Perceive

Moment Of Truth

I think Adri's brains were fried. Because touch me not mimosa plant had turned into a tree hugger. Tree being me. He had wrapped himself around me somewhere in the middle of me telling him everything. And he hadn't left me since. It's been two hours now since I told him everything.
He hasn't said a word since. I could show him the box of proofs that I'd collected and kept with me to prove to him that it was the truth. But trusting him so much in one go, would be impossible if he wouldn't open his mouth and say something.
He suddenly tightened his hold on me and I could hear a whistling, keening voice from somewhere. I soon realised that the whistling and keening was from my chest. And that I may be having another panic attack given that I'd just coughed up over 75% of the truth. He held me tighter as if he could quell my fears just by holding me together. Nope. That had been my job for as long as I could remember and yet I could feel myself calming down without my inhaler. I shot him a grateful look and right then made the desicion to show him the box and bounce my other theory off of him. I needed the back up anyway. If I was right, and with my luck I was, I was going to need all the help I could possibly get.
I got up to go to my room and get the box out of the closet when he finally asked," How the hell did you get out alive? Why didn't someone like you enlist to get away from those shits? They could've done nothing to you there, you'd be safer there..." He stopped himself in his track of thoughts as if he really didn't believe that I could be safe anywhere, including the military. That meant he believed me. He didn't think I was a nutjob yet. In a sudden rush of emotion, I jumped on to him, and kissed him with everything I had. But before I could get carried away I pulled back almost immediately. I went into my closet and opened the back compartment that I'd built into the wall behind it. I took out my box and kept it on the bed and said," Here's all the proof I collected and that video. Most of the proof cannot be traced back but the video has a clear view of George and an eighteen year old Alex Cianti, making the two hundered million dollar drug deal. That should be able to put them away. But this can be proven to be forged which is why I'm going to need to gather more before I can build a case. Now more than ever, because whoever it is that killed Shu and the tech, is most positively related to Cianti".
"How do you know that? Did someone try to openly hurt you?"
"No, Adri, someone left the signature Cianti sign, that black pouch you found remember, it wasn't for me, it was in the wall of the clinic, where the drugs and all of the other stuff was found on the day I was attacked".
He came over, put my box where I'd got from and picked me up, settled me on the bed and proceeded to wrap himself around me again.
"Don't worry anymore. Honey, I got this. You've fought alone for too long. Kudos to you for living it out alone for so long. You've done a great job so far protecting everyone around you. No one can ever say you didn't do anything. I always knew even back in school that something was up with you, you know. Even after Gia supposedly died. You were broken up about it, but it wasn't enough to convince me completely. I never said anything or ever asked you too many questions for that matter in all the years I knew you, but there was something off about both you and Gia, like you both were in on a huge secret of sorts. But I never pegged you to be a person who was capable of keeping something so big to yourself. I went through my own hell after I enlisted after military school. But now I wish I'd never left. I know I couldn't help you, but I could've been there to make you less miserable".
" What makes you think I'd risk you for this. I didn't even tell my family. And I still don't intend to".
"True, tell me something, how did you and Gia really manage after her supposed suicide?"
I turned around and I finally looked him full in the face, after almost 2 hours and said, " Oh, it wasn't easy, we had to prepare for this for a while. She knew her going on the run, would keep them distracted enough for me to hide myself, protect my family and re- start my life. I volunteered to go with her, but she knew I'd always wanted to be a doctor. So she faked her death, and we had already found a victim with a mangled body that looked alot like her. Out of the two years of planning, one year was only dedicated to buying her a ticket to run away from those psychopaths. We got away together as soon as she jumped. It was a risk. She could've actually died. But our training helped a lot. She managed to roll and avoid any major injuries. I took a " solo trip" that year to " try to move on from my friend's suicide that year" remember? That was me and Gia going to a safehouse we made in San Jose. I fixed her as best as I could. I got her to change her haircolor, her general appearance, everything. That's also where we agreed we'd never see each other again unless we were in danger again. Of course me being me, I wanted to at least catch up on birthdays, so, we made a system, we had codes to speak to each other and mastered the art of disguise. I know what I sound like but other than accidentally killing that asswrap, I have never hurt anyone".
He pulled me closer, and said into my hair," Oh I know. You just look too damn scary. You wouldn't hurt anyone if you could help it. And I know you're waiting for me to turn you in or something equally asinine. But remember you're not the only one who's been through hell. I'll tell you my story later. But the fact that you're still guilty of the fact that someone died on your watch is what separated you from those bastards. Has it ever crossed your mind, that you're probably stricter than any other judiciary can ever be. Sleep it off Honey, I love you. I have never been more thankful to my stars that I met you and met you again".
Securely wrapped in his arms I found myself drifting away to the sound of," I love you. I have for the longer than I can remember. And I'll love you always. Even if you think you don't deserve it".