Come Home, Frances

C25: The Truth Is...

Frances' POV

"Sydney?" I said when I saw a familiar face in the farm market.

"Hey." She said to me awkwardly.

"How are you?" I asked. We didn't get to talk last time.

" Listen...

I know it's been years." She said which kinda confuse me.

"I was away for a while." I said but she jsut nod.

"I never had a chance to apologize.

I was just going through a really weird time,
but your dad ended it

as soon as your mother
confronted him about us.

And I just always wanted you to know that.

I don't mean to open old wounds, but...

I just really needed to say that I'm sorry." She once she said all that I figured out what she was talking about.

" No, I'm really glad that you said something." I said and smiled at her. Thanks to you I knew why I left home before.

"You were always a really good friend.
I just wish I could've returned the favor." I just nod at her and gave her a warmth smile. I was about to talk when she saw Duke and run away.

"The lilies were bad,
so I got sunflowers instead." I look at Duke and she saw Sydney and he immediately knew.

" I wanted to tell you." Duke reasoned out.

"You knew? You knew the whole time? " I asked him in disbelief.

" I'm sorry." that's all Duke can say.

" Don't talk to me." I said when he trued to hold me.

"Frances! Queen! Ate!" Duke tried to call me as I stormed out at the store.

At home riding my bike furious.

"Hey, where have you been all day, stranger?

Frances?" My mom said while gardening.

"I ran into Sydney Crespo at the store." I said to begin with.

"That's why I left, isn't it?
Because I found out.

Mom, I barely even know who I am,

and then it turns out you're lying to me,

and you've used my accident
to rewrite the past?" I said to her in disbelief feeling betrayed.

"I couldn't bear the thought
of losing you again." My mom said looking down.

"Do you have any idea
how betrayed I feel right now?" I shouted.

"I'm sorry, Queen." My mom said and started crying.

"We were happier than we'd been in years." She said trying to reason out what they've done.

"Mom!" I said trying to stop her from what she's about to do.

"We finally had you back again." In a calm tone.

" Back on your terms!" I shouted full of anger.

" No!" She squilled crying.

" Yes, as usual!" I retorted not letting go of the argument.

"Frances!" she called me when I'm about to walk away.

"He cheated on you with my friend!

How could you stay with him?" I shouted at her showing her how hurt. I was.

"F.-

I was going to leave.

I was. I was all ready to leave.

And then one afternoon,
I was all alone in the house,
and I started looking at
all the photographs of you

and your...

And your sister.

And the house seemed so full of all of us.

We were a family, Queen.

And I realized in that moment that

that was the most important thing
in the world for me.
And I couldn't, I couldn't,

I could not go." My mom explained while crying.

" So, you just wasped it away?" I retorted at her.

" No.

I chose to stay with him

for all the things that he had done right

and not to leave him for the one thing
that he had done wrong.
I chose to forgive him." My mom said in a much more calmer tone then I realized something.

" Maybe Jaydee was right.

Maybe I can't figure out who I am
and be around all of you." I said and finally walk away. Where would I go? I already ended up things with Jaydee.