Chapter 5: The Woman Who Came Back
I didn't sleep.
I sat on the floor of my bedroom with old memories scattered around me.
Pictures.
Birthday cards.
A necklace my mother gave me when I was eight.
For years, I kept those things hidden because looking at them hurt.
I thought they were reminders of someone who abandoned me.
Now I wondered if they were proof that someone had taken her away.
At 7:12 the next morning, someone knocked on my door.
Not Dad.
Not Lily.
Nicole.
I froze.
"What do you want?""
She stood there wearing a calm expression that didn't match the chaos she had created.
"Can we talk?""
I almost laughed.
"After everything?""
She stepped inside anyway.
"I know you're angry.""
"Angry?""
I stood.
"You destroyed your daughter's tablet, blamed me, slapped me, and lied about my mother.""
Her face hardened.
"I never slapped you because I hated you.""
I stared at her.
"That's supposed to help?""
She sighed.
"You don't understand the situation.""
"No. I understand perfectly.""
She lowered her voice.
"Your father is making me the villain because he wants to feel innocent.""
That caught me off guard.
"What?""
Nicole walked closer.
"Ask him why he never fought harder for you.""
I said nothing.
Because that question hurt.
And she knew it.
"Your father wasn't a victim, Emma.""
"Leave.""
She looked at me.
"You want the truth?""
"I want you gone.""
But she didn't move.
"Your mother wasn't the only one who was hurt.""
I felt my anger rising.
"You don't get to pretend you're hurt.""
Her expression changed.
For a second, I saw something real.
Fear.
Then she covered it.
"I made mistakes.""
"No. You made choices.""
She looked toward the hallway.
"Your father will never tell you everything.""
"Because he doesn't know?""
"Because he does.""
My stomach twisted.
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I saw the location attached to the call.
A small town two hours away.
The same town where my mother had grown up.
I answered.
"Hello?""
Silence.
Then a woman's voice.
"Emma?""
My entire body froze.
Nobody had spoken that name like that in years.
Not with that softness.
Not with that love.
"Who is this?""
A shaky breath came through the phone.
"It's me.""
I couldn't breathe.
The room disappeared.
The past disappeared.
Everything disappeared.
"Who?""
The woman started crying.
"I'm sorry it took so long.""
My hand covered my mouth.
Because somewhere deep inside me, I already knew.
"Mom?""
The line went silent.
Then she whispered:
"I've been trying to find you for twelve years.""
My knees almost gave out.
Nicole's face changed.
She heard the word.
Mom.
And for the first time since I had known her, she looked truly terrified.
I walked away from her.
"Where are you?""
My mother's voice trembled.
"I can't explain everything over the phone.""
"Then explain it now.""
She was quiet.
Then she said something that made my heart stop.
"Emma, your father isn't the person you should be afraid of.""
I looked at Nicole.
She was watching me.
Waiting.
My mother continued.
"The person who destroyed our family is someone you still trust.""
The call ended.
And on my screen appeared one final message.
A photograph.
May you like
Of Nicole.
Standing beside my mother.
