When Caleb and I enter the office, my mother has her back to us.
She stares at the walls as if lost in time, and I wonder what is going on in her head. Probably she is remembering when she lived there, when she was part of that world.
Caleb and I look at each other and smile nervously. Strange as it is, I feel no more the anger that had taken possession of me when Jeanine told me about it. Perhaps the excess of tension in which I found myself at that time had raised my nervousness level, but now I can see things clearly, I can understand her. If she do not told us anything, she should have a good reason.
Feeling our approach, she turns to look at us and smiles a smile so sweet that I feel with four years old again.
- My babies. - She walks up to us and hugs me and Caleb at the same time - I've been so worried all this time, I was so afraid of something happening to both of you ...
She kisses Caleb's cheek, and then mine.
- We also had fear for you and Dad. - Caleb answers - But we are well now, right? Definitely well.
My mother nods and closes her eyes, as if his words were a total relief to her.
- You were very strong and brave. You protected yourselves and yours friends. I'm so proud...
The three of us smile together, and the first time I notice that my mother no longer behaves like a member of Abnegation. Smiles and hugs were not very common in my former faction.
This leads me to think about our future and the factions. We would still have space in them after all that happened? Our city would still be able to live with factions after the revealed truth? I decide to leave this question for later, because there are more important things I want to know before that.
- You called us here for a reason. Is there anything you want to tell us.
She nods and looks me and Caleb in the eyes.
- Yeah. - She takes a deep breath - I feel I owe it to both of you. As much as I love Abnegation and their values, I do not think it's fair to deprive the people we love of our past. Come here.
She gestures to the couch in the corner of old David's office and sits down.
- You may already know. - she starts - I came from this place. I was not born in our city, I was put there to stop divergent's death.
- Yeah. - I answer - Jeanine told me.
- I was going to ask her to not to tell you anything, but I thought of it too late. - She looks around the office almost with nostalgia, but not a good nostalgia, that make us miss the past. It is a sad nostalgia, something regretful. - You know, this was the first place they brought me when I came here. Right here I had my first conversation with David.
I look her, evaluating her behavior. I can only feel love for her at this time, I want to hug her. She is my mother and I'm too happy not to have lost her. I'm really lucky.
- My father died and I had nothing else to do in this place. In this world. So I did not hesitate a second when David proposed me to infiltrate in the city. - she looks to Caleb, dreamily - I named you like him. "Caleb." It was my father's name.
Caleb smiles.
- My mission was going well, I liked being in Dauntless. My goal was to infiltrate in Erudite and be a sort of "secret agent". I should choose Erudite in my Choosing Day.
- We know what happened. - Caleb mutters.
- Your father was what happened. - she sighs - He, the most adorable, cute, funny, innocent, responsible and selfless boy I had known. He was and still is the best person I know. Because of it I can understand you, Tris. I can understand what is to be crazy for love, to the point that nothing matters more. I went with him to Abnegation, renouncing the outside world, without ever repenting. And you did everything possible to protect Jeanine. I do not know if she is good for you, or if someone is good enough for you, but it was your decision and you never regretted it.
I smile at her, relieved since the depths of my soul. My mother understands me. She understands and accepts my choices.
She accepts me.
- I could to save some divergents even out of Erudite. I believe that many of them are here. In a way, I continued my mission independently. So I decided to choose Abnegation, I broke up with David and the Bureau.
- We also know of it. - I smile - Well, I hope it do not make you upset but ... they gave us your diary. We know about this part of the story.
My mother smiles back.
- I would never be upset. It's my story, after all. You are part of my story, then you have the right to know of it. And I can say that I could not have done better choice.
She looks reflectively at Caleb and me, and I know exactly what she wants to say: her choice had given her us, and that was the most important thing in the world.
- It may seem silly but ... I'm glad you have broken with David. I'm glad you're not one of them, that you're not loyal to them. I hate the things they think ... I mean, the things they thought.
My mother nods, looking proud of me.
- I was always afraid of how it would be when you knew the truth. I was afraid of you to believe this thing of genetic defect, and this generate resentment between you two. I was afraid of you move away from each other because of this, but I see I was wrong. None of you believed that, and that made you even more united.
