"I'm so glad that you've decided to give our relationship a second chance," my mother gushes as I sit before her in the dimly lit living room. I've decided to make good on my promise with Kwamé, despite the high level of discomfort that I feel when in a room alone with this woman. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC3b3m7Eha
"I don't want to hate you anymore, and I'm trying to be a good example to Kwamé." When her eyebrows come together in confusion, I further explain the situation.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleDcrah5g0
"I want him to forgive himself."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJvKgHvYy3
"I wouldn't put much faith into that," she replies warily, as if it is not possible. This concerns me, seeing that she knows him much better than I do. So why would he promise... 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEykUSzivDZ
"Why?" I ask her, eager to understand. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfpbLfhWEm
"Because I've been trying to get him to do that for years," she informs me in a grave voice. "He's as stubborn as an ass. Nothing will get him to let that go."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12Uy0XaYBf
"Well, we made a pact." She looks at me as if the notion of a pact to change his mind is utterly idiotic. "Anyway," I say, changing the subject before I get upset with him, "I'm here now. So how about you elaborate on that tale you were telling me?"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rWvEoK9Or
Her face shuts down as she desperately tries to hide her emotions. Always hiding something from me. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SlsknNSPf
"I told you a lot. Honestly, what else could you want to know? And aren't you curious about unlocking your powers?"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzbfkQFvJL
No, I'm actually much more concerned with the truth. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3beDsiZV3
"Stop trying to change the subject," I demand. "I want to know more about this person who wanted me when I was a baby." I almost laugh out loud, remembering the ridiculous, pathetic excuse of an origin story that she fed me the last time we spoke. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGyIOMlNwf
"She's evil and she's in the past." 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79AU33V4sM
Past my ass. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQD7KPBeiX
I stomp my foot on the ground and then throw myself further back into the couch, like a small child. Something caused by me not getting what I want, because I'm so used to getting what I want. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N5NmNd38O
"Why are you still afraid of her?" I demand. "What is she gonna do? Come and kill you?"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZGD6RWrXN
"She might," my mother responds under her breath. I don't think that I was meant to hear that.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRTZoEIvgS
"So she's not in the past, then?" I challenge. I refuse to let this go. I have every right to know the truth. And the way she's contradicting herself means that she's obviously lying about something. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9LEOOxWbT
"Yes, she is. I just don't think—"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAsPmvuyNv
"That I'm ready for it?" I ask. I swear, this us getting very old, very quickly. "Because I assure you, I am. I don't think that there's anything that you could tell me—"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlQQBKQstp
"She was a River Mumma," my mother rushed out, only to look as if she regrets it right after. Regrets telling me the truth. On the inside, I'm shaking my head. I am surprised (I thought that she would be human), but I'm not freaking out like last time. I'm not surprised that River Mummas exist. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8euYjIMkne
River Mummas are mythical — well, apparently not so mythical after all — creatures that live in Jamaica's rivers. If I were to compare them to another creature, I'd go with the siren. They often sit on rocks and comb their hair with a golden comb. They say that if you see one, you'll fall into a magical trance and that she'll drag you into the river. Some say that she'll force you to live with her for eternity.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2aICeYDiD
There is also the legend of a golden table that they can use to lure the greedy.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkLOT55DfP
"The golden table—"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DSQvlsiB0
"Isn't a myth. It's real. Is that really the first thought that comes to your mind? I tell you that you were almost abducted by a River Mumma and you ask about a Golden Table?" She's not trying to goad me into asking questions — I know that she doesn't want to talk about this — but I think she's just incapable of keeping her surprise to herself. I'd be surprised, too. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos4cmb8pxP
I sit and think of a better question to ask her, but one that she won't refuse to answer. If she does that again I might jump her. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbL41XLhJFS
"Um... if I'm human, how would she have gotten me?" What did she plan on doing? 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcYTOa3APv
"Turn you into one." I'm beginning to realise that the answers to a lot of my questions are far simpler than I originally thought. I still have to ask, though. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha1YlxlMoh
"And our rivers aren't exactly wide or long," I continue. "They aren't all interconnected either. How come there aren't any news reports of sightings?"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpSb7gW6mO
"We have underground rivers. Remember that Black River especially is deep. And they know how to not be seen." That's a good point. "Additionally, they're water spirits. They are connected to the rivers of Jamaica. They can teleport." Still, in such a tiny country, I would have expected someone to have seen one in recent history. I've heard lots of stories about Rolling Calves, but no one has ever told me that they, or someone they know has seen a River Mumma.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9h6tTaEm1
I sit and think of anything else that I would like to know about in this situation.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGCcaBlGRd
"What deal did you have with her?" This is important. This, I have to know., but I also know that there's a possibility of her clamping up. Therefore, it's no surprise that as soon as the words leave my mouth, her face screws up.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O7BYGxEVa
"Uh..."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEnG0SFEI1
"You have to tell me that. It's important." My voice sounds demanding, and I can see that she registers it on her face. She looks at me uncomfortably with the expression of someone who badly wants to shit. I would laugh if I weren't so on edge. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWArgMzul4b
"It's complicated," she responds lamely. I have to fight myself to not roll my eyes at her. They do move, though, just a tad. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNOdY18C9d
"That's the worst excuse in the history of life. You're starting to sound like Kwamé." When her face stays the same, I decide to let it go. "It's complicated" should probably be the new slogan for my life. Surprisingly, I don't feel like jumping her. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ3CuBlvtk
"So about my abilities," I begin, "what exactly can I do?" I guess it's only fair that we switch to something that she's more comfortable with. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9TaYI8QSb
"A lot," she answers, becoming animated, glad to be speaking of something other than her dealings with some water creature. "You must have already figured out that you can manipulate situations."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xlYBt4A1p
