Chapter 18 When I Closed My Eyes, I Could See The Smiles

• As the morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating the room. I slowly emerged from the haze of a slight hangover, my mind was consumed by the thought that had taken up residence in my head- the image of my dad intimately hugging a strange lady just outside the house on Thanksgiving night. When I closed my eyes I could still see the smiles on their faces while they embraced each other for a while. It was a revelation that didn’t sit right with me.
• I glanced over at my mother, her silhouette moving gracefully in the kitchen. Unaware of the storm brewing within me, I felt a pang of guilt and uncertainty. She was preparing for her morning shift after the stress from the previous day. Her dedication to her job, which showed no mercy even on holidays, painted a portrait of resilience and sacrifice that humbled me. She had no idea of what I had witnessed the previous night, and the weight of that knowledge pressed heavily on my conscience. Should I tell her? Would it break her? Maybe I was just exaggerating and I need to keep it cool.
• The dilemma gnawed at me. In one ear, I could hear tiny voices whispering words to me. Telling me to reveal all I had seen to my mum then on the other part, it was like the words that were revealing themselves were for me to bury the unsettling revelation and carry the burden alone. The fear of causing irreparable damage warred with the need to protect her from the harsh reality that I had stumbled upon.