Stephen and his mother led me to a clinic. Inside the clinic was the office of Stephen's mother. I looked around to see their family pictures inside picture frames. I see a young Stephen when he was just a kid with a little girl and a dog. The little girl looked like his younger sister. I also see certificates of doctorates hanging on the walls.
"You are a doctor?" I asked Stephen's mother.
"Yes." Stephen's mother replied. "I am also a lab researcher and the lead of the team here in this community that manufactures everyday medicines that people would need." She explained.
"Wow." I was amazed with how important she is in a time like this. "What you are doing here is very noble of you. I mean, at the time we are in now, what you are doing is very important. You are an important person."
"Oh, I won't say that I am someone that important." Stephen's mother giggled. "This is the least I can do to help others. At least I can do something that can help the community."
Stephen's mother is being humble with her work and so I did not say anything else
"Please take a sit." Stephen's mother gestured. "My son here has explained your situation. It is a miracle that you have survived all this years."
"I myself am surprised as well." I took a sit while Stephen and his mother sit as well. "I am just thankful that I am alive. I just wish that I can also find my family."
"Yes, I Stephen had also told me that." Stephen's mother said. "And I believe I could help."
"I told mother about your situation." Stephen said. "I also told her the names of your family members such as your parent's, brother and daughter."
"I will be very grateful if you have any news about then." I said in anticipation. "I have already gone to a few communities just to dampen my hopes of finding them. Your words just now give me a ray hope." I said with eagerness.
"Stephen mentioned that your daughter's name is Cindy, correct?" Stephen's mother asked.
"Yes, that is correct." I replied.
"And your brother's name is Paul?" Stephen's mother asked again.
"Yes. My brother's name is Paul." I replied.
"I am not sure if they are the same people you are searching for, but I was able to meet someone by those names." Stephen's mother said. My heart raced after she said those words. "But the girl Cindy, she looks like she was in her teens. Maybe between fourteen to sixteen in my estimation. Seeing you so young, I was a bit reluctant that she would be your daughter."
I was taken off guard hearing Stephen's mother. I remembered that I still looked like a twenty five year old woman. Having a teenager for a daughter would be close to impossible. I scrambled my thought on explaining.
"I-I may look young but I am quite older in age." I smiled awkwardly. "I mean… well…" I was out of thoughts on what to say and scratched my head awkwardly.
"You do not need to explain yourself if you don't want to." Stephen's mother reassured. "I am just telling you that I met someone with those name. Cindy was a teenager traveling with her uncle with the name of Paul and her father Gray."
"Gray…?" I was surprised to hear that name after so long.
"Yes. Actually I got acquainted with Gray because he was a doctor like me." Stephen's mother replied. "He is a very bright and capable man and also a very important person. He is a leading doctor on the medical community. The medical community was he old Center for Disease Control or CDC of the old years. He is a lead researcher there, working on the research of the genetics of these daemons. His research had given us some useful information such as the weaknesses of daemons that were known and cataloged. He is also still researching other kinds of daemons species there."
I cannot believe my ears that I am hearing the work of Gray, the one that became AWOL when I got pregnant with Cindy. To know that my daughter and brother is now with him is quite surprising. I knew how Paul loathed Gray when he abandoned me. Hearing this made so many thoughts come rushing inside my brain.
"Claudia… Claudia…" Stephen was calling out to me. I didn't realize that I was spacing out, being lost in my own thoughts.
"Oh… sorry." I apologized. "I was lost in my thoughts back there."
"That is quite alright, dear." Stephen's mother replied.
"So, if I may ask…" I trailed. "These people… are they now in that medical community you have mentioned?" I asked in anticipation.
"Yes. The last thing I know, Gray and his family are there now." Stephen's mother replied. "Like this community, the medical community manufactured medicines and more. It is bigger than this community and more doctors and researchers are residing there."
"Thank you… thank you very much for the information." I said with a bright face. I was so grateful for the information Stephen's mother had shared.
"It is nothing." Stephen's mother replied with a smile. "I am happy to help. My son here looks like he is very fond of you."
"I-Is that so….?" I felt shy hearing her say those words in front of Stephen himself.
"Mother!" Stephen scolded.
"Oh come on Steph, having someone to spend your life with is my greatest wish. And Claudia here looks like a very pleasant girls." Stephen's mother said.
I can see Stephen blush. We are both feeling awkward. While. His mother was beaming with a smile.
"W-We better go now. It is getting rather late and we have an early start tomorrow." Stephen said. His words let me felt relieved and I stood up together with him.
"Oh, is that so? Then please have a good night's rest." Stephen's mother replied. "Claudia dear, I would like to see you again in a more convenient time. You are welcome to visit here again. Stephen, you definitely have to come back with Claudia in the near future. Stay here for a few days so that we can get acquainted."
"I understand mother." Stephen said with an awkward face. "We will be going now." He took my hand and pulled me out of his mother's office.
"Thank you once again ma'am." I said with gratitude.
"Please call me Grace." Stephen's mother said.
"Then, thank you once again Grace." I said while waving good bye while Grace was waving back.
Stephen was still holding my hand until we were outside the clinic. The night was getting deeper and the stars were twinkling brightly in the night sky.
"Sorry about my mother." Stephen said making a stop under a tall tree along the way. "She is quite chatty."
"I think your mother is lovely." I said with a smile.
"Well, yes. I mean she is a very lovable person." Stephen replied. "And what she said is true. I really do like you Claudia." Stephen confessed out of nowhere.
Stephen's confession took me by surprise. I have been with his community for quite some time now and I had a hunch about his feelings before,, but I have never given it a serious thought because of Anna. But now that Stephen is confessing in front of me, I was really taken off guard.
"S-Stephen… I-I do not know what to say." I replied. I really do not know what to say. I never thought of romance since after Gray. And now in this kind of world, romance is at the very end of my bucket list.
"You do not have to give me a reply now Claudia." Stephen said with a blushing face. "I understand that you have your priorities. I am just happy that I can be by your side and help."
"Thank you." I replied.
I was happy to know that Stephen is not pressuring me for an answer. He is a great guy and all, what woman would not want someone as capable and kind as him. Knowing that he has feelings for me made my heart race, but not as intense as what I felt with Cindy's father, Gray. Maybe because I am more mature now.
"But Claudia, I just want to ask you something." Stephen started to get serious. "I have thinking about this for a while now. I saw you flinch when my mother asked about the teenage Cindy she cannot possibly be your daughter. But seeing your expression, I am convinced that she is your daughter. You told us you were twenty five years old, but you told mother you were much older than you appear to be. There are quite a few inconsistencies. And I have been some things that are quite mind boggling about you."
My eyes went wide when I heard Stephen's words. I had been very careful from the start as to not raise suspicions, but I guess Stephen really has an eye of an eagle to have caught wind of me. I was not able to confirm nor deny his thoughts and was trying evade eye contact.
"I promise you Claudia, your secret is safe with me." Stephen took my hand and squeezed it gently. "My heart has been stolen by you, and I will do anything to show you that I am trust worthy. I am on your side Claudia." He said to me with a gentle voice.
My defensive walls were broken with those words. I felt like I was alone because of my secret, even after having to know my friends now and getting close to them. I then decided to open up to Stephen for starters. Maybe after I tell him, i can have some insight on what might have happened to me.
Edited by: nalyn