Truth be Told

CHAPTER 1

“MOM!” I shouted.

“Yes, Emra?” Mom said calmly.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were up here. I thought you were downstairs making cookies. They smell delicious.”

“ I’m not making cookies. But I do smell them. Maybe one of the neighbors are making cookies.” Cling! Clang! Bam! I hear pots hitting each other downstairs. 

“Mom, do we have company?”

“No, honey.”

“ Then what’s all the racket downstairs?” I asked curiously.

 “Emra! Come downstairs. I’m finished making cookies!” a stranger’s voice said. A man’s voice. “Is dad home? No, but that doesn’t sound like his voice,” I thought to myself.

“Get in your room!” Mom yelled with a worried tone. Mom and I sprinted into my room and started to block the door. “Help me push the bed against the door!” Mom whispered, making sure we didn’t make too much noise. I turned off the lights to guarantee that the stranger wouldn’t know which room we were in. Mom and I closed my curtains, and hid inside the closet behind all my clothes. 

 The voice called again. “Emra, where are you?” Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Footsteps started up the stairs. Mom and I huddled close to each other, trying to breathe softly, and hiding any part of our bodies that might be showing. Our hearts beated fast as the creaks of the stairs grew louder.  

“I hope he searches the other rooms first,” I prayed to myself.

“Emra, where are you? Are we playing hide and go seek? Okay, ready or not here I come!” said the man in a creepy, but playful tune.  Mom and I held our breath when we heard him come close. 

Ding! Ding! Ding! Light appeared in the closet. “Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!” I thought to myself  while cursing. My phone lit up with a number I didn’t know. I immediately turned it off and hoped he didn’t hear it. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

“Emra, you just gave yourself away!” I hear the handle to the door twist. The stranger tries to open the door. Good thing Mom and I pushed the bed and other heavy things against the door incase this would happen. “Ugh. Why is this door jammed?” he said frustrated, and confused. I guess he managed to slightly open the door because I could see a small beam of light. “ I think I know where you’re hiding!” said the stranger. I guess this guy is really strong because he managed to slightly open the door. I could hear him grunt as he tried to move the bed aside. Bam! I almost screamed. I peaked out of the closet to see that he tipped my bed over, and turned on the lightswitch. I poked my head back in, and slowly closed the closet. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. I heard him walking around. Then, the footsteps came close to the closet. “Oh c’mon! This game is way too easy!” he said. He slowly opened the closet. Creak! The closet slid open. I sat still, squeezing my mom’s hand, and holding my breath. I felt my heart beating so fast that I thought it was going to pop out of my chest. I heard him rummaging through some things, and hoped that he wouldn’t feel my body when he was doing so. I felt his hand rest on my knee.

“This is the end. I’m going to die and will never be able to live my life!” I  said to myself about to cry.

“What is this?” he said. I felt my heart began to beat even faster. I was so scared. I started to see light. He was taking all the things that I put on myself to hide, off of me. At that moment, I saw his face. I recognized his face, but I couldn’t make out who he was. His hair was long for a boy and which was pulled back into a ponytail. His hair was a mix of brown and blond. 

“ Oh. Hello Emra.” the stranger said. I sat still, confused. His tone was so calm, and gentle. Maybe he is trying to trick me by using his nice voice. But when I finally calm down he takes me away. “Emra, I found you. Now you’re it. Come out. Wait, who is next to you.” I looked to my left to see my mom taking all the dresses off of herself. When she saw the man, she started tearing up. She slowly stepped out of  the closet. 

CHAPTER 2

“Thomas?” mom asked the man.

“ Actually, my name is John.” the man said. I decided to step out of the closet since Mom seemed so comfortable with John. I felt my heart begin to slow down. We walked outside of my room, went downstairs, and sat on the sofa. Finally, I recognized who the face belonged to. It was the same guy next to my mom in a picture on her nightstand. Is that my dad? I asked myself. It can’t be. Is it? 

