by Rua Hasan
“What happens if we actually do share the same f-father?” He whispered, turning to look at me with watery eyes. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I tried to calm my beating heart. I opened my mouth to speak but Tyler was ahead of me.
“I mean we can’t keep doing this.” He breathed out. I watched as his hand went up to rub the place where his heart was held. “It’ll hurt so much. It already hurts.”
I took his hand in my hold and gave it a squeeze.
“D-don’t think like that,” I whispered, holding back the tears because the sight of a broken Tyler was too much for me to handle. “We have to think positive. Whatever happens will be for a reason. We have to stay strong.”
Tyler wiped his eyes with the palm of his hands and nodded.
“Yes, I know.” He sighed before pulling me to his chest. He buried his face into my hair and inhaled my scent. “I just don’t want to lose you.”
My hands wrapped themselves around Tyler’s neck.
“I don’t want to lose you too.” My voice cracked. I couldn’t hold the tear which slipped from my eye as I feared for the future. We stayed in that same position for what seemed to be forever, enjoying the silence around us. We stayed together as we hoped that maybe Paul was right to be suspicious, which was probably the only thing keeping us sane. I closed my eyes and hoped that the universe wasn’t this cruel to pair me up with my half brother.
Our moment was interrupted when Tyler’s phone rang. We both pulled away after a sigh and accepted the fact that moments like these wouldn’t last forever.
I pulled a strand behind my ear as I watched Tyler take his phone out to check who was calling. I saw his face light up for a split-second before turning to face me with hope in his eyes.
I lifted an eyebrow curiously and tilted my head to the side.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Tyler pushed his phone in front of my face to show me the caller’s ID.
“It’s Dan. D-do you think it could be good news?” he asked nervously.
I shrugged and smiled at him.
“You won’t know unless you answer the call.” I pointed out. Tyler immediately answered the call.
“Hello?” He breathed out anxiously. “Yeah? Okay. Yes I did. Wait what? Really!” he shouted, getting off the ground as he sprang on to his feet.
“Yes that’s amazing. Okay okay I’ll be there as soon as possible,” he said as a smile finally spread across his face after what seemed like years. I got up immediately and stood beside him, wanting to know what was the reason which made him smile.
“Yes okay I’ll bring her with me. Thank you. I’ll see you soon.” And with that, Tyler hung up and turned to look at me with happiness in his eyes.
“What is it?”
“My mom.” He smiled. “She’s finally awake.”
My eyes widened as a smile spread across my face, finally reaching my eyes.
“Really? Oh gosh that’s amazing!” I squealed, jumping into Tyler’s arms to hug him. He let out a loud happy laugh as he spun me around in his arms.
“I know I know!” He grinned, placing me back to the ground. “We have to go.”
I nodded and rushed to grab my purse while Tyler grabbed his car keys. Just as we were about to rush to the door, I remembered something so I placed my hand on his chest, stopping him from moving any further.
“Stop,” I said.
“What’s wrong?” Tyler asked, lifting an eyebrow. I held my finger up, signaling him to wait for me and rushed back into the living room. I took the shoebox in my hands which was still lying on the floor and turned to rush towards Tyler.
“I’m bringing this with me,” I said, showing him the box.
“Good idea.” He agreed before opening the front door. We ran to his car and hopped in. Tyler started the engine and began to drive to the hospital. It was only a few minutes away but it felt like hours. I bit my lip anxiously as Tyler finally made it in front of the hospital. I tapped my finger on my thigh, trying to be patient but it felt almost impossible because I was so excited to see Emma once again. After Tyler finally parked the car, we both hopped out of there immediately.
We rushed into the hospital with the box still in my hands. When we finally got to the floor where Emma was staying, we saw Matt, Troy, and Jasmine waiting outside with smiles written across their faces. Their grins only grew wider once they noticed we were here. Suddenly, Matt rushed to hug me while Troy and Jasmine waited for us to walk over to them.
“Where’s Dan?” Tyler asked.
“He’s in there with Emma, the cops will be here soon to question her,” Troy said. Tyler and I looked at each other before we gave him a nod.
“You go in there first and see your mother. I’ll come once the time is right.” Tyler nodded before kissing my forehead and opened the door of Emma’s room.
I sat down in the seat next to Jasmine as I waited anxiously for Tyler to come out but at the same time, hoping he’d have more time to check up on his mother. Matt and Troy were having a conversation while Jasmine leaned over to look at the shoebox resting on my lap.
“What’s in that?” she asked, pointing at the box.
I shrugged my shoulders and let out a sigh.
“It’s a long story but I’ll tell you later.”
She nodded and was about to say something else but closed her mouth at the last minute. I tapped my shoe against the floor, waiting for a couple of minutes when Tyler finally came out of the room. And boy did he look different. Aside from the tears that were running down his cheeks, which I guess were happy ones, his pale face was suddenly gone and he looked more alive than ever as he smiled widely at me.
I smiled back at him and got off my seat after he gave me a short nod. My feet moved quickly towards him and I took his hand.
“How is she?” I asked.
“Doing good. The doctor says that she’ll be able to go back home by the end of the week.”
