This choice: When you awake, your father is there to greet you. • Go Back...Chapter #4When you awake, your father is there to greet you. by: Wassel   When you woke the following morning, your father was there to greet you. The two of you immediately sharing your pain and sympathies over what had happened to your mother. Over what was going to happen. Your father reminding you however that the most important thing was that she was alive. No matter how or why, or what it meant for her future (not to mention how reluctant you all were to go along with it). It was truly the only way forward. The only chance to have anything even remotely resembling a normal life.
So, after discussing the pros and cons of all this for the next hour or so, the two doctors eventually appeared to inform you that your mom was now awake and ready to see you all again. The only question of course being; where you ready to see her? To look into the eyes of your former crush and know that inside wasn't the wild, punk girl who didn't seem to care about anything, but instead your gentle, loving mother. Or would this be just too much for you to take? It having been weird enough seeing her when she was unconscious...
As it turned out it nearly was too much for you. Too much for both you and your father. Just about losing the ability to speak or form any kind of cohesive though as you walked into your mother's hospital room a few minutes later. Seeing this 16 year old girl looking upon you as if you were indeed her husband and son, even though everything about her screamed that you were not. Her appearance, her voice... everything! (bar a tiny glint in her eye). It being beyond disconcerting. More so for your father than you, seeing how he'd had no prior dealings with Taylor's body before. It being almost as if he was looking at a complete stranger. Which, from the way she spoke, he clearly was not. Knowing fine well that this was your mom.
Though it took a while to get used to this idea, gradually, over the next few hours as the five of you talked (your little brother and sister having joined you), it became quite obvious that it was. Acting much the same as she always did as she too agreed that living your classmate's life really was for the best. Signing the appropriate paperwork that the doctors wanted, and you and the rest of your family doing the same. She also decided, along with Taylor's parents when they too arrived (both of whom were absolutely devastated by the loss of their daughter, but glad that the transplant could at least help), that it made sense that she go live with them for the immediate future. Otherwise there would be a lot of explaining to do as to why this underage girl with a perfectly normal home life was now living with another family entirely.
Again, while reluctant, eventually your father and the rest of you agreed, and when it came time for the both of you to be discharged a few days later, you said goodbye to your mother for the time being and gave her a hug. Finding it incredibly awkward doing so now that she was in the body of your former crush. Having often fantasized about getting this close to Taylor in the past, but never quite like this. Watching then as she headed off with Mr. and Mrs. Madison in their car, while you, your dad, David and Tabitha headed for home. Having already arranged to meet up in a day or two to see how she was doing.
So, when Monday afternoon came, all four of you piled into the car and drove to Taylor's house. Being warmly welcomed by her parents, who really did seem like a nice couple. Not at all what you had expected due to the way Taylor both dressed and act. Though you supposed she could have well been rebelling against their pleasant suburban ways. As it turned out, your mother seemed to fit in well. Having an awful lot in common with Mrs. Madison. Seeing how they were both around the same age (or at least had been) and had been mom's to teenage girls. Still, it was strange to see her like this. Out of the drab green hospital gown and instead in Taylor's regular wear. Apparently not having a lot of options to choose from, seeing as she was currently dressed in a ripped black tank top, dark plaid skirt and leggings. Definitely not her usual style of clothing. She just laughed about it however when you brought it up. Admitting that it was kind of "fun" to be wearing such younger, hipper looking clothes. Feeling a lot like she was playing dress up. Which in a way you supposed she kind of was.
Though it was good to see that she wasn't wallowing in her new situation and was instead trying to embrace it as best she could, it was still very strange for the rest of you to get used to. Despite her best efforts to integrate into Taylor's life, your mother's personality and quirks were still very much coming to the fore. It being beyond bizarre to see a 16 year old girl acting like a 41 year old, mother of three. Still not at all used to hearing her call you and your siblings "sweetie", or any other of your many pet names. Still, you did your best to remain strong and not appear too disturbed by any of this (not wanting your mom to feel any weirder than she already did), and after a couple of hours of getting brought up to speed on how everything was going it was again time for you to leave. Being once again reluctant, but your mother assured you that she would be fine and that everything would work itself out somehow. Having always had a very positive outlook like that.
You in the meantime had a funeral to get ready for. Which you were not looking forward to in the slightest. Finding that seeing your mother in Taylor's house, surrounded by Taylor's things, while wearing Taylor's clothes was almost perfectly normal compared to the thought of that (almost). Of actually having to pretend like she was really dead in front of family and friends and that you were all devastated by her loss. Finding it to be just that when the day finally came. Feeling like such a fraud. You did your best to keep it together though. Focusing instead focusing on Taylor... the real Taylor, and pretending like this funeral was for her. Seeing how you knew fine well she'd never have one and nobody else would ever know that she was dead. Her parents, according to your mother, having apparently had a small private ceremony for themselves in their back yard.
As for your mom, she had decided that it was for the best if she didn't attend. A; because the real Taylor didn't really know you well enough to be seen at your 'mother's' funeral, and B; because it would probably be incredibly traumatic having to sit there and listen to people mourning her death. So instead, she kept in contact with you all mainly over the phone during the next several days. Due to her having gone into to full on study mode on how to act like a 16 year old girl again. Seeing how school was about to start and your mother hadn't actually attended one in over 23 years. Having a hell of a lot of names and faces to memorize as well. That is, if she wanted to fit in with Taylor's friends. Which was a daunting task for anyone ... never mind your mom.
When school finally reared its ugly head then, you and your little brother were still clearly singled out as the kids who'd just lost their mom, but thankfully a good portion of the sympathy you'd first received had gradually begun to die down. It still stinging every time someone told you how sorry they were for "your loss". Being thankful that your best friend Randall was a good distraction from all this (even if he too was completely unaware of the truth). Acting like the exact same goof he'd always been and helping you get through the day. Not that you weren't still on edge of course. Constantly looking out for any sign of your mother... or rather, Taylor now, every single time you turned a corner or walked down a hall. Having no idea what that was actually going to be like seeing her in such a public setting, now that she was supposed to be playing a part. Will she even acknowledge me? you wondered, seeing how Taylor had never really done so before. Getting your answer soon enough. Finally spotting her after third period, along with a group of Taylor's friends, looking every bit like the Taylor of old...
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