The Last Victor

Chapter 29

What's Real Anymore - Part 2

"Mom?"

Her smile widens and she walks over to me
with open arms.

"My sweet girl," She holds my face in her hands while gently stroking my cheek with her thumb. "Just look at you."

I can't help but lean into her touch.

My lower lip quivers as words slowly make their way out of my mouth. "This can't be real...... I-I thought—— n-no we all thought..... you're supposed to be dead."

My eyes tighten shut and I shake my head overwhelmed, a thousand thoughts running through my mind at once, "Dad said you died in his arms. He watched you die."

Her smile slowly vanishes and a deep frown takes its place. She reaches down to squeeze my hands as she lets out a troubled sigh.

"I know this all is difficult to take in. I'm the first one to tell you that I couldn't believe it either..... but somehow, a miracle I still don't understand till this day, I survived."

My knees feel like they're about to buckle out from under me as I stand in a daze. I frown and rub my forehead conflicted, at a complete loss of words.

"But— if you were alive all of this time..... how come you never tried to find us?"

She grimaces at my question and I can see the pain in her eyes. With a quick breath, she looks down at me somberly, "I did. For years. But by the time I was healed and up and running again they closed the enclosure off from the rest of the world. I tried, but there was no way for me to get inside to you guys."

She pauses before continuing.

"When I heard you got drafted for the games, I knew this was my one and only chance to find you."

She steps back and holds me at an arms length, her warm gaze traveling the length of me.

"And look at you now. Look at the beautiful, strong, brave woman you've become all without my help," Her smile is bittersweet but her eyes shine bright in affection, "I'm so, so proud of you."

The last string that's holding me together snaps. Tears spill down my cheeks and blur my vision. I cover my face with trembling hands, trying to hold back sobs.

"Shhhh," She pulls me into her embrace and strokes my hair soothingly.

I melt into her as I take advantage of her presence. Growing up, I've always felt like a piece of me has been missing, one that my mom was meant to fill. My whole life I've been surrounded by boys, all the way from dad, to Danny, to Asher. And I love them all to death but I never had a womanly figure in my life.

I've always dreamt of having a close relationship with my mother. . . to her braiding my hair as we talk and laugh about life. . . . to gushing about my first kiss to her. . . . . to holding me just like this when I'm upset and need reassurance. . . . .

"T-That's all I've ever w-wanted to hear from you——" I manage through breaths as I cry into her chest, "To know whether or not I made you proud....."

She pulls away and looks down into my eyes with motherly affection, "Of course I'm proud of you. Both you and Danny. I couldn't have hoped for more."