Chapter 6: The Memory Hidden Away
The drive home was silent.
Emily sat beside me, staring out the window at Manhattan’s glowing streets.
I wanted answers.
But I also felt afraid of them.
Because Daniel’s words had planted something inside my mind.
A doubt.
A memory trying to return.
“Emily.””
She looked at me.
“Yes?””
“Did I really hurt you?””
Her expression softened.
“No.””
“But Daniel said—”
“He lies.””
“Then why did he say I helped destroy your future?””
Emily looked away.
“Because he knows you’re the one person whose guilt he can use against you.””
I gripped the steering wheel.
“I don’t understand.””
She was quiet for a moment.
Then she said:
“Because you weren’t just a witness, Rachel.””
I looked at her.
“You were the person who found the evidence.””
My breath stopped.
“What evidence?””
Emily swallowed.
“The proof that Daniel stole my work.””
I shook my head.
“I don’t remember.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
Emily looked at me sadly.
“Because after you found it, Daniel convinced you it was your fault.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It will.””
She reached into her bag.
Then handed me an old notebook.
I recognized it immediately.
My handwriting.
“This is mine.””
“Yes.””
I opened it.
Inside were pages filled with notes from senior year.
Research.
Ideas.
Names.
Then I saw a sentence written near the back.
*Daniel copied Emily’s project. I need to tell someone.*
My fingers went cold.
“I wrote this?””
Emily nodded.
“You were going to expose him.””
I turned the page.
There was another sentence.
*Meeting Daniel tonight. I need answers.*
I looked at Emily.
“What happened?””
She took a deep breath.
“You met him.””
“And?””
“You never came to me afterward.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel told you that if you exposed him, everyone would think you were jealous.””
I shook my head.
“I wouldn’t believe that.””
Emily looked at me.
“You were eighteen.””
The words hurt.
Because they were true.
I was young.
I trusted people.
I wanted everyone to be good.
“What happened after?””
Emily’s voice became quiet.
“You lost the notebook.””
I looked down.
“But it’s here.””
“Yes.””
“Then how?””
She pointed at the cover.
“Look closer.””
I examined it.
There was a small tear near the binding.
Then I noticed something.
The notebook had been repaired.
Someone had ripped pages out.
“Someone removed evidence.””
Emily nodded.
“Daniel.””
I stared.
“Why keep it?””
“Because I knew one day you would remember.””
The room became quiet.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
But Emily looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
“Answer it.””
“Why?””
“Because I think it’s time you hear the truth from him.””
I answered.
“Hello?””
A familiar voice came through.
A voice I hadn’t heard in ten years.
“Rachel.””
My heart stopped.
“Daniel?””
There was silence.
Then he said:
“I know Emily showed you the notebook.””
I looked at Emily.
“How do you know?””
Daniel laughed softly.
“Because I was the one who sent it.””
The words made no sense.
“What?””
“Rachel, you’re finally asking questions.””
His voice lowered.
“But before Emily tells you her version…”
A pause.
Then:
“You should ask her why she never told you what happened to your father.””
I froze.
Emily’s face went pale.
The phone nearly slipped from my hand.
May you like
Because I had never told Daniel about my father.
Not once.
