eyes went wide.

All of the sudden she closed her eyes, brought the picture to her chest, close to her heart. A few tears running down her face.

I was not expecting that reaction. "Mom, can you explain?"

She looked at the picture one more time before she started to talk again. "Gabriella Ellison was my best friend. We used to call ourselves the Fantastic Four." she laughed humorlessly.

"Gaby, Christian, your dad, and myself. We meet in college. She was my roommate. She was dating Christian. That's how I met your father. They were friends. He came once to visit Gaby with your father, and the rest, well you know the rest.