Song for this chapter: Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer.

Emily

Mom drove us to the diner we used to go to when I was younger. The small diner was located at the plaza she works at.

The diner was different than before. We used to come here when my mom used to pick me up from after school program. It was our little secret place- Dad didn't know that we used to come here.

The walls were repainted and the booth was different now.

"Table for two?" A young woman asked as she came forward with two menu's. Mom requested her, that we wanted a quiet space of our own and the woman took us to a booth at the very end of the diner.

"What would you like?" Mom asked

"Pancakes with maple syrup and strawberry milkshake." I said.

And she smiled.

Mom seemed nervous to me, she occasionally smiled and asked me questions.

"Is something bothering you?" I asked her.

"Honey." She said and paused when the server brought our drinks. "Thank you."

When Mom knew no one was listening, she said. "Your Dad and I have been wanting to tell you something." She took a deep breath.

And I think I know where this is going. Adoption. They have no idea, that I know about it.

"Yes." I said waiting for her to start.

"We loved you from the moment we saw you." She started. "You looked beautiful and it was so wonderful." She tried to explain. "Honey, you are and will always be my child."

And I nodded my head and looked at the empty plate in front of us. I don't know why she chose a public space to tell me about this.

"You're adopted." She whispered.

There we go... she admitted. I was waiting for her to tell me that. My younger self didn't understand the word, adopted. As I grew older and found out the meaning. I was a little upset, but none the less put it behind me. They give me a home, foods and love and I was grateful for that.

"Say something, honey."

"What would you like me to say?" I questioned quietly "Are things going to be different now?"

"No, honey. I just felt like you should know about it."

The server interrupted us and put our foods down. My appetite was gone now and I stared at the pancake that I used to love.

"Then there's nothing else to say?" I said, once the server left.

"Don't you want to know where we adopted you? Information about your biological parents? Anything?" She was panicking.

"Let's just enjoy our brunch." I said as I pour some syrup on the pancake.

We ate quietly, but Mom kept glancing at me; most likely trying to figure out what I was thinking.

I used to be curious about my biological parents, but not anymore. Our lives right now is fine.

"Why are you telling me now? Why not before?" I asked as I put down my cutlery. I only took few bites of my foods.

"We thought your are old enough to understand, now." She said.

"Does your fights have to do with this?"

And she dropped her forks in astonishment and she looked me in the eyes.

"That happened once." She said picking up her fork and looking anywhere else, but at me.

"I heard all of them." I tell her quietly. "It was all about me."

She paled and seemed like she will start crying soon. She shouldn't have chose a public place to tell me this, it's the worse place ever..

"Honey." She started. "Your Dad is a very nice man, and people took advantage of him."

I didn't say anything.

"We didn't know about your biological parents, your grandpa knew it though. Your Dad and I tried having children of our own, but we couldn't. We used to live in a small town in Texas. One day, your grandpa told us about a child that was up for adoption and asked us if we could adopt you."

I took a deep breath.

"We loved you the moment we saw you, your beautiful brown eyes stared back at us with what we took it as hope, and the smile you give us was breath-taking. Everything about you was beautiful." She choked a little.

"Before we found you, your Dad had a best-friend who wanted to start a business of his own and asked for some money. Your Dad wanted to get away from that town, start a new life somewhere. Dad give his money away, hoping he will get it back.. that man disappear from the town and didn't know his wife was pregnant."

And I felt uncomfortable all of a sudden hearing that.

"She's your biological mother. Everyone called her husband a scammer and a cheat because he ran away with the money and she didn't want you to suffer in that old town. Dad was heart-broken, he wanted to start afresh, but he didn't have any money left in him.

She put you up for adoption because she thought she couldn't provide you with your basic needs and because of her husband's name. Your Grandpa knew about this because she came to apologize to your Dad, but your Dad was angry with her and her husband and refused to hear her.

And we adopted you, it was like our hope and dreams started returning. Your Dad all of a sudden got a job in the company that  he's working now. They bought a house, the one we are living and cars for us and it was like a dream come true. We were going to move to another place, away from that town and it felt incredible."

She wiped her tears with the napkin and looked at me. "And when we visited your Grandpa and he accidentally admitted later about your biological parents, your Dad was upset. He felt lied and cheated all over again."

And my chest tighten a bit. Even though Dad knew, he still didn't show that he disliked me.

"We have always loved you and will always love you, honey." Mom said. "You will always be our girl and our daughter."