Chapter 37: The Truth (2)

A resounding slap was heard. The sound of skin being hit echoed in the room.

William was standing there with eyes wide open, he could not accept the fact that his sister, her loving and doting sister hit him on the face. This was the first that his sister hit him because of anger.

Her shoulders were trembling while her eyes are watering. She was crying as she was holding the hand that she used to slap William.

"How could you say that William," Stephanie said with tears in her eyes. Her face was filled with sadness, the tear stains that were running on her cheeks was heart-breaking to see. This beautiful woman was always smiled and laughed was now left in tears.

"Stephanie stop," His father's voice suddenly rang out.

William followed the sound of the voice and he saw his father. This was the first time he saw his father like that, the strong-willed and unmoving man that he knew looked different. His face was filled with sorrow, his voice was gentle as if trying to pacify the people in the room. If you listened carefully, you might even say that his voice was quivering.

Everything turned still, the only sound you can hear was Stephanie sobbing, it seems like all her heartache is being released from all the tension that happened.

William woke up from his stupor and wiped the tear-stained face of her sister.

"What's going on sister?" William asked Stephanie with care, he tenderly held his sister's hand while asking the question.

Stephanie continued to sob while the two men watched in silence. Waiting for the only girl in the room to calm down.

After Stephanie was able to calm herself, she spoke. "Father, it's time we tell William the truth."

Stephanie looked at his father as if asking for permission, however, his father looked reluctant.

William, who was clueless, looked at the two people. His anger had subsided a bit, and his brain has started to process the situation. Everything started when he mentioned his mother. Two had acted strange all of a sudden.

"Is this because of mother?" William inquired.

Stephanie took a deep breath, as if wanting to start the story, however, their father stood up. Walked away, and closed the door once he left. It seems he did not want to be there to listen to the story.

The quiet room only had William and Stephanie in it. Stephanie walked to the side and picked up a photo. It was in front of his father's desk. It had always been placed there, unmoved throughout all these years.

Stephanie sat down on the chair as she motioned William to do the same.

She showed the photo to William, "Do you remember this photo William?"

It was a photograph of a beautiful woman, a young boy in his arms and holding the hand of a girl.

They were all smiling happily in the picture. You can see the loving gaze of the beautiful woman in the picture.

She was looking at the person holding the camera lovingly.

"Yes, this was the last photo we took with mother," William said full of sorrow. He could not remember much as she left when he was very young. All he could remember were bits of pieces. The photographs are the only things that make him remember the face of his mother.

They both took a minute to look at the photograph.

"You see, mother was about to head to our grandparent's house that day." Stephanie bit her lip, her eyes started to well up again, it was a memory that she always repressed in her heart. She wanted to act strong for her little brother who was still young and unable to understand what happened to their mother.

She paused for a bit before continuing, "On the bus ride, there was an accident." She looked at the picture once again, touching the face of the beautiful woman on the picture. William saw the difficulty her sister was having in sharing the story. He wanted to know right away, but he could not once he saw his sister's suffering face.

Stephanie took Williams hand and held it, she gripped it tightly before continuing, "Mother was in the accident. The doctors tried to save her but she still ended up in a coma." Stephanie said.

You can hear the sounds of *hic hic* as she tried to suppress her crying. She started to crumble, the person that William looked up to all through his life looked so weak right now. He gently hugged his sister while she cried. He caressed her hair like a little child. Looking at his sister right now, he could just imagine what her sister went through for their family.

His big and strong arms covered the trembling and slumped body of his sister. Her sister continued to cry her heart out. It seems all her pent-up emotions has finally found its release. William could only continue to comfort his sister.

Original Novel by: Chuchuwachuwa

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