Chapter 7: The Truth Nobody Wanted Me To Find
The next morning, I woke up feeling like my entire childhood belonged to someone else.
Every memory had a question attached.
Every photograph had a shadow.
The graduation gown still hung over my bedroom chair.
The torn card from my mother’s seat sat on my desk.
I couldn’t throw it away.
Not because it was paper.
Because it represented everything I lost.
My mother.
My trust.
My understanding of my own life.
At 9:13 a.m., my phone rang.
It was Thomas.
“Maya, can you meet me?””
“Why?””
“Because I found something.””
I almost laughed.
Everyone always found something.
Another secret.
Another explanation.
Another reason I should have known less.
“Is this about my mother?””
“Yes.””
I looked at the torn card.
“Then I’ll come.””
The coffee shop was quiet when I arrived.
Thomas already had documents spread across the table.
My mother sat beside him.
She looked exhausted.
She had barely slept.
Neither had I.
“I need answers,” I said.
Angela nodded.
“I know.””
Thomas pushed a folder toward me.
“These are hospital records.””
I opened it.
The first page showed my mother’s name.
The second showed a date.
Three years ago.
“What am I looking at?””
“Your mother was admitted after an incident.””
“What incident?””
Thomas looked at Angela.
She nodded.
“She was attacked.””
My fingers froze.
“What?””
My mother looked down.
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you afraid.””
“Who attacked you?””
Silence.
Then Thomas answered.
“The person who caused the custody situation.””
My heart started racing.
“You mean Dad?””
Angela immediately shook her head.
“No.””
I was confused.
“Then who?””
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone rang.
A blocked number.
Everyone looked at it.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a voice.
A voice I recognized.
“Don’t trust her.””
My blood turned cold.
“Who is this?””
The person hung up.
I stared at the phone.
Thomas frowned.
“Did you recognize the voice?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I did.
I had heard that voice every day for three years.
I looked at Angela.
“Was it Vanessa?””
My mother went still.
Before she could answer, the coffee shop door opened.
Vanessa walked in.
Perfect hair.
Perfect clothes.
Perfect mask.
But her eyes were different.
She looked desperate.
“Maya.””
I stood.
“What are you doing here?””
“I need to talk to you.””
“No.””
Her expression changed.
“Please.””
I almost didn’t recognize that word coming from her.
Please.
Vanessa had never begged.
She had demanded.
She sat across from me.
“I know you hate me.””
I said nothing.
“But you don’t know everything.””
I laughed quietly.
“That’s the problem. Nobody tells me anything.””
Her eyes filled slightly.
“I made mistakes.””
“You destroyed my mother’s letters.””
“I know.””
“You lied to me.””
“I know.””
“You took her place.””
She looked down.
“I know.””
For a second, I saw something human.
Then she reached into her bag.
She placed a flash drive on the table.
“What is that?””
“Proof.””
“Of what?””
“That your mother isn’t telling you everything.””
Angela immediately stood.
“Vanessa, don’t.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“You’re still protecting the truth?””
My mother’s face tightened.
“You don’t get to pretend you’re the victim.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Watch the video.””
I stared at the flash drive.
“What’s on it?””
She hesitated.
“The night your mother left.””
My heart stopped.
Everyone froze.
Vanessa stood.
“I’ll let you decide who betrayed you.””
Then she walked away.
I looked at the flash drive.
A tiny piece of plastic.
But it felt heavier than anything I had ever held.
Thomas spoke quietly.
“You don’t have to watch it.””
I looked at him.
“Yes.””
My mother reached for my hand.
“Maya.””
I looked at her.
“I need to know.””
That night, I plugged the flash drive into my laptop.
The screen went black.
Then a video appeared.
It showed my old house.
Three years earlier.
The camera angle was from inside the living room.
My father was there.
Vanessa was there.
Then my mother walked in.
And the first thing she said was:
“Where is Maya?””
I leaned closer.
Because I knew this moment.
The night I was told she abandoned me.
But the video showed something I never knew.
My father wasn’t alone.
And Vanessa wasn’t just watching.
She was holding a document.
A document with my name on it.
Then my father said:
“If she signs this, everything changes.””
My breath stopped.
My mother looked at the paper.
And whispered:
“What did you do?””
The video froze.
A message appeared.
*FILE CORRUPTED.*
I stared at the screen.
Only one sentence remained.
The last recorded audio.
May you like
Vanessa’s voice.
“I already handled Maya.””
