Chapter 8: The Test Result
Nobody moved.
For several seconds, the room felt frozen.
Emma stared at Jason.
Then at me.
Then back at Jason.
“What did you just say?””
Jason looked immediately regretful.
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
Emma stepped closer.
“Don’t say sorry.””
Her voice shook.
“Explain.””
I couldn’t breathe.
Not because of Jason’s words.
Because of the look on Emma’s face.
The same look she had on graduation day.
Lost.
Confused.
Like the ground beneath her had disappeared.
Jason picked up the medical record.
“This was from the hospital.””
Emma looked at it.
“What does it prove?””
Jason swallowed.
“It proves there was a mistake.””
I stared.
“What kind of mistake?””
Jason looked at me.
Then at Emma.
“A blood test.””
The room went silent.
“When Emma was born, there was a concern about a medical issue. They tested both parents.””
Emma looked at him.
“And?””
Jason’s voice became quiet.
“The results didn’t match.””
I felt my heart pounding.
Emma turned to me.
“Dad?””
I wanted to speak.
Nothing came out.
Because suddenly every memory felt different.
Every moment I had shared with her.
Every time she called me Dad.
Every time I told people she was my daughter.
I had never needed biology.
But now biology was being used like a weapon.
Jason continued.
“The hospital made an error.””
He pointed at the paper.
“They later corrected it.””
Emma grabbed the document.
“What does that mean?””
Jason looked at her.
“It means the first result was wrong.””
She stared.
“And the second one?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at Jason.
“You know.””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
Emma’s voice became smaller.
“Tell me.””
Jason closed his eyes.
“The second test confirmed your father.””
She looked at me.
My breath caught.
“Me?””
Jason nodded.
“You.””
The relief came so suddenly it almost hurt.
But Emma wasn’t relieved.
She was angry.
“Then why would you say something like that?””
Jason looked ashamed.
“Because your mother made me believe you deserved to know everything.””
Emma shook her head.
“No. You wanted to hurt her.””
Jason didn’t deny it.
And that honesty was painful.
I stepped toward Emma.
“Listen to me.””
She looked at me.
“You are my daughter.””
Her eyes filled.
“No matter what paperwork says.””
I touched my chest.
“You were my daughter before I ever knew your blood type.””
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Then why did everyone keep secrets?””
I had no answer.
Because everyone had failed her in different ways.
Sarah lied because she was afraid.
Jason disappeared because he was angry.
And I stayed quiet because I believed everything I was told.
Emma looked at Jason.
“I need to talk to Mom.””
We drove home in silence.
When we arrived, Sarah was waiting.
She looked terrified.
The second she saw Emma, she started crying.
“Emma.””
My daughter walked past her.
“No.””
Sarah stopped.
“I can explain.””
Emma turned around.
“Can you?””
Sarah froze.
“Because I’m tired of explanations.””
Her voice cracked.
“I’m tired of finding out my entire childhood was built on things people decided I couldn’t handle.””
Sarah looked at me.
Then back at Emma.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Emma shook her head.
“You keep saying that.””
She stepped closer.
“But you never protected me from the truth.””
Sarah cried silently.
Then Emma asked:
“Did you stop Jason from contacting me?””
Sarah closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“Did you take money from him?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
“Did you tell me he abandoned me?””
Another pause.
“Yes.””
Emma nodded slowly.
Like she was finally putting broken pieces together.
Then she asked the question nobody expected.
“Why did you hate him so much?””
Sarah looked at Jason’s old letters on the table.
And whispered:
“Because he knew.””
I frowned.
“Knew what?””
Sarah looked at me.
Her face turned pale.
“He knew the truth about Emma before anyone else.””
My stomach tightened.
“What truth?””
May you like
Sarah’s eyes filled with tears.
“The truth about the night she was born.””