"Yes." Except for my getting sick the last time we met. "I've noticed that since I was a small child. It's worked to my advantage since."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5znRNYGzcI
"Well, you can manipulate more than that. You can make prophecies, and change them. The future is never set in stone."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmec7wr1tq
Shit. That's a lot of power... the kind of power that I don't know that I want. I don't know if that's good for me — for anyone. That only makes me more interested.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k8PcfSHvq
"Kwamé said... that you can move things with your mind."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlCKuCLYo2
"Did he now?"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcgSSQ26CQ
"It was implied." He didn't actually tell me that, after all. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6KPWsgYlE
She looks off to the side pensively as if trying to decide how to phrase her thoughts.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NwcgdH9Lu
"I'm completely at one with the universe," she begins, sounding more like a monk than anything else. "When that happens, you can feel everything around you — living and non-living. Then, with time, you can learn to... influence things. Without spells."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pGW3Ag294
"So in order for me to do that—"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWxXqWpJC9
"You must first be at one with the universe," she answers. What the hell is this now? Avatar the Last Airbender? It sounds like something she just made up, pulled out of her ass, and knowing her, she probably did. On top of that, that sounds like a lot of work and effort. In other words, it sounds like something that I probably won't do.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgdWiv0U0c
"I understand if you're reluctant," she tells me, guessing my thoughts correctly, "but it's best if you at least get to understand some of your basic powers better, don't you think?"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJOYkw6pIQ
I don't know. I honestly don't know how to feel about this. I mean, I'm now interested in learning, but I'm still unsure. It feels partly real, and partly like a scam. Let's say I do this: what if I can't handle the power? Too much power is never a good thing. Or what if I get sucked into some crazy war that's going on among the supernatural? Somehow, I get the feeling that this river mumma isn't done with us yet.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfwIjNxxGD
Isn't done with me yet.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagz3PfGiiK
In other words, I need to learn how to defend myself.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFtMOCwSuk
But if that is the case... then I'm going to need Akatua.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkudA9R1AK
I feel so conflicted, a feeling that I am no stranger to, a feeling that I've been drowning in recently. It's probably because decisions and such usually come to me with an unnatural ease, but now I'm struggling to figure my life out.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCX6fljnFD
But shouldn't this, of all things, come naturally? 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlykQLIfLAh
Damnit.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIC5EgVL5r
"Listen. Don't hurt your head about this right now. Just come back when you are ready to learn."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt3AJA1nbG
When she says this, I don't feel as conflicted anymore. I start to relax, and all thoughts of this river mumma fly out of my head. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhgVVilvw2
"Yes. I will," I tell her, feeling myself relax already. See? I tell myself. No need to worry.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuC0q0qcyO
I lean back into the couch and let my mind wonder — not about magic, but about the possibility of finally having a mother — someone who cares for me. Strangely, the thought makes me smile to myself for the first time, resentment taking a back seat. I've always heard the other children at school talk about the wonders of having parents, and the idea never appealed to me. Now, though, it seems rather... intriguing. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWx32TMsUE
"Nya," she calls, pulling me back to reality. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yTfNOyqGT
"Yes?" I ask, looking her in the eye. I see my own brown eyes looking back at me, smiling. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCWU8nsub8
Her face smiles warmly at me. "Thank you for coming."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6WADJYLt5
It is in this moment that I realise how much this means to her, how unfair, how selfish I was being for letting my feelings get in the way of making the only person on this earth who possibly loves me happy. It's not even as if it's something hard. She just wanted me to give her a chance, and it is in that moment that I feel a guilt like no other bind up in my chest, making me feel sick. Additionally, everything that she's done — that I've hated her for has been in the name of protecting me. Still, I turned her away. I feel tears sting my eyes as I fight to keep them at bay.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdhyc2Fss2
And Kwamé thinks that he is the selfish one.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpZ5irOE4u
"You're welcome," I tell her, my voice filled with newfound friendliness, and wobbling slightly because of my guilt. Its not just my voice that has changed; my entire mindset is now different. I will not be selfish anymore. I will give this woman a chance, even if she tells lies of omission in a misguided attempt to protect me.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMC47516ku
"Awe, Nya," she murmurs, "don't cry, hun." She wraps her arms around me and I return the gesture, tears still threatening.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnmmHmKnkY
"It's just, you know," I begin,"I'm sorry," I rasp.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsW4Ukh6b4
"Your feelings are completely understandable, dear," she reassures me, rubbing my back.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWZGS7WenF
This is another thing that I'm not used to: affection. I've been hugged by people before, but it always felt so... unnatural. Akatua's warm embrace, however, is different. Hugging her feels natural. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYu4rXqjpx
At least something feels natural around her.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXhKCgTk0w
When it's over, I pull back and look at her. I have one request, one thing I need to ask of her.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2P10NWkvR
"Akatua?"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlNe18JhoM
"Hmm?"975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMOnDZkOWz
I chew my bottom lip for a second as my eyes dry, trying to find the best way to word my thoughts.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvNZAzlbEo
"When it comes to telling me things," I begin,"if it's absolutely necessary, for example, if this woman — river mumma — is coming back... stuff like that," I clarify as she nods her head, but still, I have to say it out loud.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwtkNqfssb
"Please tell me," I ask as she continues to nod her head solemnly. I'm not even asking her to tell me everything, just the important bits.975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5Q2abTt1d
"That's fair," she agrees. "I will try my best to be honest with you about things like that from hear on out."975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhorTaYKVP
"Thank you, Akatua," I say genuinely. 975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA5Mmd844v
"You're welcome, Nya," she replies. It is while looking into this woman's face that I think to myself:975Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IQeXhttKU
Hey, I guess family can be fun after all.
ns216.73.217.114da2
and then Add to home screen.