Forbidden

The Journal

After school I met Liam where he said he'd be. Right at the corner where we go to walk home. I gave him a questioning look but he wouldn't say anything until everyone in their cliques had left school grounds. Obviously it must be important if he has to show me in private.

Once the school grounds were clear of annoying populars, he took out a small brown journal out of his backpack. I examined it. Attached to it was a tiny key. He unlocked the journal and handed it to me.

"Look for the page with the folded corner," he said with unexplained excitement.

I turned through the pages.

"It's my mom's," he explained.

Finding the folded page, it read:

October 17, 1997-

The pregnancy test read positive. I knew it. I just knew it. I would finally have a child of my own. I sure hope it's a girl. No doubt, I'm overjoyed that Juliana gave me Liam. But I've always wanted a girl. Especially now that I know it's Andrew's baby, too.

I looked up from reading and stared at Liam before going back to the page and re-reading it. Turning through the other pages, I read some other entries.

October 25, 1997-

Andrew refuses to tell Bethany. I sort of understand. She is his wife. She'd be raged. But it angers me also because I'm having his child and he's not saying a word about it to Bethany.

Flipping through several pages as we began walking, I read:

March 08, 1998-

Liam is asking more about his dad. I don't know what to tell him. I never knew him. Juliana hardly knew him. And yet she still got knocked up. Poor Liam. And now he's going to have a step-sister..well, sort of.

May 13, 1998-

I have made a final decision. My baby wouldn't be a part of Liam's life. It's better for the both of us, really. Only troublesome questions would rise with this baby. Questions that couldn't be answered. How would Liam react if he knew the truth?

I shut the journal with as much force as I could. I was so angered. So she gave me away to have another life so that some truth wouldn't hurt Liam? That-

"You know what this means?" Liam asked.

"That I was given out of the fear that you wouldn't respect your mother anymore?" I asked.

We were to the house now. We walked inside and Liam quickly led me to my room. Why not his room? Probably because he had something to hide. But whatever.

"What?" I whispered.

He had his finger to his mouth.

"Read it again. It's clear. I'm not LeAnn's child. My real mother is named Juliana. Whoever that is. I was ADOPTED."

He didn't look angry, just little disappointed. I rested my hand on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Liam."

He laid down on my bed. "I'm not."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion.

He smiled, grabbing my hand. "This means we're not related, Morgan baby. I'm not LeAnn's son."

A smile spread across my face too. "Not related," I repeated as if it were the cure for cancer or something.

He pulled me closer and dragged me down with him.

"Liam," I whispered after we were both laid down.

"Hm?" he asked, starting to kiss me.

I lifted his chin up to face me, as he was now above me.

"I haven't ever- you know..." I trailed off.

He smiled. "Me neither."

And he continued to kiss me, and all the while I could only think, We're not related.