Chapter 2: The Photograph
Nobody moved.
The torn page lay between them on the backstage floor.
Nia kept staring at the exposed document.
The photograph was small, but she could see enough.
Angela was in it.
Vanessa was in it.
And standing between them was a little girl.
Nia.
Her breath caught.
“That’s me.””
Angela closed her eyes for a second.
“Yes.””
Vanessa immediately stepped in front of the page.
“You don’t know what you’re looking at.””
Nia looked at her.
“Then move.””
Vanessa didn’t.
“Vanessa,” Angela said sharply, “move away from my daughter.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You walked out.””
The words hit harder than Nia expected.
Angela’s face tightened.
“I left because you made sure I had no choice.””
Nia looked between them.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa pointed toward Angela.
“She disappeared.””
Angela’s voice cracked.
“I was told my daughter had been placed somewhere safe.””
Nia’s brow furrowed.
“What?””
Angela took another step forward.
“I was told you were taken away because I couldn’t provide what the court required.””
Vanessa laughed once.
It wasn't warm.
“You expect her to believe that?””
Angela looked at Nia.
“I expect her to read the papers.””
Vanessa grabbed the folder tighter.
“You have no right.””
“I have every right.””
“You signed away your claim.””
“I signed nothing.””
Nia’s breathing quickened.
“Stop.””
Neither woman heard her.
Angela pointed at the folder.
“That document has the original filing.””
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t even know what’s in there.””
“I know exactly what’s in there.””
“You’ve been gone for years.””
“I've been looking for her.””
Nia stepped between them.
“Mom.””
Angela stopped.
Nia’s eyes were wet.
“Look at me.””
Angela did.
Nia shook her head slowly.
“You knew where I was?””
Angela’s lips parted.
“No.””
“Then how did you find me?””
Angela glanced at Vanessa.
“Someone finally told me the name I should have been given years ago.””
Vanessa went completely still.
Nia noticed.
“What name?””
No answer.
The announcer outside called another graduate.
The applause that followed sounded distant and wrong.
Nia looked down at the photograph again.
The little girl in the picture was smiling.
She was holding something.
A stuffed rabbit.
Nia stared at it.
“I had that.””
Angela nodded.
“You did.””
“How do you remember?””
“Because I bought it for you.””
Vanessa suddenly ripped another sheet from the folder.
Angela grabbed her wrist.
“Enough!””
Vanessa jerked free.
“You are not destroying this family.””
Angela stared at her.
“You already did.””
Nia’s voice broke.
“Both of you, stop!””
They did.
Nia bent down and picked up the remaining pages.
Her fingers trembled.
There were official stamps.
Signatures.
Dates.
One photograph.
And a line of text partly hidden beneath Vanessa’s hand.
Nia pulled the paper toward herself.
Vanessa reached for it.
“No.””
Nia stepped back.
“Why are you scared of me reading it?””
“I’m not.””
“You are.””
Vanessa’s eyes flicked toward the backstage door.
Angela noticed.
“Who are you waiting for?””
Vanessa said nothing.
A knock came from the other side.
Everyone froze.
A man’s voice called through the door.
“Vanessa? They’re looking for Nia.””
Vanessa’s face changed again.
Nia stared at the door.
“Who is that?””
Angela moved closer to her.
“Stay behind me.””
Another knock.
Harder this time.
“Nia?””
Nia recognized the voice.
Her eyes widened.
“That's my brother.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Angela whispered, “No.””
May you like
The door handle began to turn.
And the folder slipped from Nia’s trembling hands.
