289 Slap destiny

When Ben called him a redheaded stepchild in front of their fellow members in the Photography Club, Darryl's face turned pale… 'How'd he know I was adopted?'

…

His parents only told him that secret right before he left for college, but Ben somehow also knew…now turning the dagger in Darryl's heart which stung him every day like:

'Why'd my parents lie to me for so long?'

'Can I even call them mom and dad?'

'Why didn't my real parents love me?'

Now that these questions once again filled his mind, he didn't even have the energy to deal with Ben anymore, dismissing him with a halfhearted snort. "We'll see…" Then, Darryl turned back around, wondering if he had any brothers or sisters…

Ben wasn't aware of those inner issues. If he was, he'd change his attitude to loving-kindness, putting a hand on Darryl's shoulder and comforting him with something like: "You want more siblings? I'll help you. Where's your mom at?"