Aphmau's POV

*Play Song*

"Hey there Mija......." The woman smiles kindly, pain laced in her expression, her eyes half open and squinted, her similar tanned skin wrinkled.

I can't speak....

I can't move.....

I'm pretty sure I can't breathe.....

The woman must have noticed, because she sighed, but not just any sigh....

It was an extremely guilty one.

"Mija......."

"Who are you......" I whisper in disbelief, backing up slightly from her, my heart racing.

"I'm your mother Aphmau......."

"My mother......is dead..." I repeat the words that have been taking up my mind.

Dead.....

Gone.......

Not here......

GAH!

The woman just looks down, biting her lip, her eyebags thick and dark, her body seeming so frail and weak from the car accident.

And I wasn't helping.....

I mean what else was I suppose to think.....

My whole life has been a lie.......

Wait......

If she HAS been alive this whole time........

".......if you are....her.....where were you?" I manage out, my voice breaking again.

Where were you all my life......

"I......I.......it's complicated Mija....."

"Please tell me......cause I need to know........I need to know....did you and Dad......not want me?" I ask, my eyes welling up.

"Mija...." She starts, her voice raspy and dry and cracked.

"No....no excuses......just tell me......was I an.....accident?" My heart sinking.

"No Mija.....your father and I loved you....so much.....so much.....that we had to let you go....."

"What...." I knit my eyebrows together in confusion, the tears trailing down my face in pursuit of reaching the ground.

"Your father and I......were, not the most liked people amongst some very dangerous groups of gangsters and rich criminals......so.....they eventually started coming after us.....coming after you......" She then reaches her hand out to me, placing it on my cheek, me hesitating a bit, before leaning into her cool palm, her smile warm.

"It was the hardest thing we ever had to do.........leaving you with your Aunt.......not ever being able to see you again.....for your safety......" She tears up a bit as well.

She.....

They.....

For my....

Safety?....

All this time.....

"Mom......" I whisper, letting everything go.....all the pain.....all the lies......just me......crying it out.

"Mija.......you've grown to be such a beautiful and amazing woman.....I just hoped your father could have been here to see you........he would be so proud of you......"

I place my shaky hand over hers, feeling the tubes and needles in her hand, my face a wet mess of tears and sniffles.

"I'm so sorry I was never there for your childhood Mija.....but...if you'll let me.....I would love to be a part of your life now........" She pleads.

I drop my head, my hair sticking to my cheeks as they became soaked.

I then raise it, while nodding.

I gently sit on her bedside and wrap my arms around her, she wincing a bit, before hugging me back, crying as well.

I have my mother back........

My actual mother........

"Aaron?" Mom says, making me look to the doorway, where there was Aaron coming into the room, holding in his arms a sleeping Angel.

We release the hug as I sit, though still on the edge of the bed.

"Hello Mrs. Phoenix, I'm glad to see you awake..." Aaron greets, walking over to my side.

"My Irene.......Aaron......you've grown so much as well.....I remember when you were just a young boy always coming to knock at my door, looking for Aphmau......." Mom smiles kindly, saying this slowly.

"Haha, it's good to see you again Mrs. Phoenix....." Aaron chuckles, placing a hand on my shoulder.

Mom notices this, her eyes widening then her smile becomes bigger.

"Are you two.......well I can't really say I'm surprised.....I knew you two always had something....."

I turn to Aaron,  smiling at him.

"Wait......who's this?" Mom's voice heightening a bit, eyeing Angel sleeping in Aaron's arm.

Aaron hands Angel to me gently, me positioning her correctly in my arms, Angel's mouth slightly ajar as she slightly snored.

"Mom......this is Angel.....your granddaughter....." I grin, leaning over to place Angel on her chest as Mom slowly sat up, taking Angel in her arms in awe.

Just seeing the image of her holding Angel for the first time was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

"She.......wha......oh my Irene......she's perfect......" Mom brushes Angel's hair slightly to the side, her mouth opened wide in absolute awe.

"She has your eyes Aaron, but she definitely has Aphmau's nose and big head," She remarks, causing both Aaron and I to laugh.

And there we sat, just watching my mother study her granddaughter in great detail, seeing this once in a lifetime moment, happen right before our eyes.

Have a nice day my crystals!