Living Without a Mom ~ Chapter 11: The Truth

How come now that school's back, I have a sudden urge to just... write? Strange.

Over the next nine years, Sam was brought up into an intelligent and independent child.

Leighton wasn't that bad with his love life either. He continued to have an on/off relationship with Blair Wainwright. Not to mention that a few months after Opal left, he had a brief romance with her friend Anabelle before she died a horrific death, being shocked for two minutes straight.

As for Yumi, she continued to live with her son and grandson, as with attending daily book club meetings. Nobody quite understood how they could be so frequent.

Present day

Sam was starting to get quite scared. How did this strange lady know his name? His heart started pounding and he decided to speak his thoughts.

'How do you know my name? Who even are you?' he questioned. The facial expression on the lady changed to surprise.

'Oh gosh, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry!' she apologized. Sam just nodded.

'So once again, who are you and how do you know my name?'

'Sam... I'm your mother.'

The nine year old stared in disbelief, eyes narrowed. How could this psycho lady just show up on his doorstep and say that she was his mother? How could she be?! His mother had been dead basically since his birth!

'No you're not! I've never had a mom! She died just after I was born!'

'Sam, I didn't die. Who told you that I did?'

'Grandma Yumi...'

'I knew that it would be her. Listen, she's been lying to you for all this time.'

'How do you expect me to believe anything you're saying?'

'Well... are you locked out?'

'Yes. I am every night after school.'

'Seriously?'

'Yes.'

'Well, I kept the key to this place when I left. I can let us both inside.'

'What?! You arrive here, claiming that you are my mom, and then say that you can let us both inside?!' exclaimed Sam. He was on the edge of either calling out for help, or running away.

'Look Sam, I can understand why you don't believe me. Do you have any pictures of your mother to compare?'

'Yes... I have a small one in my sock drawer.'

'Please. Just let me let you in, I'll even stay out on the porch if you want me to. But just get that picture.' ordered the woman. Sam sighed in defeat.

'Fine. But stay there.' he said before being given the key. It actually did open the door, which Sam found suspicious. Was this lady actually telling the truth? Was she his actual mother? Only time would tell.

As he stepped inside the house, he slowly but surely made his way to his sock drawer. Opening it, he stared around at his blue walls. Was he actually believing this lady?

Taking the picture out of the drawer, he left his room and closed the door behind him. Emerging out onto the porch again, Sam held up the small picture next to the woman's face. As he did, tears started to appear in the corners of his dark eyes. Despite having much longer hair in the picture and not having dark circles, you could tell that it was the exact same person. She was indeed who she said she was.

'Mom... it really is you!' cried Sam, dropping the picture to the floor and attempting to hide the fact that he was crying. His mother scooped him up in her arms and he sobbed into her shoulder.

'It's alright Sam, I'm here now.' she reassured.

After Sam had finally sniffed most of his tears back up, the pair went inside. Opal scoped the room.

'Barely changed at all.' she muttered.

They both sat on the sofa.

'So, where have you been my entire life? I've been brought up to assume that you were dead!' demanded Sam.

'That's where you'll probably hate me. You see, when you were only a few days old, I left. I was young; I couldn't cope with being a mother. But directly after leaving, I was full of regret. I hated myself for what I did. Ever since then, I've been working up the courage to come back. But I was afraid that I'd be sent away. I let everyone in your family down, Sam. Your father the most. I assume that he hates me?'

'Well for a start, I forgive you for leaving. I'm just happy that I can finally join in with making mother's day cards at school. Making them for Grandma Yumi isn't exactly the best thing. And no, I don't think that dad hates you. Whenever I bring you up, he goes all quiet and has quiet replies. I always assumed that he didn't like to talk about your death, or so I thought.'

'I see. How has his love life been?'

'Well, when I was a few months old, he started seeing a girl called Anabelle-'

'Anabelle Oinkslopes?!' Opal interrupted, shocked.

'Yes...'

'She was my best friend! Anyway, continue.'

'After about a year of dating, Anabelle died.'

'What?! How?!' gasped Opal.

'Electrocuted, according to Grandma Yumi. She's buried in the graveyard.'

'Wow. Has your father seen anyone else since?'

'Yes. He's had an on/off relationship with Blair Wainwright for like three years now. As of right now, I don't know if they are dating or not. They need to make their minds up.'

Opal scowled as she remembered Blair, a prissy middle-class girl with eccentric parents who was in the grade below her and Leighton at school. Her hair was always tied into bunches and she seemed to squeal at everything. Putting it straight, Opal had never liked her.

'So anyway, who has been born in Sunset Valley after you?' she asked.

'Mortimer Goth, Bella Bachelor and Sandi French.'

'Oh, that's all?'

'Yup. But Jocasta Bachelor is pregnant with triplets.'

'Oh my gosh. So, has anyone died besides from Anabelle?'

'Milton Bachelor, Erik Darling and Lolita Goth also died a couple of years ago...'

'Lolita died?! No way, you have to be joking! How?! She must have only been like thirteen or fourteen!' Opal exclaimed in shock.

'She was electrocuted in her kitchen in front of Mortimer and Bella. Sad times.'

'Wow, I really can't believe that. She was such a sweet child... Anyway, sorry for all the questions but who are your friends at school?'

'Well, my best mate is Scott Keaton.'

'Oh, I remember him as a newborn. Last question, where on earth are your father and grandmother?'

'Dad's at work and Grandma Yumi is at her daily book club meeting.'

'No surprises there.'

'Yup. Hey, mom?' It still felt surreal to be able to call someone that.

'Yes?'

'Will you promise to stay?'

'Of course I do, Sam. If your father and grandmother let us see each other.'

'Well if they don't, then I'll run away!'

'It's mainly their choice, Sam. Even though I am your mom, your dad and grandma have always been your legal guardians.'

Sam sighed before deciding to give his mom another hug. He wanted to get used to this.

Then without warning, Leighton burst through the front door, sweaty and home very early.

'Sam? Mother?' he called out, locking the door behind him. Opal felt so much nostalgia and nervousness rush through her body; she felt like running away again.

'Dad? I'm in here!' replied Sam, actually feeling quite scared to see how his parents would reunite.

'Sam? How did you get in here without a key...' Leighton trailed off as he made eye contact with Opal, who was sitting on the sofa.

'Opal?!'

Did Opal come back too early? I hadn't really thought of anything interesting to go in between, so...