The Truth

The Law

There was an hour left in our flight but there was still more to know, she insisted that she should tell me all of it even though her voice slowly died. "Steven only visited once and that was a month after he left, he stayed the night, not as if my parents knew, he stayed up with you guys and let me sleep. That was the only time he decided to visit when you were with me. I remember telling the hospital that no matter what they were to keep you two together for as long as possible but obviously it didn't take long to split you up. Steven decided to visit in late January 2000 he only came because he was told, he loved you two but he wasn't a Dad we was just the guy with the shared your jeans. He was really angry with me, he explained that he put his life aside to provide for me which he didn't because moving in Philadelphia doesn't sound like putting your life aside, finally he calmed down and just wanted to talk. He understood that he was in the wrong and that if I didn't do anything there would be a chance we'd all starve. He apologized but really didn't mean it, he said that he was going to get you guys back but obviously he didn't cause that was the last I saw of him" she explained making sure she had every detail.

"I wanna meet them, Steven and your parents" I said hoping she'd agree but I was wrong she told me that it was an order st stay away from both parties, we were in kansas solely for finding Veronica.

We landed and got a cab straight to the hospital, it was weird that I was experiencing all of this, I found out I was adopted last year and now I've already met my mother and searching for my sister. Jake help my shaking hand to try and calm me down but it wasn't working, I began to panic and this never ended well. Clara decided to step away for a moment to give us some privacy. "I can't do this! Let's just go home to California and forget about all of this!" I cried as tears streamed down my face,

"Vanessa you're literally home right now, calm down a bit you'll be fine" he pulled me in for a hug but I couldn't breath, I felt a suffocating feeling dragging me further and further into my raw emotions.

"No" was all I managed to say before making a run for it, he ran after me and obviously he was faster, he grabbed me and tried yet again to calm me down, "take me back to the lake" I begged, if Jake wasn't there that night I'd be gone and that's all I could think about.

"Pull yourself together, that night was one of the worst actions you've ever done" he said sternly, "please just think about this" he asked. My stomach twisted and turned, every time I closed my eyes I imagined myself back in LA and enjoying school, I tried cutting out the real world and focusing on my dream but panic filled my body. My breathing became very heavy and I could barely stand, I felt faint but Jake was urging me to get up. "Come on, just breath in and out" I began relaxing and sobbing to try and get over my panic attack. My whole body was drenched in sweat, my legs were weak and my head was heavy, I was catching onto my breaths as Jake held me into a hug. "It's alright, I'm here for you" he whispered.

An hour went by of me getting over my breakdown and Clara had finally returned, "sorry guys I bumped into someone that I haven't seen since high school so we talked for a while, are you ready Vanessa?" She asked sweetly, I nodded my head, taking hands advice and just go ahead and get it over with. We walked into the hospital, Jake waited outside to stay out of the way. We weren't seated in the waiting rooms we were put straight through a large pair of double doors as soon as Clara registered her name and they found her files.

The hallways were covered from head to toe in peeling cartoons and stickers, I guess were in the maternity ward, my heart began racing but I had to get it over with, we stopped at another desk and again Clara gave the nurse her details. Two minutes was all it took until a doctor came walking towards us.

"Miss Merrell, I believe we haven't met before" he greeted sticking out his hands for him to shake but she solidly ignored it.

"I was here about 18 years ago and handed over my two children for adoption and gave one request to Nurse Flanagan, that they are not to be split up for as long as they could possibly be" she shouted at him,

"Nurse Flanagan now works in the children's ward I'm afraid but I can look back on some things for you" he stuttered not knowing what to say.

"No, I demand to know why they were split up, where they went and who they went to!" She shouted not even mentioning that one of her twins was right next to her, he directed us to a private office a little further down the hallways, "it hasn't changed much since I was here last" She smiled to me. We sat in two chairs opposite his desk and his computer waiting for him to stop asking questions to make sure it was her, he asked who I was and I was about to answer until Clara interrupted saying I was her sister... I mean we look alike and not much different in age so I guess it's kinda believable.

"Let's see... you put your twins Veronica and Vanessa Merrell up for adoption on the 23rd of December 1999 am I right?" He asked,

"Something Like that" she said quickly. Two days before Christmas!? That's strange.

"I can see here that your girls were kept in the hospital here until the 12 of February making sure that they were healthy and after that it says that the girls were put in a foster home with a couple in West Kansas and it gets confusing after that" he stated crossing his arms,

"Is that it?" I asked, Clara tried to make me shush but I had more to say, " all you can say is 'it gets confusing after that'! What do you mean it gets confusing!? Just tell us!" I shouted losing my patience faster than ever.

"Maybe you should step out seeming as ur not immediate family" he said taking if his glasses and staring at me,

"Nope she stays, now tell us, tell me! They're my children aren't they!"

"Technically no their not, in the name of the law you have no more custody of your children, as I would say, you may have given birth but you didn't raise" he smirked and that's when she lost it. I swear to you her lecture was 1,000,000 times worse than Karen's, she shouted and made the biggest racket ever, I forced myself to stay quiet and listen to the one person argument. 10 minutes passed and Clara finally sat down.

"Never assume, I raised my girls and I had no choice! Unless I wanted all three of us to die of starvation!" She finished, "so tell me where my girls are so I can just meet them!"

He stayed quiet and did as he was told, he opened his mouth but Clara gave him a look saying to keep it shut. "Bad news, one of your girls was taken by social workers and the parents wished that they'd have no contact whatsoever with you" he began until I interrupted,

"May I please be excused, I.. I need to do something" I Whispered quickly leaving. I pulled out my phone and shakily dialed Karen's number which came up as annoying bitch.

"Hello?"

"Hey Karen it's Nessa, I have a quick question and it's about my adoption" I asked,

"Well Thanks for the hello back! What is it now Vanessa, I thought since you were of age you were done with me"

"Stop with your shit and answer my question it's important, did you and John wish not to have any contact with my birth mother? And just answer cause I have no time for shit talk" I shouted into the phone,

"Having problems finding her" she asked genuinely,

"Karen no shit"

"None of that stuff matters" she laughed causing me to lose it.

"Karen I don't give a shit what you find fucking 'hilarious' just say yes or no! And no more fucking questions! I found my real mother and so far she's better than you ever were!" I yelled, only remembering I was in a maternity ward when I heard babies crying.

"Yes and you are not to.." she tried saying but I hung up before she could finish and went straight back into the office, I nodded at Clara implying that I was the baby. She continued speaking to this man about her children.

(A/N hope you enjoyed! Just wanna give a quick shout out to @carrotmerrell go read her books they're AMAZING!!!!!

So basically I've been writing a chapter for this book all week... little did I know I wrote over 3000 words! So I'm gonna either break it into 2 or 3, your choice. Thanks so much for reading<3)