Chapter 3 - It's Not Your Fault

Both Daniel and Regina sat in the complete darkness that surrounded them, waiting for the back-up generators to kick on. They never did. Daniel and Regina continued their conversation, hoping the other person was actually listening.

"Mom, I realize it's what dad was doing before he died. But I feel like this is the right thing for me to do with my life."

Regina had stood up and was pacing behind the couch when the power went out. She was steaming by this point. Turning to Daniel, she pointed a finger at him.

"You don't know that half of it! You have no idea what killed your father! You have no idea what awaits you in the Army! You don't even know who your father was!"

Daniel was stunned. He had not been expecting this kind of reaction. He felt around and took a seat on the couch. What did she mean 'you don't know who your father was'?

"Wait, what do you mean I didn't know my who my father was?"

"I mean, your father died before you were born," the voice ran through the darkness.

"What?" Daniel questioned. Regina ran her hands through her hair before answering.

"I mean exactly what I said," she said through gritted teeth. Daniel didn't see this.

"Which means what? Didn't I have a father? If not, who was that all those years teaching how to do stuff?"

Regina paused, looking through the black hole out into the pitch-black street.

"It was an actor friend of mine. He agreed to teach you life skills before you began to permanently associate him as your dad."

"So I grew up with a fake dad?"

An awkward pause ensued, ending with Regina saying, "Yes."

Daniel threw his hands in the air and stood. "I can't believe this! I grew up thinking a random man was my dad who left when I was ten? He taught me everything I know and I've always been associating those memories with a fake dad that I don't know! Is that what you're telling me?"

Regina paused again, finally saying, "Yes, Daniel. That's what I'm telling you."

Daniel stormed over to the door, pausing before he opened it. He turned back to his mother, whose head was hung looking at the floor.

"I can't believe this!" he yelled before opening the door and slamming it again as he went out. He opened the door again, poking his head back in.

"Did my dad actually serve in the Army? Before he died?"

"Yes, he did."

"So who's funeral was that we went to three months ago?"

"It was the guy who impersonated your father for years. He died in a flood." Silence, followed by the door shutting again, not as violently as before. Regina just sat on the couch, sighing as she did so. 'He'll get over this. He always does,' she thought. She went back to reading her book.

* * *

Daniel stormed down the stairwell. His mind was reeling, both with anger at his mother for keeping this secret for all these years and with all the information she had just told him. He entered into the black street, not caring where he was headed. He just needed to go somewhere to clear his mind, organize his thoughts. Turning left, finding a park bench using his night vision goggles that he always carried in the backpack that never left his back and sat down on it.

His mind reflected back on years past. He thought back to the time his "father" has taught him how to use his augmented reality headset beyond what the government allowed one to do with the headsets. That's how he was able to see his mother's location at will. He continued to think about other memories with his "dad". He soon was lost in thought.