The Space Speculation: Book 2 ~Painful Past~

Chapter 29: Lies Uncovered

Bill was so happy when I came; his inviting smile warmed my heart. 

All the children loved when I told them stories about Earth. Bill would even sit at my feet to listen. When he did that, I could just picture him in his alien form as a little boy. His bright eyes widening with every sentence. His affectionate laugh echoing through the galaxy. At those precious moments, I would just picture us home. Home on Neptune. Bill, Colin, Chad, Violet, and I. But sadly, that was not the reality. 

Because. 

Of.

 Chad.

My growing love was flipped to putrid hatred and anger as I thought of Chad. That lying, rancid, corrupt monstrosity! Why does he deserve to even be living in this universe? Why was his existence even considered?

 Why? It echoed through every thought. 

Why? It burned away happiness. 

Why? It fueled the ever-growing fire of anger in the pit of my stomach.

Before I knew it, it had been nearly three-and-a-half days. Pluto days. 

I gasped out loud once I realized. 

"I have to go!" I rushed over to Bill.

"I've stayed much longer than I told my family." 

"Oh, Tom and Paisley?"

"Yeah! I'm so sorry! I'll talk to you again!" I held his hand for half a second before I raced to the pod and, without any hesitation, darted as fast I could home. What would Tom think? 

I found out that night.

I got home very late. Too late. It was about eleven p.m.

I tried my best to be quiet as I pulled up into our familiar driveway and unlocked the front door. It squeaked, loudly. I was stunned when suddenly all the lights flashed on and blinded me. I then felt two arms wrap around my neck and two around my torso. 

I began to cry as I heard Paisley's tearful voice. "We missed you."

I  leaned my chin on Tom's shoulder.

"Uh, how long have I been gone?" 

Thomas suddenly held me out with his arms outstretched.

"You don't even know? Paisley, what happened?"

"I-I-" I tried desperately to give an explanation on the spot, but none came to mind. 

"I'm- sorry?"

"Sorry?" he said exasperatedly, flinging his hands in the hair.

He then spun around and began to half-laugh.

"Paithenia, I called the police! I called my dad! I NEVER like to call my dad. I called your boss; he said you were never assigned you anywhere! Your car was there the whole time!" 

I bowed my head and saw Paisley's red face buried in my side.

I said nothing. I did nothing. I felt hopeless. Couldn't I tell them the truth? No? Yes?

Finally, I looked up and saw that the house was completely torn apart. Dishes and take-out lined the counters in disorderly masses, numerous toys were scattered across the house, the rug was folded up from the hasty running of small feet. 

"I don't expect you to understan-"

"I don't. Understand that is." Tom calmed down.

"But. I..." he put a hand on my back.

"I do forgive you. I trust you know that you're doing and I'll always be here for you because I love you. But if you don't tell me what's going on, " he took a deep breath.

"I'll have a hard time believing you if you've just been telling me lies. Be thankful I'm being this way." 

He took Paisley's hand.

"Come on, peanut. I'll tuck you in." 

And they walked slowly to the ten-year-old's room.

What had I done? The stupid mistake of having a good time had led to my own husband not trusting me. I put my hands to my face.

What had I done? 

My mind tried to convince me that lying was the correct choice. But my heart burned with pain every second I didn't tell him about my past life.

"He wouldn't believe me anyway," I tried reassuring myself as I scrubbed crusted week-old dishes.

I stayed up all night that night, cleaning and just sitting on the couch thinking. My regular routine had been disrupted by my visit to space. I probably couldn't fall asleep anyway.

For a week or so Tom was pretty secluded and depressed. He said it was because he wasn't feeling well, but I knew he was upset about me. I didn't blame him. I didn't try lying to him anymore; I just tried not to talk about work around him.

Paisley was perfectly normal after my late return. She told me that Tom took her to get ice cream when I first left.

 I spent several days with Paisley. My boss said I wasn't needed for a while and the whole building was on break for "Delicate deep matters of urgent properties". I thought it might have something to do with me. I found out the next morning.

This section was written by Amity.