Chapter 17: Survivor

Simon stood still, staring at his mother. She looked a lot different from the last time he saw her. Her hair was lined with silver and she had wrinkles around her lips and eyes. The bags underneath her eyes were dark.

“Mom?” he croaked again. “What-How…did you-you find me?”

She fidgeted. “May I come in?” she asked. Simon looked back at Zeke who was already at his side.

“Simon, are you OK?” Zeke asked, shooting his mother a curious look. “Is this…?”

“Y-Yeah.” Simon said. “This is my mom.”

“Oh.” Zeke breathed. He stepped backwards, pulling him away from the door. “Come in, Mrs. Holtz.”

“Oh, call me Naomi.” She said, stepping inside the house. “Detective Carter told me Simon was here. I would have been here sooner, but my daughter just had a baby and…”

Simon gasped, covering his mouth. “Rachel had a baby?”

His mother smiled. “Yes. A little girl…she looks like you; well, you’ll see…I have pictures.”