finale

There didn't seem to be much talk about the revelation when I got back. In fact, the others didn't seem to talk to me much at all.

The next morning, Steev was outside talking to someone. I didn't have to think about who it might be.

When Helen came out to check on him, there was a loud exclamation followed by laughter. That was when I looked out the window to see Helen hugging the stranger. I saw what he looked like.

Still not quite ready to face the truth, I fled to the kitchen.

Some time later, Steev came to find me there.

"He doesn't look like me." I said, after hearing him come in.

"No. Perhaps you didn't know. Our kind…we can adapt to be like those around us. When we're young, it's automatic but after a certain age, we can do it by choice. What you saw…that's our national form."

"Why would he choose to stay like that?"

"Because he wanted to hold on to it." That was aunt rose. I didn't know she was there. "He wanted to hold on to what he thought was all that was left of our world."

Steev was looking at her too.

"He told me when I went to see him." She explained to him.

I suddenly found myself thinking of a vague memory. Steev and aunt Rose were arguing about something.

"I want to see him!" Rose was saying."

The next day, Steev had said she'd gone away for a while.

Oh, god, she'd gone to see him. And she hadn't told me. That also meant she hadn't told him about me.

"Ok, so. Why did you decide not to?" I asked, trying to put that out of my head.

Rose answered first. "Well, I chose it because I wanted to fit it but…"

"I wanted to keep a low profile. Not stand out. Just in case. I had my family to protect."

We stayed in silence for about a minute as I contemplated if I was ready for this.

"Why don't you just come out and meet him? You might understand more if you do."

I sighed. "Give me a minute."

They looked at each other, then left.

I paced the kitchen for a bit, then when I thought I was ready, made straight for the door.

He had his back to me when I came out, deep in conversation with Helen. The others from the wearhouse were there too.

It was Helen that saw me first and when she adjusted her eyes, my father turned.

I can't quite explain the feeling that started spreading through me then, right from my heart. With all my doubts gone, I just ran to him. His arms enveloped my entire body while mine barely reached his shoulders, even when he was crouched down.

Right in that moment, I wish we could've stayed like that forever.