115- This is not the time for a family reunion

115- This is not the time for a family reunion
Maverick
My parents are pressuring me, they want to see me, they want to talk, to pick up where we left off on the day Morgan was shot. Honestly, I have no interest in that. Since that day, I've ignored every message and call from them. It wasn't the right time to talk, I didn't want to hear lame excuses, I was tired.
After months, they still try to talk to me constantly. Right now, they're with Charlotte in the living room. I saw them as soon as I got home. My reaction wasn't the best, but no one can judge me for my harshness when I saw them.
—What are you doing here?— I asked as soon as I saw them.
—We want to talk, son.— my father said.
I sighed, tired of all this shit, but unable to escape now that they know where I live. If I don't talk to them, they'll keep coming to see me.
—Wait a minute, I'm going to take a shower and I'll be back in a few minutes.— I said.
Charlotte offered to stay with them while I freshened up and shook off the exhaustion of the hellish day I had endured, including the little argument I had with Laurel. I wanted to beat her up, but I don't hit women, even if the woman in question is despicable.
As the water ran down my body, I leaned my forehead against the cold marble and tried to organize the mess that was my mind.
I've felt so many things lately. Tomorrow marks a year since Morgan and I have been together. It's been such a crazy year, full of things I never thought would happen to us. I just wanted to live happily and in peace, but the year was filled with fear, separation, pain, and mourning. The good days were so few that it's hard to even remember them. Even the birth of the twins, which should have been a cause for celebration, was turned into moments of pain and fear, for them and for Morgan.
All because of Laurel, my parents, and my inability to protect the people I love.
I am useless.
I finished my shower, put on some light clothes, and quickly stopped by the girls' room to check on them. They were both sleeping peacefully, and I smiled involuntarily at the sight of them so small and beautiful, but my warm heart at seeing my daughters quickly cooled as I descended the stairs and faced my parents.
—What do you want?— I asked bluntly.
They looked at each other and then at Charlotte, who got up and left us after a brief goodbye.
Charlotte is very good at reading the room.
—So?— I asked.
The two looked at each other, as if they were having a silent conversation. I sighed impatiently and sat down. They both seemed cautious around me, probably not knowing what to do about my harshness.
—We want to resume the conversation we didn't finish last time.— my mother said.
—All right, I'm listening. I'm really curious to know what led you to sell your own son.— I said sarcastically.
They both recoiled a little at my words, but soon they were composing themselves.
—We're sorry. We thought it was best for you. At first, it was really because we thought it would be good for all of us. You didn't seem to mind the engagement and the way it was arranged. Your behavior changed after many years, but we thought it was just a passing phase and that you would marry her after enjoying yourself for a while.— my mother tries to explain.
Oh, so they believed that my refusal to have a relationship with Laurel was just a phase.
Unbelievable.
—A phase? A damn phase? Is that what you think of me?— I asked, laughing without humor.
—Well, you changed suddenly, I thought someone might have put ideas in your head and that's why you rebelled.— my mother argues.
If it were just simple rebellion, my life wouldn't have been so difficult.
—You're right, at first I didn't care about the engagement, but everything changed when she killed my cat. You know how much I loved that cat, and she killed it, saying that I didn't need to love anyone but her and that her love was enough for me. That scared and disgusted me. How could she kill an innocent animal for no reason? At that moment, I wanted to run away from her and go as far away as possible. And do you know what kept me here despite everything? The debt, the damn debt that I worked tirelessly for a decade to pay off, and that only seemed to grow more and more. And guess what... the debt didn't exist. It was a joint lie that almost killed me. — I finished.
My breathing was rapid, I had stood up and was pacing around the room, I didn't give either of them a chance to speak, I just said everything I wanted to say and they listened with wide eyes, their faces increasingly frightened and guilty as they realized what they had subjected me to for years in the name of greed and a lie.
—Oh my God, we had no idea. Why didn't you tell us?— my father asks, confused.
—What good would it have done? You sold me, you were so blind that you didn't think about me at all during those years. If I had said that she killed my cat and said those things, you would have just bought me another cat and said that she didn't do it on purpose and that it was just an accident.— I said.
—No, we would have done something.— my mother interjects, but nothing that comes out of her mouth seems true to me.
I shake my head.
—You wouldn't, after all, you were the ones who put me in this hell. It was my grandfather's idea, but he managed to fix things before he died, but you set up a charade and I lived like that my whole life, I wanted to die so many times, you have no idea how desperate I felt day after day, while I sank into work and slowly died inside, You squandered the money I earned and laughed at me. This fucked-up situation I'm in now is your fault.— I said.
—We lied, but that's all. Don't exaggerate, Maverick.— my mother said indignantly.
Oh, so she thinks it was just a lie.
Well, she needs to understand the snowball she created.
—Your lie fueled Laurel's obsession for years. Because of your collusion, I had to endure all kinds of harassment from her, her demands and petty attitudes. She never respected me, and because of you and your encouragement, she was like a damn truck with no brakes that ran over all the women I was involved with. Because of you, my wife is in the hospital.— I said.
—No, we...— my mother began, but I stopped her with a wave of my hand.
—You'd better go. I'm not in the mood to talk right now.— I warned.
Without waiting for her response, I turned my back and went back to my room.
This is not the time for a family reunion.