Truth reveals eventually.

Suicide

I get out of the big block building and take a deep breath in the afternoon chilly breeze. I pull the ends of my jacket closer as I choose a shortcut to my house. I haven't used this shortcut since Carper. Two months ago, my older brother, Carper disappeared.

I have kept myself very moderate after that. It would be a risk if I wouldn't.

I reach the house and take out the key from my pocket. I shove the door open and smell salt. Weird. "Mom! I'm here!" I call out, thinking to see the woman who adopted my brother and me when we I was ten and he was eleven.

When I don't get an answer I check her room. No answer. She could have left somewhere. But she would have left a note. After checking the entire house I take a break. I sit on one of the couches which, like as usual is neatly dusted.

The house has always been simple especially after Carper. Tania, the woman who adopted us, and is thickly Russian, never married. So we both have been raised without a father, which on my part doesn't hurt even a little.

Then I realise that I haven't checked the attic! But attic wouldn't make sense. It was Carpers room. Without waiting another second I get up and climb the old stairs. Once I reach the attic a faint and dull smell hits my nose and I cover it with one hand and I use the other to look for any

switch board.

I haven't been here since months. I switch on the light and it takes a second to adjust to the changes of the light. And when I do adjust I realise that I am staring at a big blood covered body. I quickly go to the side and it turns out to be Tania's body, yes my step-mother sucided.

I just stand still, absorbing. Not a single tear slides down or a faint sob comes, instead surprise fills me and I just don't know what to do. When somebody dies, you cry. But I didn't even cry when Carper disapeared. And I don't even cry now.

Surprisingly I'm not even containing a single emotion.

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There is dust everywhere and there are officers cleaning up the place I think. I sigh and turn the shower off, then I change into something warm and go to the attic which is full of people.

One of the officer notices me and instantly comes, holding a paper in his hands, "Gary Pecks, you are, I believe?" He asks, "yes sir, that's me." I tell him and he hands me the paper. I take it with a look of approval. I slowly decide to read it;

Gary Pecks,

If you have found this letter then it means that I am already dead. My dear son, I know it would be hard for you to move on. But everyone has a time, and I have full faith in you. I know that you would be able to find your brother, Carper.

I know that you do not deserve me, and that I betrayed you and your brother. But it was past and you can find him back. Carper is with a black man whom I served for years before I even took you boys from the orphanage. My intentions were clear when I took you but as the time passed something happened, and yes I Tania Pecks, was and is responsible for the disapearance of her very own adopted son, Carper Pecks!

Tania Pecks,

So that is why she suicided.

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I look up from the paper and keep my expressions light. "Gary!" I hear a small voice behind me. I turn too quickly that all the joints in my neck crack. A woman, with dark hair and a small nose stands there. She looks like a wreck, "I'm sorry?" I ask, having absolutely no idea who she is.

"I was a student of your mother! I heard.... I heard the news." She stammers and my heart thampers. My mother was a doctors, as she told but then she had admitted in the note that she worked for someone.

"Well... it is sad." I say and she nods. "She taught me so much.... and she was just like a mother to me. Huh... I don't really know what I would be able to do without her, she taught me more than my father!" She says while sitting on the couch.

I sit next to her and ask the question that has been bothering me, "Tell me, what exactly did she teach you?" She looks at me and before I can stop her she slaps me hard, across the cheek and I sit there shocked.

She gets up fuming, "How could you ask me something like this when she just died!? You ungrateful son!" And with that she leaves, slamming the door.