Part of me wants to explain how Olivia found me, tell her about my other family. Maybe she could help me make sense of everything. But if she knows how this is all supposed to work, she’ll realize that somehow my life got screwed up. What if she tries to change things, or take me away from Olivia? I make a snap decision, not willing to risk losing Olivia, not even for answers that have plagued me my entire life.
“Yeah, of course they have,” I lie. “It’s just that we’ve never met anyone else who is, uh, a Caretaker. I didn’t want to assume.”
Robin nods as if that makes perfect sense. Okay, my turn again. When did you realize you were an Aerling? Or did your parents tell you right away?
This question brings back another round of painful memories as well. One of the few clear memories I have before meeting Olivia is of wandering around the city crying and begging for help, confused why no one would look at me, let alone help me.
“No,” I say, “they didn’t tell me. I figured it out when I was five.”
Robin shakes her head. I don’t understand why Caretakers don’t tell Aerlings who they are. It only hurts them later to realize they’ve been lied to. I mean, I get that they don’t want to make them feel like they’re different, but it’s the truth.
“Yeah, I’m with you on that one.” Maybe if they had told me, I would have known what to do. Instead, I was alone and terrified.