I nodded and watched as he stepped aside so I could walk in.
“Come on, let’s get this over with. The cops will be here soon to question her about the whole accident,” he said, running his hands through his hair nervously.
I swallowed my fears and stepped into the room, trying to steady my rapid heart beat as I saw Emma lying on her bed. Her face looked pale and tired as she looked away from Dan who was seated on a chair right next to her bed and made eye contact with me. A small smile took over her face, brightening up her look.
“Emma,” I whispered before I rushed over and gave her a welcoming hug. She let out a low chuckle and patted my back.
“Hello Darling.” She laughed.
“I’m so glad to have you back,” I said, pulling away to give her some space.
“I’m so glad to be back.” She smiled as Tyler sat next to her, lifting her up with a glass of water in his hand.
“The doctor says it’s time for your medicine.” He handed her two pills.
She nodded and downed the pills, taking the glass from Tyler’s hold and drank the water. Tyler walked up beside me, looking very relieved to see his mother awake.
“How are your burns?” I asked in concern. Emma opened her mouth to speak but Dan interrupted her.
“Thankfully her burns aren’t severe. But it’ll take a while for them to heal.”
“That’s good,” I said, sending Tyler a grateful smile, until I noticed him eyeing the box. He cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head nervously, tilting his head at me as if giving me the ‘go’ signal to start asking questions, but before I could, he walked over to Emma and took her hand before kissing it.
“Mom, Crystal and I would like to ask you a couple of questions.”
Emma lifted an eyebrow.
“I thought the cops were going to question me about the fire?” she asked.
Tyler shook his head.
“No mom, not about that.” He breathed out before signaling me to come over. Dan stood up and walked out the door to give us some privac
y.
“What’s going on?” she asked, only now noticing the box in my hands.
“Um . . . ” I trailed off, not knowing what to say. I then opened the box with shaky hands and took out the same picture Dan found in Paul’s phone.
“This photo was found in Paul’s phone and also in my parents’ closet along with a bunch of other pictures.” I began, handing Emma the picture of my pregnant Mom with Paul right beside her.
“M-my mom-is she pregnant with me in this picture?” I asked nervously. My eyes flickered to Tyler who was also staring at his mother in fear of what she was about to say. I looked back down to Emma and saw her eyes scan the phone before her face went pale and a long sigh of escaped her lips. She placed the photo down and looked up at me.
“I didn’t want you to know this way,” she whispered.
My eyes widened.
“S-so she is pregnant with me?” I asked feeling a lump in my throat.
Emma examined the picture one more time before nodding her head.
“Yes,” she whispered.
My hand flew over to my mouth, trying to prevent the sob which was threatening to escape.
“I can’t believe it,” I whispered, shaking my head as my eyes watered.
“F*ck,” Tyler cursed, clenching his hands. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you prevent me from falling in love with my own sister?” Tyler whispered.
Emma lifted an eyebrow and flickered her eyes to the both of us. She gave us a confused look before narrowing her eyes.
“Sister? I never said you two were related.” She pointed out.
“B-but you said my mom was pregnant with me in this picture,” I said in a shaky voice.
“Yeah that’s what I said.”
“So then that means we share the same father. Which makes me her brother.” Tyler tried to calm his voice down but it was obvious he was hurting.
“I never said that Paul was your father. I don’t even know who is,” she admitted.
Tyler and I stared at her for a long time.
“W-what do you mean?” I whispered.
“That’s exactly what I mean. I didn’t want you finding out that Ethan wasn’t your father by this picture.” She sighed, handing me over the picture.
“I wanted to tell you the same day when I told you that Thomas was the drunk driver who killed both of your parents but you fainted and I just didn’t have the heart to do so.” She shook her head, looking down at her lap.
I ran my hand over my face.
“S-so Ethan isn’t my father? Neither Paul?” I asked.
Emma shook her head.
“No they aren’t.”
“But how?” Tyler asked all of a sudden. “Crystal’s mom clearly says in her diary that she thinks the father is Paul,” he said before taking a hold of the box and opening it. He took out the diary and flipped to the part where my mom clearly mentions that I’m Paul’s child before showing it to Emma, who scrunched her eyebrows and nodded.
“Oh, now I remember,” she whispered.
“Remember what?” I asked.
“When Ruby and Paul got together, they first thought that the child belonged to him. I don’t know much of the details but the only thing Paul told me was that the reason why he and Ruby broke up was because she lied to him. He never told me who the father really was.”
I sat down on the chair next to Emma’s bed and ran my hand through my hair in frustration. I let out a groan but calmed down when I felt Tyler’s comforting hand on my shoulder.
Half of me was happy that I wasn’t Paul’s daughter, meaning that Tyler and I weren’t siblings, but another half of me was also frustrated for not knowing who my real father really was. I was disappointed and angry at my mother for lying to me for years but I couldn’t help but feel sad because Ethan will forever be my father who raised and took care of me. I was just so confused.
“I don’t think Crystal’s mom meant to lie,” Tyler spoke, grabbing my attention.
“Huh?” I lifted my head to look at him.
