"Max," I heard my mom say. "Will you come in here please?"
We had checked into a small motel for the night and I was flipping through channels. I hopped off the bed and walked into the main room. My mom was sitting in one of those stiff chairs and my dad was sitting on the bed with his hands clasped. They both looked withdrawn. As I approached, I could see the tears in my mother's eyes.
"Mom?" I asked quietly.
"Sit down sweetheart," my dad said.
I sat down on the edge of the bed between them. I looked at my dad nervously, then at my mom.
"What's going on?" my voice was quiet, shallow.
"Max… the reason we're here… I didn't get transferred for work." My dad began. "We're here because…"
"You're adopted!" My mom broke in.
The world froze. The blood in my veins turned to ice. What did she say? No, it couldn't be. I must have heard it wrong. But yet, I questioned it.
"What?" I whispered.
"You're adopted…" my dad said. "We got you when you were three…"
There was a knock at the door. My mother started sobbing and covered her face with her hands. My dad answered the door and let a woman in. She was dark, Native American. She had long, straight black hair that seemed endless. Her eyes were dark brown, and her cheekbones were high. She wore a pair of straight legged jeans, a white v-neck shirt and a large turquoise native necklace.
"Hello," she said walking in. her eyes never left me. I felt like a mouse, frozen in fear as a hawk circled above.
"Ms. Wolf," my dad greeted. He shook her hand and offered her a seat, which she declined. She stood tall and proud. Her eyes met mine and I was struck by an odd sense of familiarity. I couldn't remember seeing her before now, yet I still knew her.
"Max," she said. Her voice was full of power, yet still soft. "You do not remember me… do you?"
I shook my head slowly and sat there frozen. She looked at my mother, then at my father.
"You did not tell me you hadn't told her." I could tell she wasn't happy. "Max," she repeated. "I think you need to come with me."
At that, my mom broke out in hysterics. My dad went over to her and put his arms around her. they were both crying. I couldn't wrap my mind around… any of this.
"Max… I think you should go with her." my dad said.
"What?" was he seriously saying this?
"I think that maybe if you go with Ms. Wolf… you might remember."
"Remember what?"
"Your life." Ms. Wolf broke in. "Your past, your lineage."
I looked at her blankly. Should I?
"Come Maximum. It is time for you come home."