Chapter 6: The Letter She Threw Away
The number belonged to Mia.
I knew it before Dad even said her name.
Because there was only one person who would send a message like that.
Someone who wanted attention.
Someone who wanted control.
Someone who knew they had something we needed.
Dad looked at me.
“Do you want to answer?””
I stared at the phone.
A part of me wanted to ignore it.
A part of me wanted to let the police handle everything.
A part of me wanted to never hear Mia’s voice again.
But the letter was my mother’s.
I needed it back.
“Call her.””
Dad pressed the button.
Mia answered after three rings.
Nobody spoke at first.
Then she whispered.
“Did you find the notebook?””
Dad’s expression hardened.
“Yes.””
Silence.
“You know what you did.””
Mia started crying.
“I didn’t think it would go this far.””
I closed my eyes.
That sentence.
I didn’t think it would go this far.
People always said that after they had already caused damage.
After they had already made choices.
Dad’s voice was controlled.
“Where is the letter?””
“I have it.””
My heart dropped.
“Why?””
Mia started crying harder.
“Because I was mad.””
I stepped closer.
“You stole my mother’s letter because you were mad?””
She didn’t answer.
Dad put the phone on speaker.
“Mia.””
Her voice shook.
“I hated how everyone talked about Aaliyah like she was perfect.””
I looked down.
There it was again.
The same jealousy.
The same misunderstanding.
“She wasn’t perfect,” I said.
Mia went quiet.
“She was just trying.””
My voice cracked.
“Just like you.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mia whispered:
“I know.””
Those two words surprised me.
Because I expected excuses.
I expected blame.
I expected her to say Vanessa made her do it.
But she didn’t.
“I wanted something bad to happen,” Mia admitted.
Dad closed his eyes.
“I wanted people to stop acting like she was the only one who mattered.””
I swallowed.
“You could have told me you felt invisible.””
She cried.
“I didn’t know how.””
And for the first time, I heard something beneath Mia’s anger.
Pain.
Not an excuse.
Not a reason to forgive.
But pain.
The kind she had carried until it turned ugly.
“Where is the letter?”” Dad asked again.
Mia hesitated.
“I threw it away.””
My body went cold.
“You what?””
“But Vanessa found it.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She found it before the trash was taken.””
Dad’s face changed.
“She has it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Mia’s voice became quieter.
“Because she said it could be useful.””
Useful.
That word made my stomach turn.
My mother’s final gift to me.
Useful.
Dad ended the call.
For several minutes, neither of us moved.
Then he stood.
“We’re going to get that letter.””
We drove to the temporary apartment where Vanessa was staying.
I sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window.
I thought I would feel angry.
Instead, I felt tired.
Because anger burns.
And I had been burning for days.
When Vanessa opened the door, she looked surprised to see us.
Then she looked at me.
“You brought her?””
Dad stepped forward.
“We’re here for Aaliyah’s letter.””
Her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“You mean that old piece of paper?””
My jaw tightened.
“Don’t call it that.””
Vanessa sighed.
“You really don’t understand.””
“No,” Dad said.
“You don’t.””
She looked at him.
“You’re really ending everything over this?””
Dad’s face was calm.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I’m ending everything because I finally understand.””
For once, Vanessa had nothing to say.
She went into another room.
When she came back, she held a small envelope.
My mother’s handwriting.
My name.
I reached for it.
But Vanessa didn’t let go immediately.
“I didn’t destroy it.””
I stared at her.
“You almost did.””
Her eyes hardened.
“I was angry.””
“So was Mia.””
I pulled the letter from her hand.
“And she still admitted she was wrong.””
That silenced her.
I didn’t open the letter there.
Not in front of Vanessa.
Not in a place filled with bitterness.
I waited until I got home.
Until I was sitting beside Dad.
Until I was ready.
Then I opened it.
And as my mother’s words filled the room, I realized something.
They hadn’t saved me because they loved me.
May you like
My mother’s letter had survived because it was always meant to find me.
And no one—not Mia, not Vanessa, not anyone—could take away what was written for my heart.
