Chapter 5

Chapter Caught in

As soon Thomas went bed I walked out house in my sneakers and a duffle bag on my shoulders lights from lamp illuminated my way as scurried the apartment inscribed number . The windows were dark as I looked it seemed no one was in. I tapped again on the door looking above my shoulders to avoid seeing anyone around and just then I heard sound of the the door slowly pulled open and I walked in.

!

“Mum!” He threw on me in a tight hug.

have missed you,” He .

“When did you get back?”

“Just yesterday and I couldn’t wait another day to see you. How is Dad?”

“Your father is at his best. You know we really need to stop seeing each other like this. You are my son and not some forbidden love interest.‘

“This is the only way, mom. Dad doesn’t want to have anything to do with a son who can’t be a man.‘

“But you’ll always be my boy no matter what.”

“Don’t say that.

“It was hard to recognize your new look.”

just had my third facial surgery.”

“I see.”

“How are you, Mom?”

“I’m doing great,” I forced smile but it was a bit too late as it appeared as a sardonic look.

“I’m not Dad, you don’t have to pretend.”

“I haven’t seen you in like a year and that is the last thing I want talk about.”

“Mom, I want you to someone.” As he announced, a much older guy walked out from within the

apartment.

“This is Sam. My boyfriend.”

“Hey, Sam ” I waved shortly at him, he was more manly than Jayden.

“Hey, Mrs Miles. Jayden talks about you all the time

“I’m not surprised that he does, I’m the best mom in the .”

playfully tweaked his cheek like I

used to when we went out for cream or to the pack,” and he slid away shyly.

ve: Caught in camera

Mom stop, I’m not a kid anymore Soon Sam stepped out leaving just us again.

“Mom I’m sorry.

Jayden began.

“What are you apologizing for?”

“I’m not the man that you and Dad wished me to be. The billionaire son that would be the rightful heir to the empire. I have failed you both. No wonder Dad doesn’t think I .”

“Hey baby, don’t say that. I can never hate you because you are gay.

love even because you are braver than I could ever be. You found your path even with pressure around. You went for what you wanted. That’s the thing one can ever do to in life ” Tears swelled in my eyes as I wiped it off, “Don’t ever think that you have failed me because you haven’t and we should not be meeting like this. You should come the house and bring Sam along for Thanksgiving next weekend. It would really mean a lot to me.”

Jayden said nothing but I knew he had the words in his heart, I held him in my arms as a stream of silence eluded us and everyone was engulfed in their thoughts not knowing what the next words would be until it landed like an explosion in my ear.

“Do you still love him? I mean father.” And for once in my life that question seemed hazy.

“Truth is I don’t know. I have taken shits from him for so long that I don’t know if it’s the compiled rage speaking, that of a tired mind or the real fact that I’m running out of love for him.”

“If you still did, there wouldn’t be so much confusion in one question.”

It amused me that once my entire existence solely relied on Thomas but now, the one thing that kept me living with him was like a mirage on a distant route.

Thomas‘ presence in the living room startled me just as I walked in.

“I didn’t think you would be awake.

“And so you went to see your boyfriend.”

“What are you talking about? I went see Jay…”

“Save me the details.”

“What do you care about anyway

“I don’t. But I will not sit and watch you drag my name down the mud because you have decided to

become a slut.”

“You don’t get to call me names Thomas.

can just get on with your life without making everyone know how horrible you are

“She called me horrible. Well, least I didn’t around town with younger guys and dancing with poles in a club.”

“I have no idea what are saying

Chapter Five Caught in camera

3/3

He dropped the pile of pictures and video footage that night with Evans as video of my dance played.

“Thomas, how did you get hold of

“You disgust me, woman. First you went back to work and now this really are growing some wings, woman aren’t you? But guess what?

hesitate clip them off act all holy making me the devil but you are worst person any can be with. I this lowlife parade yourself with doesn’t know that yet.”

“Don’t insult him you know him.

“I know you. You have worst taste for everything.”

said.

“And I chose you, it explains a lot. And for the record, he is a better man in just a few hours compared to all the years I’ve spent with you.”

“Regina!”

Thomas grabbed me as I made to leave, his eyes, bloodshot with a look I had never seen before.

“Let go of me, you are hurting my arms.”

“As long as I haven’t signed those divorce papers, you keep your miserable self on your shelf. In fact, avoid the outside world you do not deserve any breath of fresh air. I repeat, don’t drag my name into

the mud.”

“Or what?”

“You won’t like the outcome, and I mean every word I say

I suddenly detested his presence as I fled to my bedroom. I threw myself to the bed as hot tears flowed down my cheek, his words like a chainsaw always running through me even when I posed with thick skin. He had done it again. Making me feel a lower version of myself. How could I have been so stupid to think that I would have life again with a man much younger? The more I thought about it, the more I wanted so badly to never step my feet out again but one thing kept me afloat, the fact that Thomas had all the details of that night. Maybe he still kept tabs on me and watched over me like the shepherds watched its flock.

didn’t know, there was so much puzzle to his existence that after so long I still could not decipher. Each day that passed, a part of me broke off into many pieces, into tiny bits that I could no longer grasp. As I made to leave the the light–headedness that had somehow come to well put me back to bed as I curled up to sleep.