Page 107 of Shadows Within

I walk further into the room and spot Mom, sitting in a chair by the window.

“Mom?” I call out to her softly.

She slowly turns her head. Her face is pale, and her eyes are red, like she’s been crying. Still in her pajamas, her golden hair needs a comb.

“Scarlett.” She uses a tone I’ve never heard, it’s not happiness or excitement or sadness—it’s just calm.

“Hi Mom.” I walk over to the window, not sure whether to hug her or cry.

“How are you, Sweetie?” She quietly asks.

“I’m okay. How are you? I’m so glad you’re here.” I reach for her hand. It’s probably the most affection I’ve shown her in years.

“I’m glad too.” She forces a smile and bites her lip, trying not to cry.

I don’t know where to start, so I just begin.

“Mom, I went to your house. I found the box. I know everything.” I can’t look away from her. I owe her that.

“You had no right Scarlett.” She remains still.

“No right? No Mom,youhad no right. Do you know how many times I fell asleep crying? How many times I thought youdidn’t love me? How many times I thought it was my fault? I hated you for that. I… I was awful. All while you were quietly suffocating.” She keeps biting her lip, but her tears fall.

“Scarlett, I couldn’t tell you. You were so young, you had so much life ahead of you. Look where you got. I wouldn’t change my decision… because it got you where you are today.”

The person I’ve cried for, the person I’ve needed the last ten years, is finally here.

“I’m.. I’m.. so sorry, Mom.”

“Honey, it was never your fault.” She places her other hand on top of mine.

“We should’ve known that you’d never leave us unless you had to.” I pause. “Dad? Does he—”

“No. I haven’t told him... you should though.” She looks out the window. “Your dad gave up on me a long time ago.”

“He’s never given up on you Mom, he never will.” She faces me with a warm smile. It’s one I haven’t seen in a long time.

“I’m so mad at them Mom, they took so much from us. So many years and missed memories.” My tears match hers.

“We can’t look back honey.” She brushes the side of my cheek with her thumb. Her fingers are soft. She blinks through tears. “Thank Callum for me when you get back. He comes with lots of baggage Scarlett, but he loves you. I’d love to hear what your dad thinks of him?”

“Thank him?” I don’t understand.

“He got me here. He bargained with Leo and got me out. It must not have been easy. He found this place and brought me here. He’s paying for it all. I didn’t want to accept, but he insisted.”

My heart skips a beat.Callum fucking Mercer.

“I love him, Mom.”

“And what’s a little carry-on luggage hmm? Who am I to judge. He saved my baby girl after all.” I smile as she laughs.

“Yes, I guess he did.”

“We’re going to be okay, Honey.” For the first time in a long time, I believe her.

“So, the silver phase? That’s when it all, um, started?”

She looks down at her hands and then back at me. “There’s so much that I’m ashamed of, but I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”