*Here's the next chapter! I didn't really proofread, so I apologize for mistakes! Please tell me what you think, I love constructive criticism! Comment, vote, become a fan! Thanks! And feel free to check out my other stories! :) *
4-Explanations
I instantly needed to know more. Questions swirled in my head like pressurized air, just dying to burst out of my mouth. There was no way I could get them all out, one by one, for this woman to answer. Suddenly, a clear realization hit my like a ton of bricks. Mouth still hanging open, I directed my downcast eyes up at Louise's face. Finally my mouth was able to muster some noise, but nothing discernable. Yet she seemed to understand.
"Yes, Michelle. This means that I am your mother," she said in a teary voice, while allowing herself a small smile. This action caused me the urge to smile back. It took a moment to realize I already was smiling. Slowly words began to pour from my mouth.
"So...you're who I talk to every year on the phone when it's my birthday? You're the one who tells me you love me, and miss me, and...and....you're my..mom," I felt almost like crying myself, even though this woman was still basically a stranger.
Still looking at me with sympathetic eyes, my...mom...spoke again, "So honey, would you like to rest now, or do you want to know more?" Her voice was soft and sweet, like the way I pictured honey would sound.
"I, I-I want to know more. Please," I was nearly pleading with her to explain what was happening. Louise-my mother- appeared thoughtful for a minute, letting her eyes roll up to the ceiling in contemplation. "I know! I'll be right back, dear," she said in her honey voice, standing up.
After a little while she was back, standing by me timidly. "Would you be alright if I sat next to you?" she asked, her voice sounding hopeful. I inched over on the velveteen couch and she took her place beside me. She was holding a manila envelope gingerly in her small, soft looking hands. Upon opening it, a series of parchment colored papers were revealed. She laid them carefully on her lap. I could see at the top of the first sheet, the letters 'GGC' were scrawled in beautiful calligraphy. Underneath them, in smaller cursive writing, I could make out the faded lettering of 'Grand Genie Council', and further below that, a date which I recognized as five days after my own birthday.
"We received this just after you were born. It tells everything. We were so shocked. You lived with us entirely for the first four years of your life. We so cherished that time, because we knew we would have to give you up. I considered destroying the bottle sent to us on your fourth birthday, but Greg knew it would be to no avail. It would make the Council angry, and they might take you away forever. Compliance was essential," She explained with a nostalgic look in her eyes. I nodded and she went on, "Progressively, over the next two years, you spent more and more time in the bottle. You grew used to it. I taught you to cook for yourself, and how to keep your possessions neat and tidy, and how to read. The bottle has very special magic. It keeps the kitchen stocked with food, and basically self maintains its cleanliness, if you take good care of it. And I always knew you would take very good care of it," she added with a smile and timidly patting my shaky hand. I managed a shy smile back so she would continue. After a moment she removed her hand and spoke again, "When you turned seven, the time most kids are in first grade, you moved into the bottle permanently. We were allowed phone contact with you a lot at first, but slowly that dwindled until we were allowed only one call annually, on your birthday. Oh Michelle, this was all so difficult. Our first baby, and we were so excited. A few years later, we decided to have another child, and were blessed with Haley. She's six now, going on seven actually, the time we lost you."
"But she's not a-" the words escaped my lips before I realized they were in my mouth. The woman shook her head and responded,
"No, she is not a genie" Louise waited a moment in anticipation that I might speak again. I couldn't come up with anything discernable to say, so she continued, "Genies are naturally very responsible and smart, and mature quickly. I couldn't imagine Haley living all on her own at this age. She's...different than you were." I could tell she didn't mean it as an accusation, but merely a statement. "Anywho," she continued, "when a female genie turns sixteen, she is informed that she will be entering the human world in exactly one year. She is magically equipped with new books which will teach her in a few months everything normal children take around ten years to learn. In this year's time, the girl must also learn to manage her powers. I was going to tell you all this in a couple of days when I called you. But, well, here you are instead!"
I felt instantly guilty and looked down at my hands folded in my lap. She noticed this and went on with a gasp,
"But of course I'm thrilled to have you, dear! I've been missing you every day for nine years! You don't know how many times I've sat, just holding your bottle to feel closer to you," her face softened, "or picked up the phone, just wishing I could dial your number. I'm-I'm so glad to have you with me again, Michelle. Could-could I give you a hug?"
Startled, I couldn't do anything but nod as the woman gingerly but eagerly put her arms around me in an embrace. It felt good, and familiar to me, and I place my hands onto her back as well. After what seemed like a long time, yet also no time at all, she loosened her grip and sat back again. I suddenly felt exhausted, which she must have sensed too, because she said sympathetically,
"Oh gosh, you must be worn out. I'll show you to the guest room and you can get some rest. Come with me." With that, she stood up, setting the stack of papers on the small table in front of the couch, and walked around the furniture and down the hallway. She paused halfway down to make sure I was following. My legs felt like jelly but I trudged behind her. We reached a room that looked even blander than the rest of the house, but with a large, comfortable looking bed. It seemed very inviting so I went over to it and crawled in under the thick comforter.
Louise looked just a tad startled at my lack of hesitation, but then love seemed to fill her eyes. She walked over to me and pulled up the covers around my neck.
"Sleep tight, honey. We'll talk more tomorrow, alright?" she hesitated, leaning over me, then leaned down and gently kissed my forehead. Her lips were smooth and smelled like vanilla. She whispered, "I love you," and left the room, closing the door quietly.
My forehead tingled with her touch, but the warm feeling her words had left in me quickly dissolved in her absence. I suddenly felt completely foreign here, and tried to nestle deeper into the thick bedding. Feeling very nostalgic for my own home, I thought of how I was basically a stranger in this house. The memories my mother had described were nowhere in my head. There was no recollection of my past here, and it made me feel desolate. Curling up on my side, I laid there, with all this newfound information churning around in my head until eventually, I drifted into sleep in this house that was not a home.
