Chapter 4: The Message
I couldn’t breathe.
I looked at the phone.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at the phone.
“What is this?””
Marcus reached for it.
I pulled it away.
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You don’t get to take this away.””
“Maya, please.””
“Explain.””
He looked broken.
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
Tara stepped forward.
“Maya, you’re misunderstanding.””
I turned toward her.
“Am I?””
She looked nervous for the first time.
“You don’t know the full story.””
“Then give me the full story.””
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Marcus said:
“My daughter’s name was Lily.””
I looked at the picture again.
“She was beautiful.””
He nodded.
“She was.””
His voice cracked.
“She loved painting. She hated wearing shoes. She used to hide my keys because she thought it was funny.””
A tear rolled down his face.
I had never seen him cry like that.
Not once.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He nodded.
“But why was Tara in that picture?””
Marcus looked at his sister.
Tara looked away.
“Maya…”
“No.””
I stepped back.
“I want the truth.””
Marcus took a breath.
“Tara helped me after Lily died.””
“That doesn’t explain the message.””
He looked down.
“She knew something.””
“What?””
His silence answered before his words did.
“She knew the accident wasn’t exactly what everyone thought.””
The patio suddenly felt freezing.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at me.
“It means there were things about that night that I never told anyone.””
“Not even me?””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“Why?””
“Because I was ashamed.””
I waited.
He continued.
“Lily’s mother and I had been fighting for months. After the divorce, everything became complicated. She wanted full custody. I wanted Lily with me.””
“And?””
“And that night, I was supposed to pick Lily up.””
He stopped.
I whispered:
“But?””
“But I didn’t.””
The pain in his voice was unbearable.
“Why?””
“Because I was angry.””
The words sat between us.
“I ignored her calls.””
My eyes widened.
“Marcus…”
“I thought I had time.””
Nobody moved.
“And then I got the call.””
I covered my mouth.
The tragedy suddenly became real.
Not just a secret.
Not just a missing chapter.
A wound.
But then I looked at the phone again.
The message.
*She can never know what really happened.*
I pointed at it.
“What did Tara mean?””
Marcus looked at his sister.
“Tara found out that Lily’s mother blamed me.””
“And did you?””
He hesitated.
“I blamed myself.””
“That’s not what I asked.””
He looked away.
Tara finally spoke.
“Because if Maya knew the whole truth, she would leave.””
I turned.
“What truth?””
Tara’s face hardened.
“Marcus wasn’t the only one responsible.””
The air changed.
Marcus stood.
“Tara, stop.””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“You deserve to know.””
My heart raced.
“What are you talking about?””
Tara took a breath.
“The night Lily died…”
She stopped.
Then looked directly into my eyes.
“She was calling someone else.””
I felt cold.
“Who?””
Tara’s eyes moved toward Marcus.
And Marcus whispered:
“Maya…”
But Tara said the name first.
“Me.””
I stared at her.
“You?””
She nodded.
“She called me before the accident.””
I looked at Marcus.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
His face went pale.
“Because I promised I wouldn’t.””
“A promise?””
Tara smiled sadly.
“A promise made to protect the family.””
I stepped back.
And suddenly I understood why they wanted me upstairs.
Not because I would ruin the party.
Because I might uncover the truth.
Then my phone buzzed.
A new message appeared.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
May you like
There was only one sentence.
*Ask Marcus why Lily was afraid of Tara.*
