Pains of love

CHAPTER 9

*The Big Claim*

Amelia crossed her arms and declared, "I want a DNA test," as if she controlled our living room.

The boy took a seat on the couch next to her. He appeared so composed that he was oblivious to the tempest his mother had unleashed.

My heart pounded.

James was rigid next to me. "A test is not necessary."

Amelia smiled bitterly and added, "You might not." However, *she* does.

As if I were a stranger, she gestured at me.

And I felt like one at that very moment.

With trembling hands in my lap, I took a seat. "Amelia, why now? Why now, after all these years?

For a brief moment, her gaze softened. Since he was always asking questions. He was curious about the whereabouts of his biological mother. I was no longer able to lie to him.

"So, you informed him... I left him behind? I inquired.

She gave a shrug. I was honest with him. That you left after giving birth to him.

The knot in my throat went down my throat. "That isn't accurate."

"Lily, you don't recall it. That doesn't lessen its reality.

James put himself in our way. "What are you looking for?"

Her eyes strayed towards him. I hope she'll accept it. I want her to be accountable. And perhaps *I* want custody papers signed if she is unable to be his mother.

I let out a gasp. "You're removing him?"

"I did already," she said icily. When you vanished, I reared him. However, things have changed since then. You will have to battle me if you wish to be in his life.

Fight. The word struck me hard.

For years, I thought that not being able to conceive was the greatest source of my suffering.

I discovered that I had one, but I lost him before I realized it.

James touched me on the shoulder. I inclined myself toward it.

I was still unable to look at the boy.

My chest hurt every time I tried. He resembled me. However, I couldn't recall his laugh, his face, or his scent. I couldn't recall *him*.

Silently, I responded,

Amelia grinned as though she had won a prize.

"But I won't give up this time, regardless of the outcome," I went on.

James gave a nod of assent. "We'll work it out."

Amelia looked at him sternly. "*You* no longer have a voice in this."

Why not? He inquired.

She took an item out of her purse and tossed it upon the table.

Documents. Stamped and thick.

"What is this?" I inquired.

"Evidence that James gave the boy legal rights at birth," she stated in a monotone voice.

I felt sick to my stomach.

James stopped. "That isn't feasible."

"You succeeded," she remarked. Even though you may not recall it, you signed it under duress. Back then, you were afraid.

James picked up the documents. He flipped through his hands, which shook.

"Isn't that your signature?" She inquired.

He didn't respond.

Amelia got to her feet and grasped the boy's hand.

She said, "I'll let you think about it." Tomorrow is the exam day. I look forward to seeing you there.

Without saying another thing, she left.

The ensuing hush was deafening.

James fell to the ground after dropping the papers. "I can't recall signing this." I promise.

I was unable to talk.

Fear, questions, and something else made my mind spin.

Anger.

I went into the kitchen because I was out of breath. I needed space. I gazed out the window while my hand gripped the counter.

A kid. My kid.

A falsehood. A paper.

James—trapped in the center.

And Amelia, who was in charge.

I require clarification. I had to know the truth. It's not just the kid. But I couldn't recall anything about that period of my life.

There was more that my sister was concealing.

I sensed it.

And I froze as I turned to tell James that.

He was speaking on the phone.

whispering.

Slowly, I moved closer.

He had his back to us. He spoke in a low, terrified voice.

"I understand," he responded. "But I will lose her if she discovers everything."

My heart stopped beating.

She is unable to recall. She isn't prepared. And if Lily ever finds out the truth about what actually transpired that evening...

In my palm, I dropped the glass.

It broke against the ground.

James quickly spun around, his eyes wild.

I was still as I gazed at him.

"What—what truth?" I inquired.

He parted his lips.

However, he remained silent.

Just quiet.

My throat became parched. My voice broke. "James, what truth?"

I retreated when he took a stride in my direction.

"No," I said. "Tell me what the call was about before you move forward."

James combed his hair with his hand. "I can explain, Lily."

"Then go ahead and do it!" My words reverberated around the still kitchen. You said I would go if I learned everything. What were you trying to say? What *did* take place that evening?

He appeared to be choking a little on his own words. I told you the truth. I just haven't told you everything.

"James, that is the same thing!"

He cast his gaze downward. "You were expecting a child," my kid said.

The world swayed.

"No," I muttered. "I couldn't have kids, you said."

That's what we heard. But then it took place. Lily, you were ecstatic. Both of us were.

My eyes filled with tears.

He went on, "You went into labor early." Something went wrong. You were infected. Screaming. You fainted.

He took a deep gulp.

"You lost too much blood, "the doctors informed me." That it's possible you wouldn't wake up. Additionally, they removed the infant for surgery. They said that he might not live either.

Breathing heavily, he wiped his face. You woke up weeks later with no recollection of anything. Not me. Not the infant. Not the agony.

