A ONE NIGHT STAND

As I held my mom's frail hands, her eyes locked onto mine with a mix of sadness and determination. ''Emma, take this letter and give it to your father,'' she whispered, her voice weak but resolute. ''We've suffered enough, You need more than living in this misery and wretched life. He needs to know the truth, and you deserve to know him.'' Tears streaming down my face, I felt my world crumbling. ''What are you saying, Mom? You can't leave me! I can't live without you!'' I pleaded, my voice shaking. Her smile was faint, but her eyes shone with a fierce love. ''We both know I can't fight anymore, Emma. But you are a fighter. You have every right to your father's love and support. Don't let fear hold you back.'' My fears spilled out in a torrent of questions. ''What if he rejects me? What if I'm not strong enough?'' Her grip on my hand tightened, her eyes burning with conviction. ''You will be, Emma. You must. Every experience will strengthen you, not break you, You must fight, Emma. Fight for yourself, fight for what's right. I don't think I can continue this journey with you but I would always be with you, I would be your shinning light and when you need me, I would always come running for you. I love you, my dear. Take care.'' With those final words, her hands slipped away, and she was gone. I screamed, my heart shattering into a million pieces. Now, back in the present, I stood in the grand foyer of my father's majestic mansion, the letter trembling in my hand like a fragile leaf in a storm. My heart raced with a mix of emotions. fear, anxiety, and a hint of determination. The opulent chandelier above me seemed to mock my humble upbringing, its crystals refracting the light into a thousand tiny sparks that danced across the room. I felt like an outsider in this lavish world, a world that was both familiar and yet, utterly foreign. I tried my best to hide my emotions, to appear strong and resilient, but my inner weakness threatened to betray me. I had finally gathered the courage to face my father, to confront him with the secrets and lies that had haunted me for so long. The address my mom had written in the letter seemed to burn a hole in my hand, a constant reminder of the truth I sought. As I sat in the large, decorated living room, I waited for the man who was supposed to be my father. The room was a masterpiece of luxury, with velvet curtains, marble floors, and a fireplace that seemed to roar like a lion. I felt like a small, insignificant creature in a vast, uncharted jungle. Then, a figure emerged from the stairs, his presence commanding attention. My father, the man I had never known, was even more imposing in person. His piercing eyes seemed to bore into my soul, as if searching for something he had lost long ago. Beside him stood a woman, her beauty marred by a scowl that seemed etched on her face. Amelia, my stepmother, her eyes narrowed into slits as she took in my appearance. And beside her, a girl around my age, Brittany, her eyes wide with curiosity, her face a stark contrast to her mother's hostility. "Who are you?" Amelia spat, her voice venomous. "You look like filth." My father's gaze flashed with anger, and he silenced her with a single glance. "You must be Emma," he said, his voice softening, his eyes beckoning me closer. I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest, the letter trembling in my hand like a fragile leaf. "I have a letter from her to you, please take a look," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. As I stood up, the piercing gazes from Amelia and Brittany seemed to pin me to the wall. I felt like a specimen under a microscope, a creature on display for their amusement. My father took the letter from me. "Can you go sit, you are an obstruction to the soothing breeze I want to feel," Amelia said, her voice dripping with disdain. My father's gaze flashed with anger, and he shouted. "One more word from you, and your presence wouldn't be needed. In fact, I think I should be the only one here. Amelia and Brittany, please dismiss." Amelia's face twisted in anger, but she bit her tongue and stood up, her daughter following suit. As they left, I couldn't help but notice Brittany's calm demeanor, a stark contrast to her mother's hostility. She must be entirely different from her mom, I thought, reserved and peaceful. My father's eyes locked onto mine as he unfolded the letter, his gaze scanning it with a mix of emotions, guilt, regret, and a hint of sadness. But his proud demeanor remained intact, a mask that hid his true feelings. "She's dead, she died of cancer," I said slowly, tears welling up in my eyes as I struggled to come to terms with the loss. "I really don't know what to ask you. Maybe I should start from why you abandoned us or.. I seriously have no idea. You were living large, oh sorry, you are living large, while you have a family outside who's suffering back to back. But you know what, I really don't care. I swear," I said, my voice cracking as I struggled to shrug off the pain. He gestured for me to sit, and I nodded, my eyes never leaving his face. "So many things happened. I could explain to you if you let me," He replied, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. "I don't want your explanation. It doesn't change the fact you left us and married another woman while my mom was outside struggling so hard. You don't know what it feels to be born out of wedlock or be your illegitimate child, because that's what you made me become. So, with due respect, Mr. Smith, I would like you to show me my room. I really want to be void for the moment, to think of how miserable I would be in this world without her," I said, my voice firm but laced with a hint of vulnerability. He looked at me deeply, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of remorse in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by his usual stoic expression. "I would let you rest. The maid would take you to your room. Lucy, please take Emma to her room, the one on the right side," My father ordered, his voice firm but detached. As we climbed up the stairs, my father's words echoed in my mind. "I would make up for lost times, Emma." I took a quick glance at him, searching for sincerity in his eyes, but they remained elusive. We finally got to the door, and Lucy opened it and dropped my bags inside. "This is your room, Miss. Do you need anything?" She asked, her voice soft and gentle. I looked at her, my eyes welling up with tears. "Something light to eat would be okay," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. She bowed before she left, and I was alone in my new prison. When she was out of sight, Brittany came inside my room, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Well, well, well, it must be the illegitimate child," She said, her voice dripping with venom. I turned my gaze to her direction, my heart heavy with pain. "Hi," I replied, my voice barely audible. She gave me a mock laugh. "Keep your stinking hi to yourself," She said, her eyes gleaming with cruelty. I thought, I must be wrong about her. Don't judge a book by its cover. But her next words proved me wrong. "You brought your filthy and stinky self to this lavish home, which I know you haven't seen for the f*****g years of your life," She moved closer to me, her voice laced with hatred. "I bet you should know your place and have a little sense that you don't belong here, You illegitimate child. You aren't even supposed to stay in this Luxury room. Your type of person should be locked and molested in the store room where rats, cockroaches, and lizards should be living with you. Thank your star, dad is so gracious to allow somebody so petty like you," She said irritably and eyed me deeply before she walked away. I slumped on the chair, my heart heavy with pain and my eyes welling up with tears. "My life here would definitely be so terrible," I laughed, a laughter of pain and despair.