Chapter 5: The Girl Everyone Forgot
I read the message five times.
Every time, the words felt heavier.
*Ask Marcus why Lily was afraid of Tara.*
I looked at Marcus.
He was watching my face.
He knew.
“You know who sent that.””
His expression changed.
“Maya…”
“Who sent it?””
“I don’t know.””
“You do.””
He looked away.
That was enough.
I walked back into the house.
The birthday party continued around us.
People were eating cake.
People were laughing.
People were taking pictures.
Nobody knew that the entire foundation of my marriage had cracked open in the backyard.
Daniel saw my face and immediately stood.
“Maya?””
I shook my head.
“Not now.””
I went to the kitchen.
I needed space.
I needed air.
But Marcus followed.
“Maya, please.””
I turned.
“Did Lily hate Tara?””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I noticed.
“Why did you answer so fast?””
“Because she didn’t hate her.””
“But she was afraid.””
He closed his eyes.
“She was a child.””
“That’s not an answer.””
He leaned against the counter.
“Maya…”
“No.””
My voice broke.
“I have spent six years wondering why you kept pieces of yourself away from me.””
I pointed toward the living room.
“And tonight I find out everyone knew there was a missing piece except me.””
He looked devastated.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
He didn’t answer.
Then Tara walked in.
“You want the truth?””
I turned.
“Yes.””
She looked at Marcus.
He shook his head.
“Tara, don’t.””
She ignored him.
“Lily was afraid because she saw something.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
Tara looked at me.
“She saw Marcus and me arguing.””
“About what?””
“About the accident.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Tara’s voice became sharper.
“No. She deserves to know.””
I looked at Marcus.
“What happened?””
He was silent.
Then he whispered:
“Lily thought I was leaving her.””
The words broke him.
“She heard me telling Tara that I couldn’t handle everything anymore.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“I was exhausted.””
He looked ashamed.
“I was grieving. I was angry. I said things I didn’t mean.””
“And Lily heard?””
He nodded.
“She thought I didn’t want her.””
My heart hurt.
A child believing she wasn’t loved.
“Marcus…”
He wiped his face.
“The night before the accident, she asked me if I was going to disappear.””
I swallowed.
“What did you say?””
He looked at me.
“I told her no.””
A long silence.
“Then why did Tara say she was afraid?””
Marcus looked at his sister.
And Tara answered.
“Because Lily heard something else.””
“What?””
Tara’s eyes filled with tears.
“She heard me tell Marcus that maybe losing Lily was his punishment.””
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
“You said that?””
Tara looked down.
“I was angry.””
“You told a seven-year-old girl that?””
“I didn’t know she was listening.””
Marcus’s voice was broken.
“Tara…”
She covered her face.
“I was grieving too.””
“No,” I said.
Everyone looked at me.
“That’s not grief.””
Tara looked at me.
“That’s cruelty.””
For the first time all night, nobody defended her.
Then Marcus’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“Who is it?””
He didn’t answer.
I stepped closer.
“Marcus.””
He showed me the phone.
The caller name was visible.
*Lily’s mother.*
My heart stopped.
Because Lily’s mother had been gone from Marcus’s life for years.
She had moved away.
She never contacted him.
Never called.
Never sent a message.
Marcus answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
I couldn’t hear everything.
Only Marcus’s reaction.
His face turned pale.
Then he whispered:
“Wait…”
A pause.
Then:
“That’s impossible.””
He looked at me.
And the next words changed everything.
“Maya… she says Lily didn’t die the way we were told.””
The phone slipped slightly in his hand.
“She says Lily was alive after the accident…”
He stopped.
May you like
His eyes filled with fear.
“…and someone made sure nobody found her.””
