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“Then I will just ask for a few minutes alone with my mother. Very simple,” he said. Then he lifted my hand to his lips. “Since you’re a chatter box, I have a feeling that I’m not the only nervous one.”
“You’re right. I got you. You got me. Now let’s do this,” I said leading him to her room.
I knocked on the open door and popped my head inside. “Are you up for a little company?” I asked.
She smiled. “You know I am always glad to see you. Unless you’re bring me medication, then you can come back later.”
“I kind of am. But hopefully this one makes you feel better quickly.”
Anya huffed. “More medicine. I don’t need more. I need....well, it doesn’t matter what I need, now does it.”
I tugged Mayson’s hand and together we stepped into the room. I watched Anya’s eyes widen. She was too stunned to say anything. And then I knew I better get her oxygen ready. She was going to need it.
I let go of his hand and put the mask on Anya. All she could do was stare at him. I pulled the chair out and put it beside her bed where I usually sat. Then nodded for him to take it.
Once seated he said, “Hello, Mother. It’s Mayson.”
It was awkward, but I knew it would get easier. “I figured I’d bring back a sweet treat from my outing today. What do you think?” I asked her.
She looked at me, and then grabbed my hand and smiled. “Thank you, Crystal.” Then she turned back to Mayson and said, “I have so much to tell you, but all I can think of now is telling you I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks. It was the first time she ever cried in front of me. And she had told me things that had me crying. This was evidence of what this moment meant to her.
Mayson reached out and held Anya’s other hand. “I’m sorry too.”
Anya looked at him puzzled. “You did nothing wrong. You were a child.:
“I haven’t been a child for many years. But I never looked for you. I should’ve. “
“Mayson, I know you’re not going to understand, but I’m glad you didn’t,” she said.
He pulled his hand away from her as though he was being rejected. That wasn’t the case. She needed to tell him about his father. The cruelty she had experienced at his hands. If not, she might lose Mayson, and I don’t know if even I can get him to return.
I was overstepping and sharing what I shouldn’t. But I needed to do this for them. She could hate me later. And hopefully, like Mayson, she’d forgive me too.
“Anya, I think it’s time to tell him the truth about why you left,” I said. She shook her head. I pushed again. “If you don’t, I know he is going to leave, and you might not ever have the chance to tell him again.”
Mayson looked at me and then back at him mother. “I told you. I’m not child anymore. I want to know why you left. Why you never came back.” He looked around the room and said, “It obviously wasn’t because you couldn’t afford the flight.”
I knew Anya was stung by his sarcasm. She needed to ignore it like I was doing.
Please. For me. Tell him.
“I will tell you, but I don’t want your grandmother to ever know. This...this would kill her,” she said.
“Depends on what it is,” he said.
“Trust me, just telling you now almost rips my heart in two. But I will do it, only because I’m afraid to lose you,” she said.
“Do you want me to leave?” I asked.
The said in unison, “No!”
“Okay. I’ll go and sit.” I took a seat not as close to the bed as Mayson’s. I wanted this to be a conversation that didn’t include me. But I would remain for emotional support.
“You know the history of Tabiq. What happened to the women when they turn eighteen. Sold to the highest bidder by the corrupt government and police. I was a victim of that. But for many others it was a one-time ordeal and they man was through with them. Not that it was any better, because they were as innocent as I was.” She closed her eyes for a second before continuing. “Some of the woman found themselves with a child. One that as conceive through violence.”
“Orion,” he said.
