Aurora's Revenge

To Kill a Mockingbird

Aurora POV:

I headed home after stopping briefly at grocery store to get some stuff we needed and the gas station to refill my car. I drove by the gym too, it's around this time I often head home from gym too. Nights like these are the only few time I let my self have a day off from the gym. I have been so strict with my attendance and why not, I could see clearly how much it has helped me. It helped rebuild my self esteem that was cruelly razed down by Mr. Angelo, after that episode I couldn't even look myself in the mirror, I have never felt so insecure, that was how bad he ruined my self confidence. Despite trying not to show it, I hated myself that time, I hated how I looked and how weak I was. It all changed Mr. Jordan, whom I didn't envision would have so much impact in improving me, despite being oblivious. His subtle remarks and praises for every little thing I do. It boosted my self confidence so much, I could confidently stand in the mirror and admire myself - which I do more and more these days. Every time I do I watched in awe how drastic the changes was. But I worked hard for it nonetheless, all the days of intermittent fasting and dieting, sweating profusely in the gym while feeding off the loathe I have for Mr. Angelo. The muscle aches and spasm I felt when I pushed myself to the very limit.

I also had an amazing instructor who took my weight loss journey personal and helped me pushed myself. He was one of the several amazing people I've gotten acquainted with in recent months. The more I thought about it, the more I reasoned losing the job at Mr. Angelo the best thing to ever happened to me, it set off a butterfly effect of several amazing things and introspective experiences. I got the calmest job anyone could ever wish for and with a decent pay. I learned to appreciate myself and see my true worth. I look at the world differently now and my old naive world of being pushed around or manipulated by someone I care about was totally behind me.

I drove closer to home, I could already imagine my mother in front of the TV watching her soap opera patiently waiting for me like she always does. I wondered what she was watching. I also knew she would have stubbornly stressed herself to cook too against my stern warning and plea.

I opened the door and realised I wasn't hearing the sound of the TV. Did she went to sleep early tonight, she sometimes whenever she stresses herself in the day. She had a small flower garden she often works on during the day, she would weed the flower beds and plant some nee seedlings.

I entered the living room and there she was staring blankly at the dead TV. She was stiff, not moving a muscle to acknowledge my arrival.

"Mom" I called softly. There was no response.

"No, no, no, no, no, God No, she's all I have" I rushed to her side at once. "Mom, please , wake up, don't do this to me."

The tears were streaming down my face at once.

My mother opened her eyes at once.

"Aurora, what's wrong" the bewilderment all written on her face. "When did you come in and why are you crying?"

I couldn't say anything at first, I could only hug for all it's worth.

"I thought I lost you" I finally said

"Oh' Aurora, I'm so sorry I shocked you. I felt a light headed and decided to rest my eyes a bit. I never anticipated my sleeping posture shocking you."

I couldn't say anything, I just continued crying. It was one hell of a shock, I watched my whole life without her flashed right before my eyes. She patted my back softly...

"Aurora" she said

"Mom"

"You know I won't live forever, someday you would have to face the reality of living on without me. You have to learn to let me go"

"I'm not ready yet" I winced.

"I know" she said pecking my head "neither am I"

"Why aren't you watching your Soap Opera"

"I was getting irritated by how they were treating Lara. It seems the writers were hell bent on making her life miserable. "

Lara is a character in her Soaps opera.

I knew how emotional my Mom get about her Soap opera's Characters. This wasn't surprising neither. To her they were almost and often feel as sad as the characters whenever something bad happens to her favorite. I remember the night she was almost in tears because her favorite character died, I don't know the correlation, but I suppose it reminded her of her life somehow. I had to keep reminding her it was just a movie and Google searched the character to show they were doing well in real life.

"Are you not watching again"

"I surely would, I'm trying to get my emotions together first"

"Fair enough" I said

"So how was your night, how was the girl's night. I wasn't expecting you to be back this soon. Don't tell me you bailed out on yours friends again because you were worried about me. I told you I was fine"

"I will rest assured you are fine when you are right in front of me"

She sighed heavily.

"I don't ever want to be a burden on you."

"Stop calling yourself a burden, you know how much it upset me"

"But I am, you should be out there enjoying your youth while you have. But you are cooped at home with an old woman"

"Because I love being with the old woman"

"I know you are simply trying to protect my feelings. You are tired too, I know. When was the last time you went on a date or met a new man"

"I'm quite busy for to have a man right"

"Busy? That soundeed just about wrong." She replied "You ain't growing any younger, you need someone to hold on to and brings you comfort whenever I inevitably leave you alone."

I said nothing.

I knew it was the plain truth.

"You can be too busy, you can go on blind dates once every blue moon. Strive to make more friends and meet new people. You can't do no wrong."

"Are you still head over heels with your ex boss."

I flushed red

"No, of course not" I replied more to myself than her.

