Chapter XIII - Part II

"Why do you always say that?" Andrew was not in the mood of agreeing with his mother. "After everything, we've been through, haven't you wondered maybe there won't be some other time?"

"In a way, I have even hoped that," she responded raising her head so that their eyes could meet.

"Well, that's just..." Andrew was lacking words. What could he say? His mother had just admitted she was never planning to tell him about his father.

"I know it's unfair," she said. "You're just not going to like the truth."

"I don't have to like it. But I deserve to know!"

"When you were just kids, I used to listen to your stories. You thought he was always brave and going to adventures. He was a hero to you." Her lips curved into a smile remembering their childhood. Andrew remembered the stories, too. They even played some of their stories out sometimes. One of them would play the part of their father, the hero - usually, it was Andrew - and others were young maidens waiting to be rescued.

"So I decided it would be better not to tell you what a coward he really was."

"And you dragged Grandpa into it, too?" he accused his mother.

"No. His decision was his own."

"So what did father do? What made him a coward?"

She seemed reluctant to talk but Andrew had broken her. "When I was pregnant with Andy, we had started thinking of escaping Sencor," she started.

"Your father met a group who were helping people get out through some tunnels under the city. We were all ready to go when an accident happened." The memories made her face look like it was in pain. Andrew would have told her to stop talking if it wasn't about his father.

"Someone had betrayed the group. A woman was running away with her baby and they were both killed in the tunnels. I didn't want to risk your lives. You were just barely walking and Amanda was just a babe. It was too dangerous."

She wiped away a tear on her cheek. "But your father was a stupid selfish man. He went alone, leaving us behind. He didn't say goodbye, he didn't say anything. So he got himself killed."

Andrew couldn't believe it. How could he leave his wife and their three children, one still unborn? he thought. It seemed escaping or revolution was on everybody's mind these days. No wonder, Andy had thought of starting an uprising herself. It was in their genes.

"I'm sorry I broke the illusion of your father," she said still crying.

"I guess you are the true hero in this story," he comforted her.

There didn’t seem an end to her tears. "Not a day goes by, I don't think about him. We were too young and stupid when we got married. And I hate him for leaving us." She was now shaking. "Why didn't he say anything?"

Andrew felt useless. He had never seen his mother like that. He could try to comfort her, hold her and stroke her hair but it wouldn't really change anything. And neither would doing nothing. So he chose the first option. Grandpa had woken and was looking towards them. His eyes met Andrew's and he nodded.

No matter the disappointment or pain, Andrew still didn't understand why his father had been a secret. Were they really so embarrassed? Or could they just not find the right words? How do you tell your children their father left them so that he could be free?

Andrew felt disappointed. He wasn't as naive as Andy, but even he hadn't expected their father to be a coward, a deserter.

"A son shouldn't have to comfort his mother," his mother said finally calming a bit. She wiped her tears once again.

"I'm glad you told me about him," Andrew said. "And I hope that over time you might be able to tell me more. There must have been more to him than just a coward."

"There was," she smiled and some sadness was wiped from her flooded eyes. "But for some reason, the good is shadowed by the bad. He loved you, he really did. Yet it didn't stop him from leaving us. I knew him all his life but he remains a mystery."

"I'm not sure whether it was just a dream or it really happened but I remember him reading to me. I don't remember the book or the story but... he made me laugh. He made faces and talked in different voices.' Andrew hadn't told it to anyone and it felt good to finally share it with someone even if it wasn't true.

She nodded. "He read to you every night. He wanted you to learn to read, too. He even tried to teach me a few times but I couldn't tell the difference between letters."

Her eyes glazed as if she was trying to remember something. "The duck and the frog were sitting by the lake. One wanted to fly, the other to jump high. The frog moved his legs so fast but didn't rise an inch. The duck kept his wings on the side and used the muscles in his flippers. But both stayed hard on the ground... That's the story," she said.

Andrew noticed Rhyn running towards them his face filled with terror. "They're coming!" he yelled.

"Who's coming?" his mother asked her face alarmed.

"The Emperor has sent an army to kill us. We have to go! Now!" Rhyn said catching his breath.

They didn't have time to take everything with them. The most important part was that they could all hide before the army got there. Andrew helped Grandpa run, almost carrying him half of the way. There wasn't enough time to get to the next camp. Everyone had started fleeing in different directions. The woods were their best option. They pushed their way through the bushes and scraping branches. Margaret tripped but Madden managed to catch her before she hit the ground. They didn't look back. They didn't stop until the morning light started to show them the way. They were safe for now. Andrew fell on the ground feeling exhausted. He didn't know where they were but he knew he would sleep right there and then.

"And who do we have in here?" he heard a familiar voice behind his back. Kalbott.