“Mom, who is this? Do you know him?” I asked. 

“ Honey, this is your dad.” Mom said. 

“ Listen you two. My name is John, and someone back in North Carolina recognized me somehow, and told me that I had a family waiting here in California. I denied it right away cause I already have a family, but I decided it out anyways. It said that you, Kate had a daughter named Emra. I got here yesterday, asked around, and found your house. And by the way, I ain’t nobody’s dad except for my little baby boy named Cooper. I also have two german shepards named Greyson and Allie,” John said in a very southern accent. 

“ Wait, this can’t be! You died 10 years ago.” mom said with tears welling up in her eyes. 

“ I ain’t dead yet n’ don’t plan to do it soon.” he said.  I’ve been living in North Carolina for 10 years, and happily married.” I could see my mom starting to sob.

“ You gave us quite a scare. Why didn’t you knock first? Also, was the door unlocked?” my mom asked as I wondered.

“ Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, but yes the door was unlocked, so I just invited myself in.”

“ So, just to clarify, you don’t know who we are?” I asked. 

“ I know that you are Kate,” John said looking towards my mom. “And I know that you are Emra, Kate’s daughter,” He said looking towards me. 

“Is it okay if I try to jumpstart your memory?” my mom asked.

“Sure. I’m not sure if it’ll work so don’t get your hopes up.” John said. Mom sprinted upstairs with tears started to well up in her eyes. John and I wait awkwardly in silence. Quick footsteps coming down the stairs. I saw her carrying a large box possibly with pictures or objects in it. 

“I got some photos of us when we got married, were on our honeymoon, and other moments.” Mom placed the box down on the ottoman and took a picture out. It was a picture with them dancing. I think it was at their wedding because they were all dressed up. Mom held that picture in front of John’s face hoping that all his memories would come back. 

“Nope. I don’t remember that.” John said shaking his head. 

“How about this one?” my mom asked.

“Nope. Don’t member that one either.” he said. I could see that a little bit of mom’s heart was shattering away after every single “Nope.”

“Surprise! I got home early!” Dad exclaimed as he walked into the house. “Wait. Kate who is this, and what are you doing?” Dad said looking over to John with his smile fading.

“Oh, this is Thomas. I mean John. I will tell you more about him later,” Mom said walking upstairs.

“Hello. Have we met before?” John wondered as he reached out his hand.

“Um, I don’t think so,” Dad said as he tried to think of all the people he’s met before.

“Interesting, I swear I’ve seen you before! But anyways, I’ll go. I’ll come by tomorrow.” John  said.

“Do you have somewhere to stay? If you don’t you could sleep in the guest bedroom upstairs.” I said.

“Thank you for the offer. I could just stay in a hotel nearby. I ain’t wanna bother you no more.” John said.

“No. No. You’re not bothering us at all.” I said.

“ Sorry, I’m just not comfortable sleeping in a house where I apparently used to live with someone one that I was married to. I will just go to a hotel. Goodnight.”

I went upstairs to get ready and overheard mom and dad talking. Mom was telling Dad about who John was. I could see through the tiny crack of the door that Dad was confused and sad. I felt too tired to put my room back in order, that I just plopped down on the floor with a big blanket. 

CHAPTER 3

I’ve always dreamed of waking up to the sound of birds chirping happily and the sun shining on my face. But instead, I wake up to someone pounding on the door. I roll over, noticing that I fell asleep on my floor.  “7? C’mon!” I thought to myself. “It’s only saturday! I’m supposed to be sleeping in, not waking up at 7!” I wait for the person to go away, but the pounding doesn’t stop. I hear heavy footsteps walking down the stairs, assuming it’s dad going to shoo away the annoying person.

“Oh, hello John. What brings you by so early in the morning?” I hear dad say.

“What? Why is John here?” I wondered.

“Good morning.” John said.

“Look, sorry John but it’s only 7 am. It’s also Saturday and it’s the day when we sleep in.”

