Chapter 9: The Person Who Helped Her
The words followed me all night.
*I wasn’t the first person who changed Zoria’s records.*
At first, I wanted to believe Vanessa was lying.
A distraction.
Another attempt to avoid responsibility.
But the fear on her face was different.
She wasn’t manipulating the situation.
She was afraid.
The next morning, Zoria and I met with her former school counselor, Mrs. Ellis.
She was sitting in her office surrounded by college banners and old yearbooks.
When she saw Zoria, her expression softened.
“I’m sorry.””
Zoria sat down.
“For what?””
Mrs. Ellis looked down.
“For not pushing harder.””
My stomach tightened.
“What happened?””
She opened a folder.
Inside were copies of documents.
Emails.
Counseling notes.
“During senior year, I noticed changes in Zoria’s college preparation.””
Zoria frowned.
“What changes?””
“You stopped attending scholarship workshops.””
“I didn’t stop.””
Mrs. Ellis looked at me.
“That’s what confused me.””
She handed over a paper.
“According to the system, Zoria withdrew.””
Zoria stared at it.
“I never withdrew.””
“I know.””
Mrs. Ellis sighed.
“Because I remember you coming to my office crying.””
Zoria went still.
“I did?””
“Yes.””
Mrs. Ellis looked at her sadly.
“You told me your mother said college was causing too much stress.””
Zoria covered her mouth.
“I thought that was just…”
She couldn’t finish.
A memory.
Something she had buried.
Mrs. Ellis continued.
“I tried contacting your father.””
I looked up.
“You did?””
She nodded.
“I sent messages.””
My heart sank.
“I never received them.””
Mrs. Ellis opened another file.
The emails showed as sent.
But the recipient address was wrong.
One letter was changed.
One tiny mistake.
Except it wasn’t a mistake.
Someone had redirected them.
Someone had made sure I never saw them.
I felt sick.
“Who had access to her school information?””
Mrs. Ellis looked uncomfortable.
“Only authorized family contacts.””
I already knew the answer.
Vanessa.
But then Mrs. Ellis said something unexpected.
“There was another person.””
The room became quiet.
“Who?””
She hesitated.
“A family member.””
Zoria looked confused.
“Who?””
Mrs. Ellis slid a document across the desk.
The name at the top made Zoria’s face change.
And when I saw it, I understood why Vanessa had been so desperate to control the story.
Because the person listed as helping change Zoria’s records…
was not Vanessa.
It was someone we had never suspected.
Someone who had been standing beside Zoria at the graduation party.
Someone who had been crying when the truth came out.
Kendra.
I looked at my daughter.
She looked like the world had betrayed her all over again.
May you like
And then Mrs. Ellis whispered:
“Before you judge her, you need to hear why she did it.””
