Chapter 5: The Person Behind The Door
By the time we reached my mother’s house, the front door was open.
Not unlocked.
Open.
I knew immediately something was wrong.
My mother would never leave the door like that.
Never.
I stepped out of the car.
Ryan grabbed my arm.
“Wait.””
I pulled away.
“My mother is inside.””
“I know.””
“Then move.””
We rushed toward the house.
The living room looked untouched.
The same couch.
The same pictures.
The same flowers on the table.
But the feeling was different.
Someone had been there.
Someone had searched.
The drawers were open.
Papers were scattered across the floor.
My father’s office door was wide open.
“Mom?”” I called.
No answer.
My heart started racing.
“Mom!””
A sound came from upstairs.
A small movement.
Then silence.
Ryan looked at me.
“Stay behind me.””
I almost laughed.
“Since when do you give me orders?””
“Since I realized I might not be able to protect you.””
That sentence stopped me.
We moved upstairs.
Slowly.
Every step creaked beneath our feet.
My old bedroom door was closed.
My mother’s room was open.
Then we heard it.
A voice.
Quiet.
Calm.
“You really should have listened to your father.””
I froze.
Ryan froze.
The voice came from my father’s office.
A voice I knew.
A voice that belonged here.
Ryan whispered:
“No.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
The office door moved.
A person stepped out.
And my entire body went cold.
“Hello, Jessica.””
I couldn’t speak.
Because standing in front of me was the last person I expected.
Someone who had hugged me when I arrived.
Someone who had cried with me.
Someone who had spent years telling me they loved me.
My mother.
But something was different.
The sadness was gone.
The fear was gone.
She looked calm.
Almost relieved.
“Mom?””
She looked at Ryan.
Then at me.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t find that drawer.””
My mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Ryan stepped forward.
“You knew.””
My mother’s eyes hardened.
“Yes.””
The word landed like a slap.
“You knew everything?””
She sighed.
“Not everything.””
“Then explain.””
She looked at the papers scattered behind her.
“Your father was paranoid.””
Ryan shook his head.
“No. He was careful.””
She ignored him.
“After he died, I had to make choices.””
I stared at her.
“What choices?””
She walked closer.
“Choices to survive.””
I felt something break inside me.
“By using my name?””
Her expression changed slightly.
“I never wanted you involved.””
“You signed documents with my father’s signature.””
“I didn’t.””
“Then who did?””
Silence.
That was the answer.
I stepped back.
“You know.””
My mother looked away.
Ryan whispered:
“Tell her.””
She looked at him.
“You don’t get to act innocent.””
The room went silent.
I looked between them.
“What does that mean?””
My mother laughed softly.
A sound I had never heard from her before.
“You really don’t know.””
My stomach tightened.
“Know what?””
She walked to the desk.
Picked up one of the documents.
And placed it in front of me.
“Your father didn’t leave you everything because he trusted you.””
I stared at her.
“He left it because he was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
She looked directly into my eyes.
“Afraid that when you came home…”
She paused.
“…you would choose the wrong person.””
I looked at Ryan.
Then back at my mother.
My entire life had become a question.
“Mom…”
Her voice softened.
“I’m sorry.””
“For what?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she walked to the desk drawer.
Pulled out a small envelope.
And placed it in my hand.
“This was never meant for you to find.””
I looked at the envelope.
My name was written on it.
But this time, the handwriting wasn’t my father’s.
It was my mother’s.
May you like
And underneath my name were four words.
*Open only after Ryan leaves.*
