Alethea

The moment I step into the room, she suddenly stops talking. Her eyes lock onto mine, and she turns toward me with a soft expression. "Ally."

It all clicks. All those times she spoke to me with such motherly love, the moments where I could sense she was holding back, now make sense. She's my mother. I feel a swirl of emotions, but I push them down for now. Right now, I need answers.

I look directly into her eyes. "Who was that?" With a steady voice though inside, I can feel the anxiety rising. I've had enough of the half-truths. I glare at her, silently warning her that...