Solitary Confinement

The Secrets Come Tumbling Down

My heart raced faster and faster beneath my chest as I realized I had been staying with possible psychopaths. A sudden 'thud' sounded from downstairs in the foyer. My skin crawled as I heard voices from Maria and Evan who'd gotten back from church. Church. I snickered as that one ironic word filtered through my mind. Yeah, they were church going people alright.

I raced out of the library and quietly shut the door behind me. Maria came walking up the stairs when my feet began walking down the hallway.

"You're awake! I had thought that you would still be in bed by the time we got done," Mrs. Monroe spoke to me. You seem to know everything that I do, don't you? Suspiciously glancing at her, I replied to her accusation. "I've been up for the past hour. How did church go?" I asked her sarcastically.

"It was great. The Wallens finally brought their baby. Oh, he's the sweetest thing."

Mr. Monroe's footsteps echoed up the staircase as he came striding towards us with Emberly in his hands. The sourness deep within my chest made me nauseous and unsettled. Unable to stop the thoughts I'd been having leave through my mouth, I bit out, "So are you going to start keeping track of everywhere he's going to be for the next nine years of his life?"

Baffled, Maria's mouth hung open in surprise and fright. It opened and closed a dozen times. Mr. Monroe's face mimicked hers only he'd been able to keep his mouth shut. Finally, Mrs. Monroe spoke.

"I'm sorry. I'm not sure what you mean."

Frustrated with her obvious lying, I replied, "You know that's a bunch of bull. Do I have to spell it out for you?" I was not in the mood for mind games right now. The thought of them knowing exactly where I had been for nine years of my life left me queasy. For a few more seconds she'd just stared at me wide eyed and unmoving. Finally, I asked, "What is the manilla folder for, Maria?" Evan turned abruptly on his heels and took a now crying infant downstairs.

Without any surprise masking her face, Maria sighed and hung her head in what I'd perceived as defeat. Blotches of a red hue filled her cheeks and creeped up the side of her neck. From all the months of me staying here, I couldn't remember a time that I had seen her look so torn and broken. Worrisome appeared beneath her once bright blue eyes, her cheery disposition completely gone now.

Seconds later she began to open her mouth.

"I was going to tell you sooner Olivia. Evan and I just couldn't find an appropriate time. We've wanted to meet you ever since you were a little girl." What had once been fear I'd been feeling now turned into disgust.

"Do you not understand how completely creepy that sounds? How did you even know me at that time? Were you stalking me?"

Maria let out another sigh and closed her eyes. A tear escaped her eye lids and fell down her cheeks. An awkward minute or so went by before she opened her eyes again. Mrs. Monroe wiped the stray tears which continued to fall down her face. Before letting out an almost inaudible chuckle filled with irony, Maria looked towards my direction and started to speak.

"I've known you your whole life, Olivia. I'm your mother.