Chapter 6: The Woman From The Photograph
Dad wouldn’t let me hold the photograph for long.
The second he saw my fingers touch the back, he took it away.
That made me even more curious.
“Why are you hiding things from me?””
His face fell.
“I’m trying to protect you.””
“Everyone says that.””
I pushed my chair back.
“Melissa said it. You said it. Mom said it in the letter.””
Dad looked surprised.
“Your mother said that?””
I nodded.
“She said people would tell me different stories.””
He sat down slowly.
“She was right.””
I stared at him.
“Then tell me yours.””
For a long time, Dad said nothing.
Finally, he began.
“Before I met Melissa, your mother and I were happy.””
I listened.
“She was kind. She was stubborn. She always believed people deserved second chances.””
He smiled sadly.
“That was her biggest weakness.””
“What happened?””
Dad looked at the photograph.
“Sarah was your mother’s best friend.””
I looked at the woman beside my mother.
“She knew her?””
“Yes.””
“And Melissa?””
He nodded.
“They knew each other too.””
“From where?””
Dad hesitated.
“From the hospital.””
I frowned.
“The hospital where I was born?””
“Yes.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What happened there?””
Dad rubbed his face.
“That night, there was an emergency.””
“What kind?””
He looked at me.
“Your mother had complications after you were born.””
I held my breath.
“She was very sick.””
My voice became smaller.
“Did she die because of me?””
Dad immediately shook his head.
“No.””
The answer was fierce.
“Never think that.””
I looked down.
“Then what happened?””
Dad continued.
“She survived. But while she was recovering, someone made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
He looked away.
“Someone told your mother something that wasn’t true.””
“What?””
“That I was planning to take you away from her.””
I remembered Melissa’s words.
You took him away from her.
My stomach twisted.
“Was that true?””
“No.””
Dad’s answer was immediate.
“I wanted your mother to be with you.””
“Then who told her?””
He didn’t answer.
But I already knew.
Melissa.
“Was it her?””
Dad stayed silent.
And silence was enough.
I stood up.
“Why?””
“I don’t know.””
“But she hated my mom.””
“No.””
Dad looked at me.
“She was jealous.””
The word surprised me.
“Of my mom?””
“Yes.””
I thought about all the years Melissa had watched me.
The cold meals.
The angry comments.
The way she looked at me whenever Dad hugged me.
“She blamed me.””
Dad’s eyes filled with sadness.
“She blamed herself.””
“What does that mean?””
Before he could answer, the doorbell rang.
Both of us turned.
Nobody was expected.
Dad walked toward the door.
When he opened it, a woman stood outside.
She looked older than the picture.
But I recognized her immediately.
Sarah.
The woman from the photograph.
She looked past Dad.
Then her eyes landed on me.
For a moment, she looked like she was seeing a ghost.
“Ethan?””
I stepped forward.
“How do you know my name?””
Sarah’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because I knew you before anyone else did.””
Dad stepped between us.
“Sarah, not here.””
She shook her head.
“No. He deserves to know.””
My heart started racing.
“Know what?””
Sarah looked at Dad.
Then back at me.
Her voice dropped.
“The night your mother left…”
She paused.
And whispered:
“She didn’t leave alone.””
I felt the room spin.
“What does that mean?””
Sarah reached into her bag.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“I kept this because I promised your mother I would give it to you when you were old enough.””
Dad’s face turned pale.
“What is that?””
Sarah looked at him.
“Proof.””
She handed it to me.
May you like
And on the front, written in the same handwriting as my mother’s letter, were four words:
The truth about Melissa.
