Dad’s truth. Elizabeth’s choice.

Yoshio’s dad didn’t answer right away. He sat back in the chair and thought over the question.

“The people you love start out as people you don’t know,” His father finally answered. Yoshio turned around to look at his father.

“Did you love mom when you first saw her?” The question caught his father of guard. He cleared his throat but couldn’t answer the question. He just looked at Yoshio trying figure out how to tell his son that he has never loved his mother.

“We have an understanding.” His dad said and got up from his chair.

“That’s not the same as love,” Yoshio said turning to look at his father.

“It’s not but it’s better than nothing.” His dad tan his fingers through his hair with an awkward laugh.

“How did you mean mom?” Yoshio asked.

“Before my parents died they wanted to me marry your mom to solidify my new position among the nobility. I just honored their last request. Your mom liked my money status so that kept her around. You’re the best thing I’ve gotten out of this,” His father finally broke down and told his son everything. He didn’t put a brave face on it anymore. He was sure that everyone could see that his wife didn’t care for and it was just his money and status keeping her around. He wondered if she ever loved him.

“I’m sorry father I didn’t mean to ask a question on such a subject.” Yoshio walked over to his father.

“ I don’t want secrets or misunderstandings between us. You are by far the best thing that has happened to me,” he looked at his son.

“I understand,” Yoshio hugged his father something he hadn’t done since he was a teenager.

“We have a meeting with the Takada group at 10am.” His father wiped her stray tear from his eye and headed for the door.

“Okay, I’ll be ready.” Yoshio smiled and sat back down at his desk.

Four months and two weeks later

City A hospital Maternity ward.

“Ms. Moore?” A woman wearing a suit and carrying a handful of paperwork came into the room. Elizabeth had just given birth and was spending sometime with the baby. By the time she found out she was pregnant it was to late to do something about it. So the doctor recommended giving the baby away.

“Yes, Im Ms. Moore,” Elizabeth announced to the woman. The other five women in the ward looked at her and looked away as the woman made her way to the corner of the room. Elizabeth had the baby in her arms he was wrapped snuggly in a purple blanket. They had ran out of white ones and the nurse had found this for him.

“I’m here to take the baby and have you sign these papers to give up parental rights,” the woman explained and pulled the dinning tray close and placed the papers on it. Before giving birth Elizabeth was sure she was going to give the baby away. Once he was born she looked at his little eyes, nose, ears, and most of all she looked at his skin. She knew he wouldn’t be adopted.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to keep him.” Elizabeth told the woman looked down at the him. He cuddled closer to her as though he knew she would keep him and he could finally relax.

“What can you do for him? You can hardly take care of yourself, just look at where you are now. In a public ward giving birth surrounded by other woman who have just done the same. Where are you going to take him to the slum you live in. Just give him to me.” The social worker reached for the baby and Elizabeth pushed her hand away.

“I’m a product of this system of adoption and I won’t let him end up like me. I can’t give him wealth but a I can give him a chance to be loved,” Elizabeth expressed as the other women in the ward looked.

Elizabeth thought of her childhood of the beating, the starvations, and the neglect. She was rejected at home. Rejected at school. She was never loved. She wouldn’t let that happen to her baby. She held on to him and didn’t let the social worker take him from her. She could her the other women in the ward begging to speak. She was sure they were on the social workers side until she listen to what they were saying.

“Let her keep her baby!” The other women in the ward started shouting at the social worker.

“She doesn’t want to give him!” Another woman shouted.

“Yeah get out of her!” Another screamed and a nurse finally peaked her head into the ward to check on the commotion.

“What’s going on in here?” The nurse asked standing in the doorway.

“She wants to take her baby away!” The women screamed and the nurse looked at the social worker and looked at Elizabeth shielding her baby.

“If she wants to keep her baby you have no right to take it away. You get out of here,” the nurse announced to cheers from the other women. Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked at the nurse; she was sure she was there to help the social worker but in the end she helped her.

“Fine but you will regret this,” the social worker said gathering her papers and stormed out of the ward pushing passed the nurse.

“Get some rest and stop the commotion you women just get birth,” the nurse scolded the woman and closed the door behind her.

“You’ll be alright.” One of the woman offered as Elizabeth held her baby close to her. She rocked him back and forth gently. He was so little she was afraid of squeezing him too tightly.

“What are you going to name him?” One of the woman got up and walked over to Elizabeth. She hadn’t thought of a name for the last few months she had been thinking about adoption.