Chapter 397
I wake up but don’t move right away. I just lie there, staring at the ceiling as everything from yesterday slowly settles back into my mind, piece by piece.
It doesn’t feel real to be honest, no matter how I look at it. This is something that happens in novels, not in real life, but here we are.
Before I can go too far down that spiral, I feel a familiar presence on the bed. A second later, Blackie jumps onto me, carefully stepping over my stomach before settling right on my chest. She nudges her way under my chin, her soft purr vibrating against my neck like she somehow knows I need it.
I let out a breath, my hand coming up to stroke her fur absentmindedly. I had missed her so fucking much and from what I’ve seen, how she’s been clingy since I came back, she’s missed me too.
“I finally found out who my dad is,” I murmur softly. “But you probably already know that, don’t you p>
She responds with a louder purr, snuggling closer.
“Can you believe it? It so wild that my second favorite person, turns out to be my cousin”
She responds with a meow and honestly as much as it sounds crazy to others, I believe she’s actually listening. She understands me.
She snuggles deeper into me, her warmth pulling my mind back to Lilly.
Even thinking about it, feels so strange. I love Lilly with all my heart, but she’s always been my best friend. My sister from another mother.
We always wanted to be related and it’s the reason why she wanted me to end up with Noah, and now we find out that we are actually related by blood, that everything we’ve shared all these years had a deeper connection neither of us understood. It’s honestly mind blowing.
Maybe that’s why things always felt different between us. Maybe that’s why I always felt like she wasn’t just a friend, like there was something more tying us together. It was probably the whole ‘Blood is thicker than water’
I close my eyes briefly as yesterday’s events continue playing in my head.
Aunt Harper and Lilly stayed until evening, and after they left, Mom and I barely spoke. We were both too overwhelmed, too drained to process everything at once. We didn’t have the energy or o think about everything properly so we just went to our rooms, and it only took minutes before sleep pulled me under.
Now, in the quiet of the morning, when there is nothing but calmness and the sounds of birds, my thoughts feel too loud.
I sigh softly before slowly pushing myself up, even as Blackie lets out a small protesting sound.
“I know, I know, but I have to get up,” I whisper, gently scratching behind her ear before lifting her off me.
She hops off the bed with a flick of her tail, clearly unimpressed, while I drag myself to my feet.
Aunt Harper asked me to meet her today and just thinking about that sends a strange feeling through me.
She’s always been Aunt Harper… but now she actually is. Now I will not only be calling her Aunt out of respect but also because she’s blood. She’s my father’s little sister.
I take a deep breath trying to calm the sudden nerves circling me. I know I’ve said it, but damn, I still can’t believe that she’s my father’s sister. That she’s truly my aunt by blood.
Shaking my head slightly, I head to the bathroom, letting the hot water run over me as I try to clear my mind. It helps a little, grounding me just enough to function, but not enough to pull me from the state I’m in. That state that feels
Like you’re walking through a dream.
Once I’m done, I get dressed and make my way downstairs, but I stop when I reach Mom’s door.
It’s too quiet and I know for sure if she were downstairs, I would have heard something by now.
I hesitate for a moment before lifting my hand and knocking softly.
There’s no answer at first, and I almost turn away, thinking maybe she’s still asleep, but just as I take a step back, her voice comes through.
“Come in p>
I push the door open gently to find the curtains are still drawn, though thin strands of light slip through, casting soft shadows across the room and mom who’s usually up before the sun, is still in bed, sitting up slightly.
I walk over and sit on the edge of the bed, as I scan her face. She looks tired as hell.
“Morning, Mommy” I say softly, using the name I used to call her by when I was younger.
“You haven’t called me that in years,”she replies, her voice low.
I shrug, “It just came to mind… How did you sleep p>
She doesn’t answer right away. For a second, I think she might avoid the question, but then she sighs quietly.
“As well as I could, give everything that happened,” she says.
I tilt my head slightly. “You don’t look like you slept at all p>