Chapter 7: The Memory Everyone Tried to Bury
The message stayed on the screen.
*Ask Emma what happened eight years ago.*
I stared at the words until they blurred.
Eight years ago.
A time I had spent years trying not to think about.
A time my family almost never mentioned.
My father looked at me.
And I knew from his expression that he remembered.
Rachel remembered too.
Even Mia.
Everyone in that room suddenly looked like they were holding a piece of a story I had never been allowed to read.
“What happened eight years ago?”” my father asked quietly.
I looked at him.
The question hurt.
Because I thought he knew.
I thought everyone knew.
But the truth was…
I didn’t know either.
“I don’t understand.””
My father sat down slowly.
“Emma.””
His voice was different.
Not angry.
Not confused.
Afraid.
That scared me more.
“What are they talking about?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at Rachel.
She looked away.
I looked at Mia.
She looked like she wanted to disappear.
“Why is everyone acting like this?””
My voice rose.
“What happened?””
My father rubbed his forehead.
“There’s something you need to know.””
I laughed softly.
A painful sound.
“Apparently there are a lot of things I need to know.””
Nobody responded.
Because it was true.
For years, I thought my family was normal.
Not perfect.
But normal.
Now, in one morning, I discovered my stepsister had stolen from me, someone had manipulated her, my school records had been changed, and there was a secret from my childhood that everyone had hidden.
My father looked at me.
“Eight years ago, there was an accident.””
The word hit me.
Accident.
I hated that word.
Because accidents were supposed to be random.
But nothing about this felt random.
“What kind of accident?””
My father looked down.
“You were ten.””
I frowned.
“I remember being ten.””
“You remember some things.””
That sentence made my stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
Rachel quietly said:
“Emma…”
I turned toward her.
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“I’m done with people protecting me from the truth.””
Nobody spoke.
“I’m an adult.””
I looked at my father.
“If something happened, tell me.””
My father took a deep breath.
“Your mother died because of that accident.””
The room went silent.
Even though I knew my mother was gone.
Even though I had lived with that pain for years.
Hearing it again made my chest hurt.
“My mother’s death was an accident?””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
“What does that have to do with someone trying to ruin my graduation?””
He didn’t answer.
And that was when I knew.
It had everything to do with it.
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
“Tell me.””
My father stared at the floor.
“Your mother found something.””
“What?””
“Something about our business.””
I blinked.
“Our business?””
My father owned a successful company.
A company I knew he worked hard to build.
But I had never been involved in it.
“What kind of something?””
He hesitated.
“She found evidence that someone inside the company was stealing money.””
I felt confused.
“Okay.””
I waited.
“But what does that have to do with me?””
My father looked at me.
“Because she was planning to expose them.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?””
My father didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“Someone we knew?””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
My heart started beating faster.
“Who?””
Before he could respond, his phone rang.
Everyone jumped.
He looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
The same kind of number that had sent the messages.
My father answered immediately.
“Who is this?””
Nobody spoke.
Then a voice came through.
Distorted.
Changed.
But calm.
“You finally told her.””
My father stood.
“Who are you?””
The voice laughed softly.
“You still don’t recognize me?””
My father’s face changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
And fear.
“Where are you?””
The person ignored the question.
“You should have told Emma years ago.””
My hand covered my mouth.
My father knew this person.
“Who is this?”” I whispered.
The voice continued.
“Emma, your father spent eight years protecting you from the truth.””
I stepped closer to the phone.
“Who are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“I’m the reason your mother died.””
The room froze.
My father grabbed the phone.
“Don’t talk to her.””
The person laughed.
“You still think you can protect her?””
My father’s voice became dangerous.
“If you come near my daughter—”
“Your daughter?””
The voice interrupted.
“Which one?””
Everyone went silent.
The person continued.
“Because you’ve spent eight years pretending you only lost one daughter that day.””
I looked at Mia.
She looked terrified.
“What does that mean?”” I whispered.
The voice continued.
“You never asked Mia what she remembered.””
My father looked at her.
“Mia?””
She started crying.
“I…”
My heart pounded.
“Mia, what do you know?””
She shook her head.
“I didn’t want to.””
“Didn’t want to what?””
The phone remained silent.
Then the voice spoke again.
“Tell her, Mia.””
My stepsister looked like she couldn’t breathe.
“Tell her what happened in the car.””
My blood went cold.
The car.
I looked at my father.
“What car?””
Nobody answered.
“Mia.””
Her tears fell.
“I was there.””
My entire body froze.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“Eight years ago.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
I stepped back.
“You were there?””
Mia nodded slowly.
“I was in the car with your mom.””
The room felt like it was shrinking.
I looked at my father.
“Why didn’t I know this?””
He looked devastated.
“Because you were hurt.””
“No.””
My voice became louder.
“Why didn’t I know she was there?””
Nobody answered.
The phone crackled.
The stranger spoke.
“Because the truth would have destroyed your family.””
I stared at Mia.
“What happened?””
She covered her face.
“I remember the rain.””
Nobody moved.
“I remember your mom arguing with someone.””
My father closed his eyes.
“And then?””
Mia shook.
“And then the car crashed.””
My heart pounded.
“Who was she arguing with?””
Mia looked at the phone.
Then at my father.
Then whispered:
“I don’t know.””
The voice interrupted.
“Yes, you do.””
Mia looked terrified.
“You were ten too, Mia.””
“I was scared.””
“Tell her.””
Mia shook her head.
“No.””
The voice became colder.
“Tell Emma why her mother died.””
My father stepped forward.
“Enough.””
But the voice continued.
“Tell her who was standing outside the car before it crashed.””
Mia began crying.
And then she said something that changed everything.
Something that made my father sit down.
Something that made Rachel cover her mouth.
Something that made me realize my entire childhood memory was wrong.
“It was someone from our family.””
The room went silent.
My voice barely came out.
“Who?””
Mia looked at me.
And for the first time in eight years…
May you like
She told the truth.
“It was Rachel.””
