You And Me Against The World | ✅

Chapter 14

"Your mother?" I ask astonished. "But she's dead. I went to her funeral," I say disbelievingly. "How?"

"She didn't die. She left. She couldn't take Marcus' abuse anymore and she left," he says a little angry.

We stay quiet for a long while. I don't know what to say or if I should say anything. Tobias' mother is alive. She never died. She left her abusive husband and let everyone believe that she died. She left Tobias. She left Tobias with that monster. She abandoned him. I hate her for that.

My mind races a million miles per hour. I feel so many things that I can't even begin to categorize them. If this is how I feel I don't think I want to know how Tobias felt when he found out. Or how he is still feeling. I need to say something. He told me this because he trusts me and because we both agreed no more secrets. But what could I possibly say? I'm glad your mom's alive. What a bitch for leaving you. I honestly don't know.

"Tobias, I have no idea what to say," I finally say.

"I know. I don't know what to say and it has been two years since I've found out."

"Do you talk to her? I mean, I don't know, do you get together and spend some mother-son time?" I ask not really believing it.

"We met a few times," he says ambiguously.

"May I be blunt," I ask.

"Sure."

"What kind of mother abandons her only son with an abusive man?" I ask, anger clear in my voice.

"That's what I've asked myself ever since I've found out she is alive."

"Did you ask her?"

"She said she didn't think he would be violent with me, but I don't know. I was always afraid of him. And he started beating me even before she left," he tells me.

I wrap my arms around him and rub a hand up and down his back. At first he remains motionless, but then he holds on to me and starts silently crying. I don't say anything. I let him cry. Who knows if he ever did this. Sometimes it's better to let it all out even if it shows weakness. When his tears dry off and he starts sobbing I cup his face in my hands and kiss him tenderly.

"I love you, baby," I say.

"I love you, too," he replies.

"Thank you for sharing this with me. Whenever you feel the need to talk about this, please know that you can always count on me."

"I know. Thank you."

"I think we should eat," I say trying to lighten the mood. He smiles and agrees. I take out the sandwiches and the water bottles and we both eat in silence. After we are done we eat our Dauntless cake and resume our lying position watching the clouds pass above us.

When the silence becomes unbearable I decide to say something.

"I hate her." It's not the best thing I've ever said.

"What?" he asks surprised.

"Your mom. She left you with that monster. I know you told me she was abused, but so were you and no matter what, a mother never abandons her child. Or she shouldn't. I know I'm selfish for thinking like this, but I don't care. I could never abandon you and if God almighty grants me to be a mother someday I would rather die than leave my child," I sternly say still looking up into the sky.

I feel Tobias shift beside me and suddenly kissing me hungrily. We kiss for what seems like forever and when we finally part we are both breathless. It takes us a few minutes to breathe normal again.