“I don’t know, they just… seem familiar,” I said, my heart pounding. As I stared, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was them. My parents! The ones who had abandoned me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. A jumble of anger, curiosity, and a desperate need for closure welled up inside me, vying for control. “Oh my God,” I gasped. “Chloe, that’s my parents.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?” I nodded, my hands shaking. “Positive. I have to talk to them.” Before she could stop me, I stood up and made my way to their table, my legs feeling like they were made of rubber. They looked up as I approached, confusion written all over their faces. “Excuse me,” I said, my voice quivering. “Do you know who I am?” The man, my father, furrowed his brow. “No, I’m sorry, miss, but I think you’ve got the wrong people.” “No, I don’t,” I said, my voice firmer now. “You’re my parents. You left me on my grandparents’ doorstep when I was two.”
The woman, my mother, gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “We don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice trembling. “Don’t lie to me,” I snapped. “I know it’s you. I recognize you both. And my father has a distinct birthmark on his left wrist.” Without hesitation, I reached for his sleeve and pulled it up. They both froze when I revealed my father’s birthmark. They could no longer deny it. My mother’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s true,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “We are your parents. I had cancer. I couldn’t take care of you, and your father… he left you with your grandparents so he could be with me while I recovered.” I felt my resolve starting to weaken.
“Why didn’t you come back for me?” I asked, my voice shaking. “We tried,” my father said, his voice low and full of regret. “But by the time Sarah recovered, we had nothing left. We didn’t know how to face you.” “I’m so sorry.”
My mother leaned over, her hands shaking, and patted my bag and wrist a few times before taking my hand. “We wanted… we wanted to be there for you, but we thought you’d be better off without us.” Tears stung my eyes. Part of me wanted to believe them, to forgive them. But before I could say anything, a commotion at the entrance caught our attention. Two police officers walked purposefully towards us, their expressions serious. My heart sank. This couldn’t be good.