Casper...
Brennen opened his eyes to darkness.
Casper, if you can hear me... please... please, just squeeze my hand...
He looked around at the nothingness that surrounded him, taking a few wary steps toward the voice. As he neared the voice, the darkness began to recede, and at long last he saw the light at the end of the tunnel. He was sure to approach the light with what was probably unnecessary caution, closing his eyes as the light became too bright for him to bear.
Doctor... I think he's waking up!
Brennen's eyes flickered open, showing him something that took several seconds for him to register. When the blurred shapes around him began to take form, he knew all too well that he was in a hospital room.
His eyes flickered over to a woman sitting next to his bed. She was cradling his left hand like there was no tomorrow, of which he sluggishly withdrew, all the while keeping his uncomprehending gaze on her. "Who're you..?" he mumbled drowsily.
"Thank God... thank God..." The woman wasted no time in bursting into tears, leaving Brennen more irritated than before. It was a simple question—nothing that would take much brainpower to answer. "Casper," she wailed softly.
"Who're you?" he repeated, struggling to keep the edge of his voice. "And why the hell do you keep calling me 'Casper?'"
The mysterious woman sobbed for a while, mumbling "thank God" to herself over and over again, before she finally seemed to calm down. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a Kleenex before mumbling, "Because that's your name."
Time seemed to draw to a standstill. Brennen stiffened, unsure of how to respond. He was speechless for what seemed like hours, before the gears in his brain started turning again.
"Are you... insane?" he growled, clenching his fist. "Just... who do you think you are?"
She flinched, looking so fragile for an instant that Brennen almost regretted his viciousness. Almost.
"Brennen... that's what they call you, right?" He didn't react, watching the lady carefully. "I... I'm your mother. And your name is Casper."
The room was silent except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. 19 seconds had passed—he'd counted—before he tried to speak. In those seconds, his fury had all but evaporated, leaving him with nothing but astonishment. "You..." he began, faltering. "You can't be serious..."
Brennen's gaze flickered to his supposed mother's eyes, looking for answers. There was no questioning the seriousness they held.
"No..." Brennen squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head, as if it would make the truth go away. "No..!" he repeated, feeling all his anger flood back into him. "You're not my mother!" he screeched. "I... I have no mother! And my name's Brennen! Brennen! B-R-E-N-N-E-N!"
"Casper—" she began, but Brennen cut her off.
"Do you know why my name is 'Brennen?'" he asked coldly. "Do you know what 'Brennen' means? It means 'sorrow.' Sorrow. Because my existence was just one big mistake. Two irresponsible teenagers that had no regard for the consequences." He, too, was crying by now, grudgingly coming to terms with what he'd learned.
"I was too young," she cried, tears streaking her face, "for both of you. You and your sister... twins! There was no way I could've handled you both! I made a mistake... and I've regretted it every day of my life!"
"Leave," he snarled, swallowing bitterly. "Leave, and never come back."
The woman rose to her feet, starting toward the door. She stopped, turning to face Brennen halfway across the room. "You have your father's eyes, just like your sister." And then she was gone.