Chapter 5: A Shadow of Doubt

Corey stood in his apartment, staring at the open fridge but not really seeing it. His mind was miles away, distracted by the past few weeks with Dana. He’d never expected to feel this way about someone—comfortable, drawn, almost… hopeful. It scared him. Not because of her, but because of him. Was he actually capable of loving her the way she deserved?

The sound of the door creaking open snapped him out of his thoughts. He frowned, closing the fridge. “Dana?” he called, instinctively thinking she might’ve dropped by unannounced.

But it wasn’t Dana. It was his mother, Caroline. A junkie who's been in and out of rehab all her life.

She stumbled into the apartment, clutching a stained handbag like it was a lifeline. Her once-bright hair was stringy, her eyes bloodshot, and her face hollow with shadows that made her look far older than she was.

“Corey,” she rasped, her voice frayed and thin. She gave him a crooked, almost mocking smile. “Aren’t you gonna say hi to your momma?”

Corey froze, anger and panic colliding in his chest. He hadn’t seen her in years—not since she’d disappeared after one of her infamous “episodes.” He’d told himself it was for the best. He’d built walls, solid and unshakable, to keep her and the memories of his childhood locked out.

“What the hell are you doing here?” His voice came out sharp, harsher than he intended, but he didn’t care.

She laughed, a dry, humorless sound. “Is that any way to greet family? I was in the neighborhood… thought I’d drop by and see my kids” Her eyes darted around the room, landing on a photo of Corey and his siblings, Elias and Sophie, on the wall. “Aw, still got your cute Christmas picture up. That’s sweet.”

Corey’s stomach churned. “You don't deserve any of us.”

“Why not?” She staggered toward the couch and dropped into it. “I’m still your mother. Doesn’t matter what you think.”

“You’re not our mother,” he snapped, his voice rising. “You gave up that right the day you walked out on us.”

Her head tilted, her lips curling into a smirk. “Oh, come on. I didn’t walk out. I needed space. You wouldn’t understand. You were a kid. Kids don’t know what it’s like to need space, to feel trapped.”

Corey’s hands balled into fists. He could feel the old rage bubbling up, the kind he thought he’d buried long ago. “You kicked us out to starve. You abused and tortured us. I was seventeen, Mom. Seventeen. Elias and Sophie were so little. I had to work two jobs just to keep us alive. And you? You were god-knows-where, doing god-knows-what. Don’t stand here and pretend you cared. Sophie was hospitalized recently, but of course, you knew nothing! I just wish..." Corey was fumming and pacing aggressively.

Caroline's expression changed, but only for a second. Then she leaned back, her arms spreading across the back of the couch like she owned the place. “So dramatic,” she muttered. “You turned out fine, didn’t you? Look at this place—nice, clean, like you’ve got your life together. I heard Elias and Sophie are doing well in school too. Guess I didn’t screw you up as bad as you think.”

Corey’s jaw clenched so hard it hurt. “You need to leave.”

“Oh, come on, Corey,” she said, her voice suddenly softer, almost pleading. “I don’t have anywhere else to go. I just need a place to crash for a few days. Just a few days, that’s all. I’ll be out of here before you know it.”

“No,” he said firmly. “Get out!”

Her face twisted, the fake charm peeling away. “Don’t be such a little prick,” she spat, standing up now, her voice rising. “I’m your mother. You don’t get to talk to me like that. You think you’re better than me? Huh? You think you’re some big shot now? You’re nothing without me!”

“Without you?” Corey barked a laugh, but it was bitter, biting. “I’m nothing because of you. Do you even realize what you did to us? What you put us through? You and dad.”

She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, the front door creaked open again.

“Corey, I—”

Dana’s voice froze in mid-sentence as she stepped inside. Her smile faded the second she saw the scene before her.

Corey turned toward her, his heart sinking. She stood in the doorway, her eyes wide, flicking between him and his mother.

“Dana,” he started, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “This isn’t—”

“I… I’m sorry,” she stammered, her cheeks flushing as she took a step back. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I should go.”

“No, wait!” Corey moved toward her, but she was already halfway out the door.

Dana looked at him, her expression a mix of shock and confusion. “It’s fine. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Dana,” he said again, stepping into the hallway after her. “I can explain. That woman…” He hesitated, his voice breaking slightly. “She’s my mother.”

Dana blinked, her mouth opening slightly in surprise. For a moment, neither of them said anything.

She gave him a quick nod, though her face betrayed her unease. “I didn’t mean to barge in. You… clearly have a lot going on. I’ll let you handle it.”

Corey wanted to stop her, to explain everything right then and there, but the words felt stuck in his throat. He couldn’t put this on her. Not now.

“Dana, I’ll explain later,” he said quietly. “Please.”

She nodded again, her lips pressed into a tight line. “Okay,” she said simply, her voice faint. “Take care, Corey.”

He watched her walk away, her footsteps were brisk, too brisk. His chest felt heavy, like something important was slipping through his fingers, and he didn’t know how to stop it.

As Dana stepped into her own apartment, her mind raced. She’d never seen Corey so angry. And that woman… the way she looked, the way she’d spoken to him. Dana had a hundred questions swirling in her head, but she knew better than to push. Corey would talk when he was ready.

Her phone buzzed in her hand, pulling her out of her thoughts. She frowned, unlocking it to read the message.

"He’s not who you think he is."

Dana's pulse quickened. Not again. She hadn't gotten one of these in two weeks and she was starting to believe that whosoever it was had given up.

Then, another message came through.

"You don’t want to know the dark secrets he’s hiding."

A shiver ran down her spine. Her eyes darted toward the door, as if expecting someone to be there. But the hallway was silent.

Her mind immediately went to Corey; the anger and intensity in his voice when he’d spoken to that woman, and the tension she’d seen in his jaw when he’d told her she was his mother.

She wanted to believe him, to trust him, but… what if?

Dana shook her head, trying to push the doubt away. Corey wasn’t perfect, but he wasn’t hiding anything. Was he?

Her hand tightened around the phone. This has to end. And she'd make sure of it.