Chapter 8: The Call I Waited Eleven Years For
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
I had imagined this moment thousands of times.
In my dreams.
In my worst nights.
In every birthday when I wondered if she remembered me.
But I never imagined feeling this much anger along with relief.
“Where are you?”” I whispered.
The line was quiet.
“Daniel…”
“Where are you?””
My voice cracked.
“I need to see you.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
I wiped my eyes.
“You don’t know what it was like.””
A painful silence.
Then my mother said:
“I know because I lived every day knowing you thought I abandoned you.””
That broke something inside me.
I sat down.
Vanessa looked away.
Richard quietly left the room.
Giving me privacy.
“I hated you,” I admitted.
My mother started crying.
“I know.””
“I thought you didn’t love me.””
“I loved you more than anything.””
“Then why?””
The question came out as a whisper.
“Why did you leave me?””
Her answer took a long time.
“Because if I stayed, you would have disappeared too.””
I closed my eyes.
“What does that mean?””
“Your father wasn’t the only person involved.””
I looked at the documents.
“I know.””
“No, Daniel.””
Her voice became urgent.
“You don’t know how far it went.””
I stood up.
“Then tell me.””
A pause.
“Your father was being controlled.””
I frowned.
“Controlled by who?””
“By someone who had power over him.””
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
“Mom.””
“I can’t say his name over the phone.””
My stomach dropped.
“Why?””
“Because if they know we’re talking…”
The line went silent.
“Mom?””
Then I heard something.
A door opening.
My mother whispered:
“Someone found me.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
“Daniel, listen carefully.””
Her voice became rushed.
“Do not trust Marcus.””
“I already don’t.””
“And don’t trust Vanessa completely either.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“What does that mean?””
“She helped me.””
A pause.
“But she also made a choice.””
My chest tightened.
“What choice?””
Before my mother could answer, another voice came through the phone.
A man.
“Who are you talking to?””
My mother gasped.
The call ended.
“Mom?””
Nothing.
I called back.
No answer.
I called again.
Straight to voicemail.
“Damn it!””
I threw the phone onto the table.
Vanessa approached slowly.
“She’s alive.””
I looked at her.
“You knew.””
Her face fell.
“What?””
“You knew she was alive.””
“No.””
“You knew more than you told me.””
She looked hurt.
“I didn’t know where she was.””
“But you knew she was alive.””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I stepped away.
“How long?””
She swallowed.
“Eleven years.””
The words hit harder than anything.
“You knew for eleven years?””
“I found out after the accident.””
“And you let me suffer?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“She made me promise.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“She was afraid.””
“She was my mother.””
“I know.””
“No, Vanessa. You don’t.””
I pointed at my chest.
“You got to know she loved me. You got to know she wanted to come home.””
My voice broke.
“I only got to know she left.””
Vanessa cried silently.
Then Richard returned.
His expression was serious.
“What happened?””
I looked at him.
“My mother called.””
Everyone froze.
Richard stepped forward.
“She called you?””
“Yes.””
“What did she say?””
“She said someone found her.””
Richard’s face changed.
Then he grabbed the folder.
“Where is the phone?””
“Why?””
“Because if she was tracked, they may know where you are too.””
Before I could respond, headlights appeared outside the window.
A black SUV stopped in front of the house.
The three of us went silent.
Richard whispered:
“They’re here.””
The front door handle moved.
Someone outside tried to open it.
Then a voice called through the door.
“Daniel.””
I froze.
May you like
Because I knew that voice.
My father.
