day and we do nothing to help.”
“I don’t know. I just feel connected to her somehow. I can’t explain it. I don’t know why she’s been coming to me but there has to be a reason. I have to find out what it is. I know that you have reasons for not walking freely any more, but I don’t share your reasons.
He gently shakes his head from side to side. “You share more than you realize."
He rubs his fingers deeply into his forehead before taking a deep breath and muttering to himself, “I knew this day was coming, but I didn’t expect it now. Not so soon.”
I’m not even sure I heard him right. “What are you talking about?”
“I never expected that this would happen when you were only seventeen.”
His cryptic words are unsettling. “Expected that what would happen?”
“You will have to leave tonight.”
I’m floored by his sudden consent. “What? Why the sudden change in heart?”
He looks down at floor, and all around the room. He looks everywhere but at my face. He has to tell me something that he didn’t want to tell me, ever. “You are right. There is a connection between you and Natalie.”
“What is it?”
His eyes meet mine once again. “Natalie is your sister.”
4. REVELATION
“My sister? What? How can that even be possible?”
I pause as my mind moves in a thousand different directions. My parents have been married forever and my brother Jonah is eight. Before I take the time to formulate anything that makes any sort of sense, I blurt out, “Did you have an affair with her mother?”
“No! Absolutely not! Emma,” he pauses and draws in a deep breath. “Natalie’s mother… Rebecca… she is your biological mother.”
Zoë’s jaw looks like it is about to hit the floor. Her eyes, bigger than I have ever seen them, burn into me. I can feel every thought she is thinking, every question she wants to ask.
I shake my head in disbelief. It doesn’t make sense. “My biological mother? Then who have I been calling mom all these years?”
“Jenna is your mom. She has been in your life for sixteen years. She has done everything in the world for you. But Rebecca gave birth to you.”
I am in complete and utter shock. I lean back against the kitchen counter, needing something to hold me up. Zoë walks around and stands next to me, taking hold of my arm.
I am angry, hurt, and incredibly confused. Not knowing which emotion will win, I look him in the eye and all I can manage to say is, “Is this a joke?”
“No. You were never ready to hear this, Emma. Not until this moment. Please understand that I had to wait to tell you until you gave me a sign that you were ready. You’ve done that tonight.”
“I don’t understand. A sign? What sign did I give you?”
“Your passion for rescuing a complete stranger. You found the connection without any encouragement from me. You know there’s something there, but you can’t quite put your finger on it.”
He falls silent for a moment then a hint of a smile laced with relief crosses his face. “I have been waiting years to be able to share things with you. It wasn’t safe.”
“Why wouldn’t it be safe to tell me whatever you want to tell me?”
“Because the facts behind what happened are somewhat unbelievable. Rebecca, she is also a walker. She died just a few moments after your birth. Our situation was different than most people’s, because of who we are. Rebecca knew there were great risks involved in her pregnancy and childbirth but she accepted them to bring you into the world. You needed to be here.”
“I don’t understand—who are we? What risks?"
“I can’t explain in words, but I have something that will tell you everything you need to know.”
“You said I needed to be here. What does that mean?”
He steps closer to me and places a hand on either side of my face. “Emma, you are something special. There is no one else in the universe like you. Your existence is incredibly complicated.”
“What does that mean?" Zoë interjects. "There’s no one else in the universe like Emma?”
He gently removes his hands from my face and takes a step backward. “Emma has a very old soul, as do I. There were so many factors that had to slide perfectly into place for this moment to happen.”
“Does this have anything to do with whoever she thinks you’re hiding from in your walks?” she asks, folding