Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

14 The Revelation

By Jo Dora Webster

Will Amaza come to terms with what Greg is holding back of the truth?

14 The Revelation

As the family soared through the air, reveling in their newfound ability to fly, Greg's expression grew serious. He glided closer to me, taking my hand gently.

"Celeste, there's something important I need to tell you," Greg said, his voice barely audible above the wind rushing past them. "It's about our family... about who we really are."

My heart raced, a mixture of excitement and apprehension coursing through my veins. I nodded, encouraging Greg to continue.

"We're not from Earth," Greg began, his eyes searching my face for any sign of recognition. "We're Alvians, beings from a planet called Alvia. Our appearance here on Earth is just a simulation, a way to blend in."

Gail and Sally, who had been chasing each other playfully, slowed their flight and moved closer to listen. Their young faces were a blend of curiosity and concern.

Greg continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "This ability to fly, it's not some newfound skill or technology. It's part of who we are as Alvians. The implants in our arms allow us to manipulate gravitational fields, just like we would on our home planet."

I listened intently, my mind reeling with this revelation. What Greg did not know is that with the aid of Sela I knew this already, the evidence was literally all around me as we hovered in mid-air.

"But Greg," I said, my voice trembling slightly, "if we're all Alvians, why don't I remember any of this?

Greg's expression softened, a hint of sadness creeping into his eyes. "Your memory loss... it's more extensive than we initially thought. You're one of us, Celeste. You've always been."

I looked down at my hands, half-expecting to see them change or reveal some alien characteristic. Greg was telling me the truth but not the whole truth.

"There's more," Greg added, his gaze shifting between I and the girls. "We came to Earth on a mission, but something went wrong. We've been stranded here, living as humans, waiting for a chance to return home."

The impact of Greg's words was hanging in the air between us. Gail and Sally exchanged glances, their young minds trying to process this new information about their identity.

My mind raced with questions. Those could wait until I had a chance to converse with Sela who was the only one who knew the whole truth.

As the family hovered in the air, the weight of Greg's revelation about their Alvian heritage hung heavily between them. My mind reeled with questions, but before I could voice them, Greg's expression grew even more serious.

"There's more you need to know, Celeste," Greg said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's about your relationship with the girls."

​I felt a chill run through my body, despite the warm air surrounding them. I glanced at Gail and Sally, who were watching their parents with wide, curious eyes.

Greg took a deep breath before continuing. "Celeste, you're not the girls' biological mother. Their real mother was an Alvian named Simosa. She... she died on Alvia before we came to Earth."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt as if the air had been sucked from my lungs, and for a moment, I forgot how to fly. Greg quickly steadied me, his hand gently gripping my arm.

"But... I remember..." I stammered, my mind frantically searching for memories that suddenly felt out of reach.

"I know this is difficult to hear," Greg said softly. "Your memories of being their mother are part of the simulation we've been living in on Earth. It was necessary for our cover, but the truth is, I married you shortly after Simosa's death."

Gail and Sally exchanged glances, their young faces a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Is that why sometimes we have dreams about two different moms?" Gail asked hesitantly.

Greg nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes, sweetheart. Your subconscious minds are holding onto memories of both Simosa and Celeste."

I felt as if my world was spinning out of control. The love I felt for these girls was real, visceral – I had grown to love them even after Greg had hijacked me from my life. I looked at Gail and Sally, searching their faces for any sign of rejection or resentment, but found only love and confusion mirroring my own emotions. But I could not let Greg know that I already knew.

"I... I don't understand," I said, my voice barely audible. "If I'm not their mother, who am I? Why did you marry me?"

Greg's expression softened, filled with a mixture of guilt and affection. "You're still a crucial part of our family, Celeste. When Simosa died, I was lost. You helped me through that dark time, and we fell in love. We decided to embark on this mission together, as a family."

As the truth settled over them, the family remained suspended in the air, our newfound ability to fly now a stark reminder of the otherworldly nature of their existence. My mind raced with implications, trying to reconcile my deep love for these girls with the knowledge that I hadn't given birth to them.

"But why can't I remember any of this?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Greg's expression grew troubled. "The process of adapting to Earth, of taking on human forms and memories – it affected us all differently. Your memory loss was more extensive than we anticipated. We hoped that over time, living as a family here would help you recover those memories."

As the family hovered together, the weight of our shared history hung in the air between us. I felt a surge of conflicting emotions – love for these girls who weren't biologically mine, affection for Greg tinged with confusion, and a deep sense of loss for a life and memories I couldn't fully recall.