"Then why aren't you meeting new people, the only way I would die happily is with the knowledge someone will be there for you when I'm not"

I was starting to get anxious. "Why do you keep talking about death tonight after giving one hell of a scare. You are scaring me more."

"I'm sorry dear, I didn't mean to. We can ignore it all we want, but we can't hide from the reality of me possibly leaving at anytime."

I sighed heavily. "I will do all you want, meet new people, go on a blind dates"

She smiled at me "I will be glad if you do. I can't wait for a rich man to come sweep you off your feet."

"What should we have for dinner?" I asked, intentionally changing the topic "I brought some fresh corn bread, should we have it with some soup?"

That sounds nice.

Few moments later, we sat over an hot bowl of soup and a fresh corn bread. Mom stared at me with concern.

"Are you happy working with Leo Jordan"

"Yes mom, of course I am" I replied

"This isn't same as when you were walking at Mr. Angelo's office. Everyday you come home and tell me you are fine, not knowing you are basically going through hell over there. Tell me the truth dear, are you happy over there."

"Yes mom, more than I could ever be. But why do you think I'm not?"

"I keep hearing news about how much he hates women and treats them unfairly since he got divorced by his wife."

"I don't know where you got your Info from, but he has been nothing but a good boss and a wonderful friend."

"I'm relieved to hear that."

For obvious reasons I don't believe that. She still look quite disturbed.

"Then why do you still look so worried " I asked

"Because I doubt I trust the words coming out of your mouth. You lied straight to my face for six months, how am I sure you are not doing the same again. You are working for one of the most toxic man and a misogynist as reported in town and you come home with a smile and a single complaint. How could I possibly sleep well at night knowing you are probably lying to me again. You try to protect others at your own mental expense"

"Mom, believe me I'm fine. If you see how comfortable I am at my new place of work, you'd laugh at yourself for worrying yourself for a moment" I chuckled

"Then why do you seem off tonight, something is wrong with you. It's seems your mind is somewhere else"

"And don't even think about lying, I've learned to look for the slightest behavioral changes in you. I have seen nothing all these days I've been worried you have gotten so good at hiding your feelings. You might be going through a wave of trouble and I will know not. But I'm glad you finally slid up today and I'm not letting this go, unless you tell."

How was I to explain, she had seen nothing all these days because there was nothing to say. But she needed some answers tonight and I have no choice to give her some. I believed I was protecting her by not telling her anything, but it seems she's more worried staying in oblivion than knowing.

"Mr. Angelo called me tonight"

He eyebrow furrowed "what did he want? Surely not to offer the measly job"

"Hardly, he surely knows better."

"So, What does he wants?"

I contemplated my descision again in a split seconds, telling her would upset her and not doing so would prove I hide things from her if she got to know from one or another. Besides, for all it's worth, She deserves to know, afterall it was her husband.

"It's about Dad, He said to have an information about Dad"

I literally watched her face drop.

"What does he want to talk about?"

"I'm not sure yet, Mom. Probably information about Dad's Killer"

She sighed heavily.

"Aurora, I know you love your father and God know I do too. But I wouldn't want you to get your hopes up way too much. The rumor your father got murdered could be a speculation, it might be an heart attack like the doctor denounced. There was no evidence to show she was killed"

"He was robbed nonetheless, surely Dad didn't willy - nilly give her his hard earned money. Something is amiss and if it's the possibility of Dad being coerced and harmed. I will pursue it to the very end."

"We also have to face the reality your father was naive. I want as much as you do for the woman to be caught for making our lives so miserable, but sometimes I can't get how she did it out of my head. How could Peter be so stupid, despite his stubbornness and arrogance, he conned by a measly girl. He could have gotten an heart attack after discovering he got conned of his life saving. Poor naive Peter."

"Mom" I said "you are being negative "

"I'm not Aurora, I would just for you to be dissapointed like I was, always looking at the positive side of Peter when he was alive. The disappointment might crush you, you'd find out how hard it is to prove the lady did nothing nefarious to Peter."

It was at that point I realized he was angry at Dad, bitterly angry and was being careful not show it, but the rage was seeping out for me to see. Bottling such emotions would rip anyone apart, trying to ignore the fact your husband last day alive was spent cheating on and losing everything they have in the process.

The old woman stood up "I'm heading to bed"

"You are yet to finish your meal" I said

"I lost my appetite" She replied "Goodnight dear" she said added and headed to her room.

I knew I shouldn't have told her, I was also expecting her to be upset, but no this much. I finished the rest of the meal slowly and quietly.

My mind strayed back to Mr. Angelo whilst Washing the dishes, I couldn't help but wonder what he had for me, nonetheless felt rage for how he had been frustrating my friends, listening to them lament broke my heart into pieces. I thought about what Libby said earlier, he couldn't possibly be throwing tantrums because he wanted to come back and work. He hates me, he made that clear enough while I was working with him, he misses the submissive head over heels woman who would willingly jump into the fire.

I remembered how he tried to toyed with me the last time and felt the rage intensified. His turn to get played with.