HIDDEN (Hide Or Die)

Chapter 4

KYLE'S P.O.V.

I sat patiently on the couch, tapping my foot and unconsciously drumming my fingers on my thigh. It was nearly time Mom got home. I had already spent all afternoon cleaning the kitchen floor, of course, that happened after I ordered another vase, which I requested immediate delivery for, and thankfully it came in a few hours later.

I gifted it to my mother, for her birthday. And she loved it, she’d go out every new season and purchase seeds for a suitable flower that grew in that specific weather, plant it in our garden-like backyard, nurse it until it was fully bloomed then gather the flowers to put in that particular vase. It was made of white clay, glazed in blush pink, with Alençon lace detailing engraved all over it. It was soft and the light shone off of it, just like my mother. Which was one of the main reasons I chose it specifically.

I was waiting on Mom to come back, revising in my head what I was going to say. How I was going to explain to her my weird habit of stalking Andrew and the fact that he saw me, twice. Which would end up with me coming out to her.

I didn't think she would like it… it was a topic that never really arose in any conversation. With me being an abnormality, and having to hide, girls and relationships were not an option. The only time we “talked” about it, was when I first crossed paths with the discovery channel in fourth grade’s science, and I was confused as hell and went to Mom in which she explained the human reproduction process. You know, the whole birds and bees talk. Then again in eighth grade, when she helped me memorize some topics for my finals. So I had no clue on how she was going to react. I just hoped she loved me enough to look past my flaws. The multitude of them.

I had been such a burden for Mom ever since she birthed me. Having to worry about me all the time, while maintaining a job to support us. Dealing with the consequences of my disobedience all those years ago. And her never being able to have a normal life because of me… for me to add my homosexualism to it was just pure cruel. I knew I would have to tell her at some point, but for now, I was going to stick to altering the truth.

I heard the jingle of keys and I looked directly at the clock, reading a half to midnight. Before I could ponder over the fact that she was late, she came in looking tired and gloomy. Her eyes were glossed and rimmed in red, all light washed out. Something was defiantly wrong.

“Are you okay Ma?” She fell into my arms as soon as I directed her to the couch, the sadness that clouded her eyes had my stomach crunching in discomfort.

“I’m fi- fine.” Her voice broke midway, and I instantly wrapped my wings around her and rocked us back and forth. She always did that to me when I was upset so I hoped with all my heart it worked the other way around too.

“Please Ma, you know you can tell me anything, what’s the matter?” I lowered my head slightly to look into her eyes, and she sighed; probably figuring I wouldn’t let it go until she confided in me.

I raised my hand to her face, to wipe her tears away before she had the chance to do so. And waited patiently for her to calm down enough to tell me while also hoping it wasn't anything I couldn't fix.

“Sam proposed.” She confessed, ringing her fingers together and casting her head downwards, avoiding my eyes. I noticed how her lips wobbled, and her shoulders trembled in the slightest, unnoticeable way, but my advanced sight caught it.

I pulled her to myself once again and closed my eyes shut when she started crying again. My heart ached for her. If it wasn’t for me; she’d be overjoyed. For a second chance of happiness. But of course, I had to be an anathema in everything.

Sam was her co-worker, and ultimate crush. She may not have admitted it out loud, but I knew my mother. And through our late-night talks, I came to know his birthdate, and the name and age of his daughter, Melissa. His favorite color, and a well-detailed description of his “beautiful” eyes.