Tyler walked over to the bed and picked up the diary. He pointed to the same paragraph that I read earlier when my mom mentioned her ex.
“She seems as if she wasn’t afraid to take the DNA test and show Paul that you really were his child. Which means that she didn’t mean to lie. She seemed persistent in taking it to prove him wrong.” He pointed out.
Emma and I nodded.
“Yeah, you’re right but that still doesn’t tell me who my father really is.” I let out a sigh.
Before anyone can say anything, there was a knock on the door. We looked around to see Dan who popped his head into the room.
“The cops are here,” he said, opening the door.
“Let them come in,” Tyler said.
I stood aside, watching the two police officers walk into the room holding clipboards. Tyler placed his hand on my hip, bringing me to his chest. He kissed my head and leaned over to whisper in my ear.
“I’m so relieved.”
I nodded and smiled at him.
“Me too,” I whispered back.
“We’re going to celebrate later.” He grinned, winking me. I couldn’t help but laugh as I hugged him back, feeling myself finally calm down in his embrace. I turned to look at the cops who were questioning Emma as I listened in on their questions.
“How did you fall off the stairs?” one asked.
“He pushed me.” She breathed out, causing Tyler to go tense.
“Why?” Tyler asked, not leaving any room for the officer to speak.
“Paul was acting weird. He wasn’t taking his medicine. He kept reminding me that he was going to die soon and said that maybe it would be better if we all died with him.” She shivered, shaking her head.
A gasp escaped my lips as I held Tyler’s fist tightly, trying to calm him down.
“So when I saw him spill gasoline all over the house, I tried to run out to call for help but before I could, he pushed me down the stairs.”
“That motherf*cker!” Tyler cursed under his breath.
I rubbed my hand up and down his arm.
“Shh…he’s already dead.” I whispered.
“Then he’s damn lucky. I don’t care if he’s my father, anyone who tried to hurt my mother or anyone I love will pay.” He growled shaking his head.
“Well he’s already paying in his grave.” I heard Emma mutter under her breath.
“So you are admitting that this was a suicide attempt?” The cop asked.
Emma nodded.
“It sure was.”
“Well then, now that we’ve gotten all our answers, we’ll be going. Feel better soon,” The other officer said. Emma sent them both a polite smile and muttered a soft thank you.
Once we were left alone in Emma’s room, everyone who was waiting outside walked in, giving Emma their best wishes. Tyler sat down next to me and took my hand in his. He bent over to kiss my lips.
“It’s been a long week,” he muttered.
“Yeah, I know.” I sighed, resting my head in his chest. Tyler was playing with the strands of my hair while Dan and Troy had a conversation with Emma on how she should apply toothpaste on all of her burns. Jasmine was trying to whack some sense into her boyfriend when he said something about pouring urine instead which earned him a slap on neck.
I couldn’t help but finally feel at peace. Even though there was something left missing in my life, like who the hell was my real father. Everything else was perfect. Tyler was finally by my side and Emma was awake.
Until another thing happened all of a sudden.
What you might be asking? Well the door to Emma’s room burst opened and in came the two people that I least expected to see.
Blake and his father, Sam or as I like to call him, Mr. Fatty. But before I could question any further to why the hell they were barging into the room. Or why it looked like Mr. Fatty didn’t want to be here. And why Blake had the look of determination written all over his face, something popped
into my head. Something which blew my mind.
The name Sam.
Sam . . . Why the hell did it sound so familiar, and why did I feel like I was missing something?
Sam.
Sam…
Crap.
My mind went back to when I read my mother’s diary. She mentioned that she had an ex named Sam which was the reason why Paul was so suspicious of me not being his daughter.
Sam.
Mr. Fatty.
Blake being all weird.
The puzzles in my mind started to put themselves together. Leaving me with only two words in my mind.
Well sh*t!
Chapter 56
“What the hell is going on here?” Tyler asked as his eyes remained fixated on Blake. My mouth fell open, yet no words were forming. I looked at Tyler, then at Blake, then his father. I tried to push the thoughts which were threatening to come out and show me the truth but I refused to accept it. I was afraid and scared of what may come if my assumptions were right. Yet at the same time, how could I assume such a thing like that? With only a snap of a finger?
I shouldn’t jump to conclusions but it seemed all too real not to think about it. It’s as if my mind was sending me signals and trying to put the puzzle pieces together. I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head.
“I-I don’t―”
“I’m here to see Crystal,” Blake said interrupting me.
“W-why?” I asked but before Blake could speak, Mr. Fa―I mean, Sam spoke.
“Why the hell did you bring me here then? This place smells like your grandmother.” He pinched his nose, trying to prevent any sort of scent from entering. Blake rolled his eyes and looked at his father.
“Pa! This is important, please.”
Sam raised his hands in the air.
“Okay okay whatever, just make it quick.”
Blake turned around and walked towards me, and as he did, I noticed he was holding something in his hand. He turned around when he noticed that Sam was still not moving.
“Do you mind coming over here? This involves you too.” Blake gestured him to come over to where Tyler and I were standing. The rest of the visitors in the room, including Emma were staring at us in confusion, the same goes for Tyler, who leaned over and whispered,
