The Rain

two: freedom at last

TWO

  “I am selfish. I am brave.”

          -Beatrice Prior, Divergent

             The world seemed to be spinning around me. What was going on? What did he mean? There’s no way Mom lied to me about being her child. Maybe Jayden and Dad would lie to me about something like that. But not Mom, definitely not Mom. And Mom would have to know. She would know if she didn’t give birth to me.

         “You’re lying…” My voice wavered, and suddenly my eyes started welling up with tears. I willed myself not to cry.  “You’re lying.” I repeated firmly, but it was no use. The tears broke through, and once they started, there was no stopping them.

   “Ray…” Jayden called weakly, reaching for my hand. I flinched away from his touch and took a step back.

            What if Mom did lie to me? Or what if somehow Mom didn’t know? How was I supposed to know? Mom was dead, and Dad rarely answered his phone when he went out of town was practically all the time. But what if Axel was lying and this was just some big prank? Axel was obviously drunk, and you could never trust drunken people. I let out a deep breath, and my thoughts seemed to clear up a little. I needed solid evidence; I needed the truth.

    “I need some proof.” I told Axel, determination shining in my teal eyes.

             Axel nodded, and wordlessly led me through the crowd and to the basement. Following him, I could tell he had sobered up. I didn’t know whether I should be happy about his sobriety or not. He took me to Dad’s office, the room next to mine.

      “Doesn’t Dad usually lock his office?” I questioned as Axel turned the knob, opening it with ease.

     Axel scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. “You know how Dad grounded me for a while and took my phone for failing Econ like two months ago?” I nodded, following him into the room and he continued, “Well, I was annoyed that it was taking him so long to come back and give me my phone so I…uh…picked his lock.” The brunet confessed.

    Unsure of how to react, all I said was, “Oh.”

         Axel opened the second drawer, and began to rummage through it until he pulled out a big orange envelope. “Here it is,” He said, opening the envelope and spilling out its contents onto the desk.

     Looking through the contents, I frowned. It was just pictures of me taken three to four years ago. Turning to Axel, I asked, “So he has pictures of me? So what?”

         “Not the pictures,” Axel told me, shaking his head, “This.” He picked up a white folded piece of paper which I had failed to notice.

    Unfolding the piece of paper, I began to read it to myself.

       Dear Nagi,

            I haven’t talked to you in a while. I know that we’re not supposed to, but I thought you might want these pictures. Our beautiful daughter just turned thirteen a week ago. She looks exactly like you, only with my eyes. Maybe she’ll be as strong if she ever finds out. Should we ever tell her? Or is it safer if we keep her in the dark? She hasn’t shown any signs so far. Maybe she’s a late bloomer or maybe she won’t become one.  Do you think she’ll be like your people or like mine? Do you think it’s possible for her to be a mixture of both like a hybrid? Hopefully you’ll get to reply soon.