Cam 49- Distressed and determined


    +10% Bonus


    06:16


    I don’t sleep much. I stay up most of the night trying to figure out how to make things right. with Harry. I


    don’t get too far but I do at least form the first step of the n, one that I’m hoping will lead to more


    nster on. I’m going to call Ryann and ask to meet up with her. Hopefully Harry hasn’t told her to


    ditch me or something. I suspect that if he did she would do as he asked, but I don’t think he would. My


    tentative friendship with Ryann hasn’t really had much to do with him, at least not until now. I’m hoping


    that she can fill me in a little on Incubus magic and maybe a little more about Harry in general. If I’m


    really lucky she will have some idea on how I can get him to talk to me. Right now I’m just kind of


    hoping that if I give him a bit of time to cool off, he’ll take my call. Or even better, turn up to talk to me in


    person. Ryann might be able to give me his address, but turning up at his home uninvited feels like


    crossing a line. I practically leap out of bed with far more energy than I’d usually have in the morning


    and grab my phone. I want to call Ryann first thing. I’m hoping she might have some free time to see


    me today. I’m not particrly shocked to find that I have about five missed calls from my mother and


    several text messages. She’s probably pissed that I got Simon arrested. Although realistically he got


    himself arrested. I was the victim. With a sigh, I open the text conversation.


    Mum- Cam, I just heard what happened with Simon. Can you call me please?


    Mum- I know you’re unhappy with me but I would really like to talk to you. Please call me


    back.


    Mum- I didn’t know that Simon would go so far. Please let me talk to you.


    The messages continue along the same line. They are a little different to usual though. My mother


    doesn’t say anything to imply the issue was my fault and she doesn’t say anything to insult me or make


    me feel guilty. I know the definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting different


    results, but her messages seem a little different, and since the other option is to cut her off entirely I’m


    willing to risk listening to some more lectures and insults if there’s even the slightest chance that she


    might have changed her mind. I make myself a coffee for emotional support, then I call my mother


    back.


    “Hello? Cam?” She sounds a little desperate.


    …Hi mum.” I greet her quietly. She is silent for a moment, seemingly searching for the right


    1/4


    Cam 49- Distressed and determined


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    thing to say. Suddenly she bursts into tears.


    “I’m so sorry darling!” She says between gasping breaths. I sit,pletely stunned. I thought she might


    be willing to have an actual mature conversation, I didn’t expect an apology. I’m scared to hope so I’m


    cautious when I respond.


    “What exactly are you sorry for?” I ask for rification. She deep breaths and


    takes a fo manages to get her sobs under control, although she still sounds a little choked up when she


    answers.


    +11


    “I’m sorry for trying to force Simon on you. I should have listened when you said he wasn’t a good man.


    The police contacted us about our interactions with him. He was iming that we asked him to save


    you from the Incubus and that he hadn’t done anything wrong. The police told us that he’s been


    stalking you, that he attacked you and… your friend. I swear we never thought he would do anything


    like that. We encouraged him to pursue a rtionship with you and not to give up so easily. But we


    never would have wanted him to hurt you. Are you really okay? The police assured me that you were,


    but I just needed to know for sure, and then you didn’t answer the phone…” My mum sounds


    absolutely devastated and genuinely apologetic. It’s pretty much everything I wanted to hear from her.


    I’m still cautious, but my heart is racing with excitement. She still has a long way to go if she wants me


    topletely forgive her, I mean she tried to use a love potion on me and has basically trashed all my


    life choices. for a few years now. But this is a start. She’s willing to acknowledge that she made


    le mistakes.


    “Wh… what about grandma? What does she think of all this?” I ask. Mum takes a couple


    minutes to answer.


    Bor


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    “She thinks that your Incubus did something to you and that Simon was trying to protect you. She


    doesn’t know I’m calling. I’ll try to talk to her about it though. I promise.” She


    assures me.


    “And you don’t think Harry is manipting me?” I ask. My mumughs..


    “Honey, you’re many things, but you’re no idiot. I raised you to be independent, and that’s what you


    are. I doubt any Incubus would be capable of manipting you without your knowledge. You are MY


    daughter and a very talented Witch. I’ve taught you better than to allow yourself to be controlled by


    some Incubus. I can’t say that I particrly approve of your choice, but I know that being with the


    Incubus is absolutely your choice.” She says firmly.


    2/4


    Cam 49- Distressed and determined


    That’s it, I’m done for. I burst into tears.


    “Honey? What’s wrong?” My mum asks, very rmed. She sounds exactly like she always has when


    I’ve been upset and I answer without thinking.


    “Harry and I had a fightst night and we broke up.” I admit. My mum immediately starts in


    on a rant.


    “I knew that boy was no good, too pretty he is. What happened? Did he cheat on you? He is an


    Incubus so I wouldn’t be surprised I bet he-” I cut her off.


    “Mum no! I’m the one who screwed up. He didn’t do anything wrong. It’s hard to exin but I messed


    up and it was entirely, one hundred percent my fault.” I say, leaving no room for


    argument.


    “Right… but you regret it. You want him back?” Mum asks Slow


    “Definitely.” I respond quickly with no hesitation.


    “Then you’ll go get him back. You know what you want so go figure out how to get it. I can’t say I


    understand or that I think this is a good idea, but as this whole debacle with Simon proved, I’m not as


    good a judge of character as I thought I was. Personally I worry that this is a mistake… But I know it’s


    your mistake to make and I will do what I should have done from


    the beginning and I’ll support you. I suppose I forgot for a while that as your mother my job is to teach


    you to run your life, not to try to run it for you. So go get your Incubus back and… Maybe we could talk


    again soon?” She asks warily..


    “You know everything isn’t all great between us, but I’m willing to work on it. Maybe you could call me


    tomorrow?” I offer. Mum jumps on the offer and we arrange a time to talk


    before my shift at work tomorrow. I’m cautiously excited. Mum’s eptance means a lot to me. I’d love


    it if she coulde and see my bar sometime. I don’t think I could ever be part of my family’s coven


    again. My trust is too broken for that. But I’m not ruling out having an actual rtionship with my mother


    at the very least.


    I make my call to Ryann and I’m both surprised and pleased when she answers right away. She offers


    to meet up in an hour and we agree to meet at my bar. It won’t be open for ages yet, but that just


    means we can have a little privacy. I frantically skull my coffee and shower


    +1


    Bo


    06


    3/4


    Cam 49- Distressed and determined.


    +1


    Во


    as fast as I can so I can get to the bar to meet them. After talking to my mum I’m feeling more


    determined than ever. I know I love Harry, he’s angry right now but I’m pretty sure he still loves me. I


    just have to figure out a way to earn his forgiveness and meeting Ryann is the first stage in that n.


    06


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