Page 5 of Praising Haru

Part of me thinks I should accept this revelation graciously. My parents raised me. They love me. They wanted me.

But?

They still lied to me. I’d like to think I’d have taken the news better if they’d sat me down when I was 16 or 18 and told me then. But they didn’t. They told me because they had to.

Does knowing change how you feel about them?

No. Of course not. I love them. They’re my parents. This situation sucks.

Yes, it does. Can I ask you something?

Sure.

Which are you angrier about, your dad being sick or finding out you were adopted?

I stare at Haru’s message for a long time before my thoughts are coherent enough to form a response.

Dad being sick. I just feel so fucking helpless. I didn’t think twice about offering to give him one of my kidneys, but I can’t help him because we’re not related.

There was no guarantee you would have had the same blood type, even if you had been blood relatives.

I know. Fuck. I hope Dad gets the transplant he needs. I hope he’s okay. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to him.

I hope you don’t have to find out.

I will eventually. As much as I’d like to believe my parents are immortal and will be there as long as I need them to be, they’re not. But Dad can’t be taken away from me so soon. He can’t be.

Thanks.

What for?

Helping me put things in perspective. Finding out I’m adopted the way I did sucks, but it doesn’t change the fact that my parents love me or that I love them. Maybe one day I’ll try and find out about my birth parents, but right now, I need to focus on Dad. My parents need me to be strong for them.

You need someone to talk to as well.

Are you offering?

I shouldn’t have sent that. I go to delete the message, but a tick pops up beside it first, telling me Haru has read it.

Yes.

You don’t even know me.

You helped me out. This is me repaying the favour.

You don’t have to.

I want to. Seriously. Message me whenever you need or want to. I’ll reply as soon as I can.

That means a lot. You’ve been amazing tonight. Thanks.

He replies with a blushing emoji.

Enough about me. Tell me about you.

* * *

HARU - TWO MONTHS LATER