Brotherly Love: Chapter Two

Chapter 7: Confirmation

"What are you doing here mom ?". I ask my mother puzzled .

"Mom?". Gabby ask raising an eyebrow at me.

Grace feels the tension in the room and grabs a gentle hold of my hand. It didn't make things better. What was my mom doing here? And why was her arm so tightly tangled with Gabrielle's father.

"This is my Fiancé".

"Fiancé?". I ask puzzled.

"Yes, I know I should of said something sooner but I wanted it to be a surprise". My mom explains.

"Mom I -". I couldn't finish my sentence properly. I didn't know what response I wanted to give her . I couldn't even look at her the way I wanted to. So it was official, the divorce was official.

I back away. The entire room was quiet and I could feel all eyes on the small scene that was unfolding before their eyes.

I didn't know if I was hurt or just shocked . My heart felt unrealistic as if it were busting out my chest.

I walk away, heading to the kitchen. Gabby follows behind me, slowly closing the door to the kitchen.

"That was.....unexpected". She chuckles, not knowing I wasn't too fond of the situation. To her, her father had finally moved on from the death of her mother. To me, it was happening all over again.

First it's Gabby reminding me so much of Hope, and now this. Eventually if they did get married that would make Gabby my step sister . And what kind of damn coincidence is that.

Was this some sort of prank ? Am I being filmed on a show called Punked?, if so, where are the cameras?.

I look around the kitchen . Maybe to see any flashing red lights anywhere in the hidden spaces of the kitchen. I must of gotten so caught up into looking for a camera, I didn't realize that Gabriel had started a conversation with me.

"What's wrong Caleeb?, talk to me, you are spaced out and I'm worried". She worriedly asks as she rest her right hand on my left shoulder .

My body tenses. And I could tell she felt it because she lowered her arm and kept a safe distance between us.

"Why..". I begin to talk but the words got stuck in my throat all over again.

"Why what?".

"Why me?". I finally speak. Breaking the awkward silence that was being displayed between us.

She tilts her head. A confused expression forming on her face and I suddenly got it. It was the realization of reality hitting me.

The reality that this was a sign. A sign that confused me too, at this point , I had no brain activity, everything was foggy, nothing clear of what was going on. And here I am, talking to myself instead of Gabby.

Oh shit. Gabby. I completely forgot she was in front of me.

I snap out of my thought and rub the back of my head. Seeing if I could explain to her exactly what I was feeling . But I still couldn't. Because I myself did not know what feelings were trying to explode.

As if reading my thoughts. She walks closer to me. Engulfing my body into a tight hug. And right then, I knew that's exactly what I needed. A hug. It wasn't the thought of my mom being with a new man. It was just how much the entire situation reminded me of Hope.

Right then it hit me, I knew what I was feeling. Broken , sad and depressed. The same feelings I felt for five entire years. The same feelings I was going to therapy for. That was it, in just a few minutes, I felt empty again .