EQAO

Chapter 40 - Who Am I?

Since Anika lived so close, there wasn't much of a drive to her house. We stood out on the driveway, and I told my friends the whole story. They looked shocked and excited when I told them about how I could control water. But when I mentioned Mr. Folman's death, they were full of sadness. Sameera had regret written on her face. When I was finished, we all hugged Anika goodbye, and promised to get together the next day.

We got back to the car, and the cop looked slightly annoyed that we had taken so long, but said nothing. The clock on the dashboard said it was about four in the morning. I was ready to go home and sleep in my bed. I was the last one to be dropped off, and I said my thanks to the police officer.

I walked up the stairs to my porch, and knocked on my front door. I had to do it again, before it was opened. My mom stood there in her night gown, with heavy bags under her eyes. She stopped mid-yawn as she saw me. Her eyes widened, and she scooped me up in her arms. I melted into the embrace, a fresh set of tears running down my face.

"We were so worried..." she whispered in my ear, as she stroked my hair, "We thought the worst."

"I know." I whispered back, "I know."

We broke apart. My legs felt like jelly, knowing I was home and safe now. I wanted to go to bed, but there was one question nagging at me.

"Mom?"

She looked at me,

"Yes?"

"Who am I?"

The question seemed to surprise her, and it took her a moment to answer.

"What do you mean?"

"Mom, you know what I mean. I can control water."

She sighed, and avoided my eyes. She sat down at the table, and I followed suit, my legs sighing with relief.

"Jessica..." she started.

A new wave of emotions washed over me.

"You never told me!" I said, my voice raising, "You knew, and you never told me I could do this."

Water shot out of the tap.

"Why?" I asked, as the stream of water was reduced to drops.

My mom sighed again, and looked like she'd expected this conversation was going to happen.

"Jessica..." she said again, "Everyone has a gift, some people's gift just hasn't fully developed yet."

I raised my eyebrows skeptically, "Is this going to be how 'everyone is special' and I shouldn't think I'm weird? Because I'm pretty sure not everyone can control an element."

My mom pursed her lips,

"No, I'm serious. Most humans have some sort of special gift, whether it be creativity, empathy towards others, musical abilities, you name it. Every human has something that makes them unique. That's what makes the human race so interesting."

I narrowed my eyes at her,

"You say it like we're not human."

I tried to meet her gaze, but she wouldn't look at me.

"Jessica, we're not human."

I gasped. This was too much. I had processed too much, had gone through too much over these past couple days. I couldn't handle anything else. The world started spinning, and spots were dancing in my vision. I thought I heard someone calling my name, but it was so far away. All I could hear was my mother saying it over and over again.

We're not human.

I could feel my body sway, and I closed my eyes. I fell off the chair, but before I could hit the ground, I lost consciousness.