She didn't speak.
Maybe she just found uncle Omar an idiot and dismissed his words as she usually does but, Troy's heart literally stopped for few seconds when he heard his thoughts aloud from somebody else.
'The kid wants you, Annie', that sentence...
"Then I'm just gonna marry him" Said Annie hugging her favorite teddy bear that is Troy. Overwhelming him even more. He couldn't breathe.
"Hey! Troy?! Are you alright baby? You look... shit!" He heard Annie's worried voice and even felt her shaking his shoulders. He didn't have to ask for a mirror or for it to be recorded to know exactly how a mess he was at the moment.
He was crying. Hard.
He never cried. Ever.
He didn't cry when his biological father had beaten him black and blue, made him bleed, with cigarettes burn scars on his skin and even when he left them with nothing in the house. He didn't cry.
He didn't cry when his mother starved him for three days but never failed to feed the stray dogs and cats, never giving a shit about him, always making it a point that he was the reason why her life became hell and even on her death bed when she was all sweet and regretful. He didn't cry then.
He didn't cry when Christian took him to college, bought him his first car when he was nineteen, all those bonding moments like a real father..., all those times he showed up when Troy needed somebody to back him up, supporting his dreams and granting his wishes and suddenly getting a letter on his night stand that Christian is dead, fighting for others peace. A hero they said. It was a heart numbing experience but, he didn't cry then too.
But, he couldn't stop crying there.
He couldn't get over the fact that he was betraying Christian's trust and disgusting Annie with his thoughts. He didn't want them to hate him. They were his people as they used to tell him everytime he faced a block in his life.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry" He couldn't help the mantra or maybe it was because, he just couldn't stop.
"Omar?" He heard Annie's calm voice over his chaotic mind.
"Yes?" Replied his uncle, curious.
"I think you've overstayed your welcome in my house, dear brother"
"Annie, are you for real?"
"You can always wait till I call your wife to come and get you"
"You're not seriously..."
"I love you and I know that you love me too but, this is none of your business. Give us the privacy that you know we need right now"
"I don't like this, Annie"
"You don't really have to" Said Annie sending her brother out with just her eyes only returning to Troy when she heard the door closing behind Omar.
"He's gone now" Said Annie in her motherly tone that she uses only when Troy was feeling like dying like at that moment. She always knows what to do and say at the right time. He doesn't know how she does it but, he's glad.
"I'm sorry Annie... I tried_"
"I think if you could get to eat your food without your snorts, it'd be really helpful at the moment" Interrupted Annie dryly making Troy give a surprise laugh.
"There" Said Annie holding his face in her palms, "Don't get me wrong. You're still the prettiest when you cry but, I'd rather see your smiling face. It's my happy pill"
"I'm sor_"
"Sorry that you want me?"
"You don't hate me?"
"Hate is a word I could never associate with you, treasure"
"But, I did wrong"
"You think loving a person is wrong? According to you?"
"Children _"
"Troy?"
"Yes, mom"
"I'm your mother. I may not have given birth to you but, I'd fucking cut a bitch for you"
"Did you just cuss?"
"Who? me? You must be mistaken" Replied Annie acting stupid making them smile comfortably.
"Do you... do you feel the same way?" Asked Troy after a time.
"No. Maybe because it never crossed my mind or it could be because, I'm just not into you" Replied Annie lovingly.
"You love Christian that much, huh?"
"Yes, Of course I love my late husband more than myself in this world but, that's not the reason why I'm not accepting your confession" Said Annie holding Troy's hand to her face, "If I loved you like that even a bit, baby we'd be busy making love right now, right on this couch"
"Jesus, mom!"
"I know, I know... I'm just reminding you that never term something is wrong according to other peoples"
"Only if it can hurt the other person then that's wrong"
"That's the drill" Said Annie with a proud smile before kissing Troy's head tenderly.