Truth in the Kitchen

Aaron walked downstairs and into the kitchen out of habit. It was nearly ten o’clock on a Saturday morning. In year’s past, it would’ve been tradition for Aaron to make pancakes with Sarah when the kitchen staff had the day off. Only Regina and Jeremy were at the house today.
 
But these days, Aaron wasn’t eating — didn’t need to eat. And the staff knew it. Regina, in particular, had become increasingly curious with Aaron about it. The closest thing to a mother figure now, she confronted him that morning.
 
“Sweetie, I know you’re gonna come down here and pretend to love my cooking. But you barely touch it. Then you bring the food to your vault and work for hours on end without a wink of sleep. And I know what plates look like when you’ve been eating food on them…and these plates haven’t been eaten on. You aren’t eating my food anymore, Aaron. I don’t know what you’re doing with it, but you sure aren’t eating it.”
 
Aaron had somehow avoided this conversation for months. But Regina wasn’t going to let him avoid her this time.
 
“Gina, I love you. And I love your food. But my appetite just isn’t want it used to be…”
 
He paused for a moment, considering what he could possibly tell her. “Gina, I’m an outlaw hero with powers from an alien civilization…?”
 
“I’ve been working a lot in the vault lately…”, he started.
 
Regina interrupted, “I know…you never eat in the kitchen anymore like you used to.”
 
Aaron continued, “You’re right. I don’t. And it’s hard for me to explain.”
 
Regina looked at him with rolled eyes. “How can it be so hard to explain? Either you like my food or you don’t. And you’re starting to hurt my feelings.” She half-smiled.
 
Aaron swallowed his anxiety and began to speak more slowly, “Do you remember that night all those years ago when the XPlore Corp plane exploded during its mission?”
 
“Yes…” Regina answered calmly.
 
Aaron continued with stuttering words, “I was…onboard the…space plane when it…exploded.”
 
Regina smiled as Aaron spoke the words that felt like a weight lifting off his lungs.
 
“I was beginning to think you might never tell me yourself.”, she said.