"I know this is a lot to take in," Greg said softly, squeezing my hand. "But I want you to know that regardless of how we came to be a family, the love we share is real. We've built a life here together, and you've been an amazing mother to Gail and Sally."
​
I nodded. My heart was full of emotions I couldn't quite name. As we floated in the air, our Alvian nature now fully revealed, I realized that our journey as a family was far from over. There were still mysteries to unravel, memories to recover, and a future to shape – together.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow across the sky, Greg guided the family back to the ground. We landed softly in the same secluded clearing where our extraordinary flight had begun, the grass swaying gently beneath our feet.

I took a deep breath, my mind still reeling from the revelations Greg had shared during our time in the air. I watched as Gail and Sally touched down, their faces a mixture of excitement from the flight and confusion from the truths they'd learned.

Greg gathered the family close, his eyes scanning our faces with a mixture of love and concern. "I know this has been a lot to take in," he said softly. "How are you all feeling?"
​
Gail, ever the outspoken one, was the first to respond. "It's... weird, Dad. But also kind of cool? I mean, we can fly!" Her enthusiasm was tempered by a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Sally, more reserved, simply nodded and moved closer to me, seeking comfort in my embrace. I wrapped an arm around the young girl, feeling a surge of maternal love despite the knowledge that I wasn't their biological mother.

"And you, Celeste?" Greg asked, his gaze meeting mine with a mix of hope and apprehension.

I paused, carefully considering my words. "It's overwhelming," I admitted. "But... it also feels right, somehow. Like pieces of a puzzle falling into place."
​
I glanced down at my arms, where the implants lay hidden beneath my skin. "I still have so many questions, but I'm grateful for the truth."
​
Greg nodded, relief evident in his expression. "We'll take this one step at a time," he assured us. "Our family may not be conventional by Earth standards, but our love for each other is real."
​
As we stood together in the fading light, I observed the girls' reactions. Gail seemed energized by the revelations, her mind clearly racing with the possibilities their Alvian heritage presented.
Sally, on the other hand, appeared more contemplative, processing the information in her own quiet way.

I felt a complex mix of emotions wash over me. There was a sense of loss for the memories I couldn't recall, but also a growing acceptance of my place within this extraordinary family. The love I felt for Greg and the girls was undeniable, transcending the boundaries of biology and origin.

As we prepared to head home, I realized that while our flight had come to an end, our journey as a family was far from over. There would be challenges ahead, but facing them together, with our newfound truth as a foundation, felt like the beginning of something remarkable.

Greg was the first to break the silence. "I know this has been a lot to take in," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "How about we head home and talk more over some hot chocolate?"

Gail's eyes lit up at the mention of her favorite treat. "Can we have marshmallows too, Dad?"
​
Greg chuckled, grateful for the moment of normalcy amidst the chaos. "Of course, sweetheart. Extra marshmallows for everyone."
​
As we walked back to our house, Sally slipped her hand into mine. Despite the knowledge that I wasn't her biological mother, the bond between us stronger than ever. I squeezed Sally's hand, a wordless reassurance that nothing had changed in my love for the girls.

Once inside, Greg busied himself in the kitchen while I helped the girls out of their flight suits. The familiar routine of hanging up coats and removing shoes felt surreal after our airborne adventure.

In the cozy living room, we gathered around the coffee table, steaming mugs of hot chocolate in hand. Greg had indeed been generous with the marshmallows, and Gail was already sporting a frothy mustache.

"So," Greg began, his tone serious but kind, "do you have any questions about what we talked about today?"
​
Gail and Sally exchanged glances before Sally spoke up. "Dad, if we're really aliens, why do we look human?"
​
Greg nodded, appreciating the directness of the question. "It's part of our Alvian technology. We have the ability to blend in with the inhabitants of other planets. It's how we've been able to live here on Earth without detection."
​
I listened intently, still processing my own role in this complex family dynamic. I may not have been their biological mother, but the love I felt for these girls was undeniable.

As the conversation flowed, touching on our Alvian heritage, our life on Earth, and our uncertain future, a sense of unity settled over the family. We may have been from another world, living under assumed identities, but in this moment, we were simply a family, bound by love and shared experiences.

The evening wound down, and as Greg tucked the girls into bed, I stood in the doorway, watching. I may not have given birth to them, but I was their mother in every way that mattered. As I kissed them goodnight, I silently vowed to protect and love them, no matter what challenges our extraordinary life might bring.

No matter why Greg revealed this much of the truth for me, I had hope that later on Greg would reveal the whole truth. Till then I would share with the only one I completely trusted, Sela.