I held onto the counter's edge. "What kept you from telling me?"

"Because I was afraid." I believed that you would disintegrate once again if I brought up all of the suffering and anguish. You were brittle. It was difficult for you to recall your own name. I believed that allowing the memories to return gradually was preferable.

"What about Amelia?" I inquired. "In all of this, where was she?"

James paused.

He claimed that only he knew the whole truth. She volunteered to look after the infant while we worked things out. She said that nurturing him may aid in her own recovery because she had recently lost someone.

"You allowed her?" My voice faltered.

"Lily, I was in dire straits. You remained hospitalized. I was at a loss for what to do.

I was having trouble breathing.

The wasted time, the memories. I felt a pain in my chest at seeing the boy's face.

Everything was genuine.

I went upstairs after passing James. I required room. My own recollections were the answers I needed.

I went into the closet in our room and took out an old box that said "Lily's Things."

I discovered a journal at the bottom. My handwriting. Messy, ripped pages.

I turned them over.

The majority of the entries were illogical.

Until I came upon one.

Composed in unsteady letters:

> "Today I saw his eyes. He resembles James. I believe I own him. However, I'm afraid.

My knees became weak.

I took a seat on the ground and gazed at the diary.

Tears streamed down my face.

Something came back to me. Like a shadow, but not quite.

a medical facility.

The wail of a newborn.

Pain. Such suffering.

Standing over me is a lady. Amelia?

The door creaked open abruptly.

James was standing there.

He remarked, "I never intended for it to get this far."

I put the diary away. James, we lost everything. Of our kid. Our reality. Our future.

He gave a nod. "But there is still time."

I got to my feet. Then we must engage in combat. For him. For *us*.

My phone buzzed before he could answer.

My sister sent me a note.

> *Come to Mom's place if you want to know everything. By themselves. This evening.

I gazed at the writing.

"What is it?" James inquired.

I showed him the screen.

He scowled. "She's working on something."

I responded, "I have to leave."

"I'll accompany you."

"No," I answered. "By herself," she said.

"This is not to my liking."

" Neither do I. However, I must find out what she is concealing.

James paused. Then gave a nod. "Give me a call as soon as you arrive."

After grabbing my keys and changing into pants and a sweater, I departed.

It was a peaceful journey to my childhood home.

Too silent.

The home had the same appearance. White walls. The blue porch. The yard's old flowers.

However, something didn't feel right as I entered.

The lighting was low. The living room is deserted.

I called, "Amelia?"

Her voice reverberated, "In the kitchen."

I entered gently.

With her back to me, she stood at the counter.

She said, "You have arrived."

I was the one. Cradling a child. James at my side.

I gazed at it. "You said that I left him behind."

"I told lies," she said. "You cherished him." So much.

"So, what made you kidnap him?"

She put the album on the table and moved closer.

She answered, "Because I lost mine." "Two months before your delivery." A miscarriage. Nobody was aware. Not even James.

Her eyes were watering as she gazed at me.

And the doctors warned that you might not survive when you passed out after giving delivery. I reasoned that perhaps I could care for your child while you recovered. Then you lose all memory. And I was unable to return him. I simply couldn't.

"You tricked us both."

With remorse in her eyes, she nodded.

" Lily, I wanted to tell you. Many times. However, I was unsure of how.

With my knees weak once more, I sat down.

I responded, "You need to repair this." "My son, you must return me."

"I'll," she muttered. "But there's more than that."

She gave me a folded note after reaching into her pocket.

A letter.

From our mom.

> *Lily, this signifies that the truth has finally surfaced if you are reading this. You should be aware of one additional secret, though. Someone else was present on the night you gave birth. And you lost something to them. Anything that only I was aware of. Take care, my dear. You're battling for more than simply your son. Someone who remains hidden is the one you are battling.

The message was read twice by me.

I shuddered at the words.

"What is meant by this?" I inquired.

Amelia seemed pallid. "I... I'm not sure. I believed that I was the only one with secrets.

Upstairs there was an abrupt sound—glass smashing.

Both of us froze.

"Is there anyone else present?" I muttered.

Amelia gave a headshake. “After you entered, I closed the door.”

Footsteps were heard.

Quick and heavy.

Then one of the doors slammed.

In my ears, my heart thumped.

I took Amelia's hand into mine. "Give James a call."

As we carefully made our way up the stairs, she struggled with her phone.

We raised our gaze.

At the top was a figure.

Concealed in the darkness.

observing.

Then he said something.

"Lily, you should have kept silent."

I let out a gasp.

That voice.

He was the one.

I also recalled it.

since the evening of my delivery.

When a shadowy person from Lily's past shows up at the house where she grew up, she divulges a terrifying story about the night she gave birth, raising the possibility that someone else helped abduct her child and maybe even wiping away her memories.