Chapter 28
ERYX
I haven’t seen her much since her birthday and I know she’s pissed. I would be too.
I wish I had a better excuse than being busy with school and my father. Truth is, I’ve been keeping myself busy so that I wouldn’t have to see her. Not because I want to avoid her, but because I just want to bury myself in her. Let myself be consumed in all that she is.
And I can’t.
I still haven’t told her the truth, and I know I need to if we’re going to be anything. If we’re going to make this work. I can’t continue to keep this from her but I also know the truth will break her.
If she doesn’t hate me now, she will after she knows. She will never trust me again.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Mom.
I answer on the second ring. Her greek accent coming through as she greets me.
“Hey Ma.”
I sigh, half amused. Some things never change.
“I’m… surviving, Mama. That counts for something in this family, right?”
I hear her sigh. I hate that I worry her so much. She wants me home this year, and I hate disappointing her.
“Not this year, Mama.” I tell her. She’s silent. Almost knowing.
She asks for her name. I roll my eyes and laugh.
Correction. Always knowing.
“You don’t miss a thing do you?” I can hear her smile coming through the phone.
I take a moment before I let her name slip through my lips. “Nastasya. Anastasia Díaz.”
She pauses too, now before she responds. I hope she can’t hear the tension in my voice.
“Yes,.. It’s her.”
Her voice comes in warm and comforting. Then pauses.
Mom’s the only one I can be vulnerable with. Well, her, and Anastasia.
“I… I just don’t want to hurt her, Mama. She’s been through so much.”
Her tone is firm now.
She tells me how I need to protect her. Stand by her. Love her fully, but never lie. The truth, Eryx, is the strongest thing you have. She says. But it’s not that simple. It never has been with her and I.
The knots in my stomach don’t dissipate. I’m scared of what’s to come. Scare of what I know I need to do.
I will, Mama. I promise.
Her laughter lightens the mood again.
I love you too, mother.
The line hums with quiet before the click of goodbye.