- You never believed it, right? - asks Caleb - You never believed in genetic deficiency.
My mother vehemently denies with her head.
- No. Never.
She takes our hands and puts them together. She looks deep into our eyes.
- A person, - she begins - can never be defined by genetic. What defines the people are the choices they make, and it is not and will never be related with genes.
- If so, you would not have fallen in love with Dad. - I smile - Where is he, anyway?
My mom opens her eyes for a moment.
- I knew we were missing something. - Caleb whispers.
...
- They locked my father in a cell!?
- Beatrice ... - my mother takes me by the shoulders - I love that man with all my heart, but...he do not serves to the war. He was safer there.
- We have to go for him ... And you stop smiling as well!
- Me? - asks my girlfriend, mischievously.
- I bet it was your idea!
- Again with the accusations, my dear? I did not locked your father ... but I was there. It was fun.
We are in the hallway. As soon as I knew what had happened to my father, I went to Jeanine. My brother and my mother followed me worried.
- We have to get him out!
- We will do it, do not worry. - Jeanine touches my shoulder.
- He must be so worried ...
- My dear Beatrice ... - she approaches my face to kiss me - We will release him. He'll be fine, I promise.
I give her a hug.
- Ehhmm ... we're still here. - Caleb whispers.
- Jeanine, please, can you do not kiss my daughter in front of me? I still need to get used to your ... your ... presence. - my mother looks pale.
I release Jeanine immediately, feeling my cheeks burning. Fuck. fuck. fuck. I forgot they were there.
- Mmm ... let me think ... - she puts a hand to her chin. - No.
She kisses me before I can get away and walks down the hall.
- I'll see you at night, Beatrice.
Perhaps it was too seductive tone she used to say my name, or absolute shame for being in front of my mother, but my face took the temperature of the sun.
- I feel very uncomfortable. - whispers my mother.
- Welcome to the club. - Caleb says.
…
- We're fine, Tris. - Johanna's voice sounds a bit distorted by the control room's microphone, but I can perfectly understand - is getting better, actually. We managed to get everyone to enter into an agreement, and we are now in political reorganization process.
- Political Reorganization? - I ask curiously.
Behind me are Caleb, Tobias and Nita - that was still recovering from her wounds, but wanted to be there anyway.
- Well, the stalemate between those who wanted that the factions continued and those who wanted them to be extinct was almost causing another war, until some Erudite members suggested a peaceful solution that would be good for both sides.
- What kind of magic solution would do that? - Nita asks, with one hand supporting her injured leg and the other holding Tobias's shoulder.
- Well ... - Johanna replies - Let's say that the factions still exist, but they will be optional.
My brain tries to process the information and find sense in what she says.
As a child, the most important thing we learned was to choose a faction was the most important decision of our lives. A fatal and inevitable choice which we could not escape.
Despite all the upheavals that had happened in recent months, the idea of a faction be something "optional" still sounds totally surreal in my mind.
As an echo of my own thoughts, Tobias's voice breaks the silence.
- Optional?
- How is this possible? - my voice joins to his.
- The factions will continue to exist for those who want to join them. They will continue worshiping the same values, the same philosophy and have the same former activities, and those who did not want to be part of any faction, have the freedom to make that choice without being excluded from society.
- That's something ... hard to imagine. - Tobias whispers.
- It's the best solution we found. Your mother is in accordance with our agreement, Factionless no longer be a problem, apparently.
- Tomorrow we will see it with our own eyes. - I mutters suspiciously, remembering how Evelyn tried to kill Jeanine that night. No doubt she could be a problem in the future.
- Do you have everything ready? - Asks Johanna
- Yeah.
- Your father is here, Tris. He is safe and sound.
- It's a relief. - I feel my body relax. - His transfer had no problems?
- None too important. He is nervous. But we feed him with some of our breads and ...
- Peace Serum? - I exclaim. - They injected my father with peace serum!?
- As I said before ... - Johanna replies defensively. - He was nervous. And only ate two breads. He's fine...
I cover my face in frustration.