Layla Koothrapali's POV

It's been a long time since Amara and I hung out together. She was like a big sister to me. We were at the mall and shopped around and then stopped by at the coffee shop. Dad wouldn't let me drink coffee because I'm too young.

We sat at a table together and just talked.

"So, how have you been doing?" She asked me.

"Fine." I answered.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Why?"

"It's just that..." Amara was about to continue, but stopped herself.

"What?"

"I don't know if Uncle Raj told you about this already..."

"Tell me about what?" I was getting confused.

Was Dad keeping a secret from me?

"Maybe I shouldn't say it..." She shook her head. "I thought Uncle Raj would've told you by now."

"Amara, please..." I begged. "If it's something I should know..."

She took a deep breath in and out. "Emily is not your biological mother. Claire is."

I don't know how to comprehend this...

"W-what?"

She looked like she made a major mistake. "I really shouldn't say anymore. Uncle Raj should."

I want to argue that she should tell more. But she is right. Why did Dad never tell me?

"Fine," I grumbled.

I'm not happy anymore. I believed that this stranger of a woman named, Emily, was my mother for all of my life. They've both lied to me.

If this 'Claire' really is my mother then where is she? Did she leave us? Is she...dead?

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" I asked suspiciously.

"I would have no reason to lie to you about this, Layla. I know some of the situation because of what I heard from my mother. I don't know all of it." I can see it on her face that she is saying the truth.

"Okay."

There was a silent tension between us. Amara looked guilty and was in regret for talking about it at all.

"Do you want anything to drink?" She offered.

Now, I'm angry at her. I don't want to deal with her when she knows who my real mother is and not me.

"Water is fine. Thanks." I said coldly and I didn't look at her as I said it.

She looked at me sadly and we walked away to the cashier. I saw that a guy was talking to her and he seemed to get her interest. I'm still in middle school, but I know what flirting is. Of course handsome boys would hit on Amara. She's gorgeous.

"This is my baby cousin, Layla." Amara introduced me to the guy. He was average height and has dark curly hair.

"Hi. I'm Layla Koothrapali." I said indifferently. My mind was elsewhere.

I kept thinking about the words she said. That Emily isn't my real and biological mother. That doesn't make any sense. How did my Dad and this...Claire happened? How could he kept this a secret from me for so long? Did he believe I couldn't handle it?

"Wyatt Hofstadter. Hm...Koothrapali..." He said quietly to himself. "That name sounds familiar. Is your father's name...Raj?"

"Yeah. Why?" I asked being confused.

"I think our parents were friends. I hear them talking about him sometimes."

"Really? That's cool." Amara smiled, looking at the both of us.

"I guess," I shrugged. I don't really want to talk about my father at the moment. "You have a brother named...Elliott, right?"

"Yeah. And I have two younger sisters."

"Elliott goes to my school." I don't mention how I have a crush on him.

"Are you two friends?" Wyatt asked. "He doesn't talk about them a lot."

"No, we're not really friends." I answered.

I just stare at him lovingly from afar. I think Elliott is cute and I admire how intelligent he is. I daydream how I would ask him out one day. I didn't know he has an older brother. Hopefully, he would look handsome like Wyatt when he grows up.

"Well, it was nice to meet you two girls." He said politely.

Amara and I said goodbye to him too.

We got our drinks and returned to our table. Amara has a dreamy smile on her face.

"Are you okay?" I asked. I don't know why she was smiling so much.

"I have a date with him." She was acting giddy about it.

"A date? I don't remember hearing about that."

"You obviously wasn't paying attention then."

"I don't think Aunt Priya will be happy about this."

"It's just for fun," Amara said as if it was harmless. "It will be my first time going out with an American man."

We returned to my house and only the music filled in the silence between us. I'm still mad at Amara for knowing the secret for so long and only chose now to tell me. I'm mad at my Dad, my moth- Emily...everyone!

When we went inside the house, I went straight upstairs to my bedroom ignoring everyone.

"Layla, what's wrong?" I hear Dad asked me, but I continue on upstairs anyway.

I stormed into my bedroom and slam the door shut. It was only moments later that Dad eventually came up and knocked on my door.

"Go away!" I yelled at him.

"Please, Layla, let us talk about this!" He pleaded, but I don't want to talk to him ever again. Amara must have told him what got me upset.

"No! Just go back downstairs with Emily!" I said the woman's name with disgust. The woman who replaced my real mother.

"Layla..." He said in his firm 'father' voice.

After minutes passed, he opened the door and I sat straight up looking angry at him.

"How did you get in here?!"

"Your door wasn't really locked," He answered simply. Too infuriated to even look at him, I turned away and faced the wall of photos of my friends and family. "Please, Layla, let's talk about this. I was going to tell you sooner-"

"Oh, yeah? When?!" I demanded, still avoiding eye contact.

"At your fourteenth birthday. I felt it would be time. I thought you'd be old enough to understand. I just didn't know how to tell you and I didn't expect Amara would say anything about it."

"Well, she did. At least she told me the truth. Did you know she's already going out with someone? Some guy named Wyatt Hofstadter."

"Layla, now is not the time to change the sub- did you say... Wyatt Hofstadter?" He asked incredulously.

"Yep-puh." I said, popping the P.

"Oh...not this again..." He groaned and I didn't know what he means by that. But I caught myself to ask him about it because I don't want to talk to him. "Anyway, Layla..." His voice became serious and soothing. "Your mother...Claire...loved you very much."

"What happened to her?" I was afraid to ask.

"She...she died from cancer," He revealed sadly. "You were only four. You would barely remember her. Today is just her death anniversary."

I felt tears coming on. My...real mother died from...cancer? Of all things?

"Your mother wanted to give something to you. I wanted to wait until you were ready, but it looks like I waited too soon. Just stay here." I watched Dad leave my room and he came back seconds later.

He was holding an envelope...with my name on it in an unfamiliar handwriting.

"It's her letter for you," Dad gave me it. "She wanted you to read this. Whenever you're ready."

I stared at the envelope in my hands as if I don't know what to do with it.

"I'd like to be alone." I said, swallowing the hard lump in my throat.

"Okay." He understood and was about to kiss my forehead, but I cringe away from him. I know he was hurt by that, but I can't deal with him right now.

I hear him walking away while my fingers were slowly opening the letter and I'm wondering what did Claire...I mean, my mother...wrote to me.


Author's Note: It's the same Claire who Raj dated and when he was with Emily at the time. Originally, I was going to give Amara to Neil, but a reviewer named, bfm10, changed my mind about having Amara and Wyatt together instead because of Penny and I thought of Leonard, too. So, I thought that will be fun. Please leave a review! :)