Chapter 5: The Message Her Mother Left Behind
Maya snatched the photograph from the table.
“Where did you get this?””
Daniel held up both hands.
“Your mother gave it to me.””
“When?””
“Three months ago.””
Maya looked at the picture again.
Her mother stood in front of the abandoned house wearing a cream-colored coat and the silver necklace she had worn for as long as Maya could remember. Her smile was small, almost forced.
On the back, the date was written in blue ink.
Beneath it was the warning.
“If Maya hears my voice, it's too late.””
Maya felt tears prick her eyes.
“This is ridiculous.””
Daniel didn't argue.
“My mother is alive,” she said.
“I spoke to her this morning.””
Eli looked at her with an expression that made her want to scream.
“Then ask her something only she would know.””
Maya frowned.
“What?””
“Something private. Something that nobody else could guess.””
She immediately thought of her fifth birthday.
Her mother had always told the story of the star-shaped balloon that escaped from her hand and floated into a tree. Maya had cried until her mother promised to buy another one.
But that story was not private. Her father had been there, too.
She needed something else.
Maya opened her messages and typed quickly.
Mom, what did you put inside my lunch today?
She stared at the screen.
A moment later, three dots appeared.
Then a message arrived.
Chicken and rice, sweetheart. Don't forget your apples.
Maya's breath caught.
That was exactly what was in the container.
“See?”” she whispered.
“She knows.””
Daniel studied the message.
“Did she usually text you while you were at school?””
“Sometimes.””
“Did she usually call you sweetheart?””
“Of course!””
Maya turned away from him.
She could feel the walls closing in. Every answer seemed to create another question, and every person in the room seemed to know something she didn't.
She needed to go home.
She needed to see her mother.
“I want to leave,” she announced.
Daniel nodded.
“I'll take you.””
“No.””
“Maya—”
“I don't know you.””
She picked up her backpack and headed for the door.
Eli followed her.
“Maya, wait.””
She stopped on the porch without turning around.
“What now?””
Eli's voice softened.
“I know you're scared.””
“You don't know anything about me.””
He lowered his eyes.
“You're right.””
For a moment, the only sound was the distant traffic.
Then Eli reached into the pocket of his worn trousers and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper.
“I was supposed to give you this if you ever came back.””
Maya turned.
“Back?””
Eli looked as if he regretted the word.
He held out the paper.
“Your mother left it with me.””
Maya took it cautiously.
The paper was creased and yellowed, its edges softened from being handled too many times. Her mother's handwriting covered the front.
Maya, if you're reading this, please listen carefully.
Maya's fingers trembled.
She unfolded the note.
There are things I should have told you when you were younger. I thought keeping you away from this place would protect you. I thought if you grew up somewhere safe, you would never have to carry the burdens I carried.
Maya swallowed.
I was wrong about some things. But I was never wrong about loving you.
A tear fell onto the paper.
She wiped it away.
Trust the boy who shares his food. He has already given up more than I ever asked him to give.
Maya looked up at Eli.
He stood with his hands clasped in front of him, refusing to meet her eyes.
She returned to the letter.
If you find the photograph, you will know that I kept my promise.
The message ended there.
No signature.
No explanation.
Maya stared at the empty space beneath the final sentence.
“That's it?””
Eli nodded.
“That's all she gave me.””
“Why didn't you give it to me before?””
“Because she said not to.””
“Even when you knew I was looking for answers?””
Eli's voice cracked.
“I didn't know you were looking for answers. I didn't even know if you'd ever come.””
Maya looked back at the letter.
“Did my mother know Nia and Jordan?””
Eli glanced toward the house.
“Yes.””
“How?””
He hesitated.
“That's something she wanted to explain herself.””
“She's not here!””
The words came out louder than Maya intended.
Nia appeared in the doorway, holding Jordan's hand.
“Please don't be mad at Eli,” she whispered.
Maya immediately regretted shouting.
“I'm not mad at him.””
Nia looked down.
“Everybody says that before they leave.””
Maya's anger dissolved.
She crouched to meet the girl's eyes.
“I'm not going to leave because of you.””
Nia searched her face.
“Promise?””
Maya hesitated.
She had made promises before without understanding what they meant.
But this time, she knew exactly what the girl was asking.
“I promise I'll try to help.””
Nia nodded slowly.
Jordan stepped forward.
“Can you bring us more chicken tomorrow?””
Eli gave him a gentle nudge.
“Jordan.””
“What? She has a whole school cafeteria.””
Despite everything, Maya let out a small laugh.
“I'll bring more than chicken.””
Jordan's face brightened.
“Cookies?””
“Cookies, too.””
“Chocolate ones?””
“If I can.””
Eli watched her with an expression Maya couldn't quite understand.
“You don't have to do that,” he said.
“I know.””
“I'm serious.””
“So am I.””
Maya stood and looked at Daniel.
“I want to know everything you know about my mother.””
Daniel nodded.
“Then there's somewhere we need to go.””
“Where?””
He pointed toward the back of the house.
“Your mother kept something there.””
Eli immediately stepped in front of him.
“No.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Eli, we can't keep hiding it.””
“You promised!””
“I promised your mother I would protect the children. I didn't promise to keep Maya in the dark forever.””
Eli looked at Maya.
“Don't let him take you back there.””
Maya glanced between them.
“What is back there?””
Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out a small brass key.
“The room your mother locked before she disappeared.””
Maya stared at the key.
“Why didn't you open it?””
“Because the key wasn't mine to use.””
He held it out.
Maya accepted it.
The metal was warm from his hand.
She followed Daniel around the side of the house, past a broken fence and a patch of overgrown weeds. A narrow wooden door stood beneath the sagging back porch.
Its paint had peeled away, revealing gray wood beneath.
A heavy padlock hung from the latch.
Maya looked at the key in her palm.
“What's inside?””
Daniel's voice was barely audible.
“Everything she was afraid to tell you.””
Maya inserted the key.
It turned with a dry click.
The padlock fell open.
Behind her, Eli called out.
“Maya, wait!””
But she had already pulled the door toward her.
Inside was a small storage room filled with cardboard boxes, old clothes, and a wooden chair.
On the chair sat a red backpack.
Maya recognized it instantly.
It was the backpack she had worn when she was five years old.
The one her mother had told her was lost during their move.
Pinned to its front pocket was a folded document bearing Maya's full name.
May you like
And beneath her name were two words that made her knees weaken.
*BIRTH RECORD.*