“Oh sorry, I guess I haven’t changed my watch to the correct time yet. But, I just needed to tell ya that you guys have your own life, and I have mine. I’ll stay here for a few more days, n’  in those few more days, I’ll do my best to stay out of your personal life.” John declared.

“Yeah, you better keep your nose out of our lives. I know you recognize me, and I recognize you, but you’re not allowed to tell anyone about our past.” Dad begged. I heard them whispering, but couldn’t make our what they were saying.

“Wait, does Dad and John know each other? What does he mean by don’t tell anyone how you know me? Did something happen between them?” I thought to myself puzzled.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude but what’s in our past?”John questioned.

“Forget about it. Don’t mention any of this at all, but come in, and I’ll get Kate,” Dad said as he walked upstairs.

“Good morning Dad! What was that all about?” I asked cheerfully as I poked my head out the door.

“Um, don’t worry about it honey,” Dad said as he was trying to walk away as fast as possible. 

“What is he hiding?” I thought to myself. I walked downstairs, said good morning to John, and ate some cereal. Mom, Dad, and John drank coffee, and chatted. Later, we walked to the park. There, Mom and I sat on a bench talking to each other while John and Dad walked around. Maybe getting to know each other. I saw Dad whispering something to John. John’s expression was shocked and confused.

“What is Dad hiding!?” I exclaimed. Mom looked towards me and I said, “I think Dad, not John is hiding something. They’re having mysterious talks. This morning, Dad seemed like he knew John already, and told him not to tell anyone about the conversation they were having.” I declared.

“Oh Emra, they’re probably just getting to know each other.” Mom assured me. We both sat there in peace. Enjoying the scenery. There was a big lake with pedal boat rentals, a playground, and grassy fields with many redwood trees. 

Hours later back at home, John pulled me to the side and asked, “Hey, can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?” 

“Of course,” I agreed as we walked into my room. John stood in my room looking uncomfortable and nervous. “So, what did you want to talk about?” I asked.

“I’m not supposed to tell anyone about this, but I think you should know the truth.” John could see that I felt unsure about this,  but he continued. “I guess I am your birth father, but I know Chris is now your dad, and I’m perfectly fine with that. But, earlier this morning, your father told me that he regrets everything he’s done to you and your mother. He told me that I got into a really bad accident which caused me to lose my memory. That’s why I don’t remember anything about you and your mother. He felt a little bit of guilt, so he tried to cover up his tracks by placing me in a “new world” in North Carolina.” John explained. I sat there still, shocked, and doubting every word he told me. 

“Is this really true? My Dad Chris erased your memory? Why?” I asked, broken.

“ I know we haven’t known each other for long, but trust me. This all is true, but I don’t know how.” John promised. 

“Dad!” I screamed with anger and sadness at the top of my lungs down the stairs. I ran down the stairs skipping two or three steps along the way with tears literally pouring out of my eyes.

“What’s wrong Emra?” Dad questioned.

“You’ve been lying to Mom and me for 10 years!  I know you “erased” John’s memory! Why? Why?!” I yelled with the words barely coming out of my mouth. Dad stood there shocked, wordless, with regret in his eyes. 

“Emra, calm down and what are you even talking about?” Dad asked.

“Oh c’mon Dad. Stop lying!” I demanded. 

“Emra, I’m sorry but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dad stated.

“Just tell me the truth!” I begged even though I didn’t want to hear it. 

“Emra, I’ve never met John before.” Dad promised. 

“Just stop! Everything will be better if you just spill!” 

“Okay. We used to be old friends but then we got into a fight. We decided to never see or speak to each other ever again.” I looked over to John for approval, but he shook his head side to side in disagreement. 

Then, I turned my head back to Dad and yelled, “I know everything that you did. You know what? You don’t have to say another word because that will probably end up as a lie!” I sprinted upstairs, ran into my room and locked the door. “The past 10 years of my life has been a complete lie!” I cried to myself. “Who. Can. I. Trust?”