So, Here I Am

Chapter Thirteen Revelation

Revelation  " The act of making something known that was secret "

The room began to spin, everything turned to slow motion.   She felt hot, trying to grab every breath was so hard, her chest was heaving, her heart was doing it's best to escape from it.        She felt nauseous, ran to the bathroom, just making it to the bowl in time.

She was gasping for air, tears cascading so hard and fast down her face, she could drown in them.   She looked at her own reflection in the mirror.

-- Get yourself together, for fucks sake -- but she couldn't, that was the first coherent thought she'd had since seeing the photo.

-- You have to, you have to deal with this --

The first person she needed to talk to was A.J.   First.    NOW.  

She tried, and failed to splash water on her face, it went everywhere, it felt like she couldn't control her limbs, her thoughts, her heart, nothing.   On unsteady legs, she walked back out to the living room.

A.J. "You ok, mumma ?"

" Yeah, maybe something I ate"    Larry hoped not, he didn't relish the idea of throwing his dinner back up.

"A.J., can you come with me, please, to ...umm.... get some fresh air ? NOW ? "

"Yeah, sure. You sure you're ok ?"

" I'll let you know outside. Guys, I won't be a minute, just chill, it's fine, really, be back in a minute, ok ?"

Laurent, "Ok, just be careful, be safe "

A.J. "She's with me, Lau, she'll be fine" A.J. said with a slight scowl.

He still didn't like him.

As soon as they got outside, Maggie set a blistering pace towards the embankment railings.

"Hold up, mum, What the fuck !" he chased after her.   When she eventually stopped at the railings, she was sobbing uncontrollably.  She was pale and clammy, apart from her tears, she had to bend over, hands on knees, to catch her breath and steady herself.

"Mumma, tell me, what the fuck is going on ?" he was so concerned for her right now.   Maggie took a minute to straighten up and gather her thoughts.

They find a bench and sit down, and A.J. realises she is shaking uncontrollably, and even though he is holding her hand, it won't stop.   Maggie takes a deep breath, then another. She had never kept anything from A.J. and she wasn't going to start now.

Maggie " I love you. I love you as if I had grown you inside of me, and gave birth to you myself"

"You've told me this a million times, mumma, I know this, I love you too, you know that".

Maggie "OK, straight up, gird your loins, baby boy." He laughed lightly at her turn of phrase, but, wait, what ?

"Show me the photo of your birth mother on your phone, A.J., please, just humour me" He found it on his phone.   Maggie took another, deep, shaky breath.

"Larry and Laurent have the same photo, A.J.   As well as another photo of them both with the same woman.   It's unmistakable.   Your birth mother is their mama, A.J. 

Larry and Laurent are your brothers"