Chapter 1: The Girl by the Table
“Stay away from my table!””
The glass struck Maya before she could even understand the words.
Cold water exploded across her face and soaked the front of her faded dress. She stumbled backward, one small hand catching the edge of a marble tablecloth before she fell.
For one terrible second, the entire ballroom went silent.
Then came the whispers.
Maya blinked through the water dripping from her eyelashes. Her stomach cramped with hunger. She had been staring at the untouched plates for almost ten minutes—tiny sandwiches, glazed chicken, strawberries arranged like jewels. She had only wanted one.
Evelyn stood over her in an emerald gown, diamonds glittering against her throat.
Her expression wasn't embarrassed.
It was furious.
“You heard me,” Evelyn said.
Maya swallowed.
“I—I wasn't taking anything.””
“You were reaching across my table.””
“I was hungry.””
A woman nearby covered her mouth.
Someone laughed nervously.
Maya looked down at her soaked dress. A dark stain spread across the fabric. Her braids hung against her cheeks, dripping onto the marble.
Evelyn lifted her chin.
“This is a private gala, not a shelter.””
Maya's lower lip trembled.
“I came with my mom.””
“Then go find her.””
Evelyn turned away as if the matter were finished.
Maya wiped her eyes with both hands.
She wanted to disappear.
The ballroom seemed impossibly large now. Crystal chandeliers hung above her like frozen waterfalls. Men in tuxedos and women in expensive gowns stood around champagne tables, watching her as though she were an accident nobody knew how to clean up.
Maya bent down to pick up the napkin she had dropped.
Something slipped from beneath her dress.
A thin silver chain swung forward.
At the end of it was a small oval locket.
It struck the marble with a faint metallic click.
Maya froze.
She quickly grabbed it.
But Evelyn had already heard the sound.
She stopped.
Her shoulders stiffened.
Maya tried to tuck the locket back under her dress.
“Wait.””
Evelyn's voice had changed.
Maya looked up.
Evelyn stared at the silver locket.
“Where did you get that?””
Maya tightened her fingers around it.
“My mom gave it to me.””
Evelyn took one slow step forward.
“Let me see it.””
Maya backed away.
“No.””
The word came out barely louder than a breath.
Evelyn's face hardened.
“I said, let me see it.””
Maya shook her head.
“My mom said never to take it off.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
Evelyn looked at the chain again.
Something in her expression had disappeared.
The arrogance.
The anger.
Now there was fear.
She reached toward the locket.
Maya flinched.
Evelyn stopped.
“Please,” she whispered.
The word sounded so strange coming from her that several guests exchanged glances.
Maya slowly opened her hand.
The locket rested in her palm.
It was old. Tarnished around the edges. One side carried a tiny engraved flower.
Evelyn stared at it.
“No…”
Maya frowned.
“What?””
Evelyn's fingers began to tremble.
“That isn't possible.””
She reached out again, more gently this time.
Maya let her take it.
Evelyn opened the locket.
Inside was a photograph.
A much younger Evelyn smiled from the faded picture, her hair pulled back, her face softer than it was now.
In her arms was a newborn baby.
Evelyn stopped breathing.
The ballroom disappeared around her.
Her thumb moved across the photograph.
“No,” she whispered again.
Maya watched her.
“That's my mom's.””
Evelyn looked at the little girl.
“Where did she get this?””
Maya shrugged.
“She always had it.””
Evelyn's eyes remained fixed on the photograph.
Then Maya turned her head to wipe water from behind her ear.
A crescent-shaped birthmark appeared against her dark skin.
Evelyn's fingers went completely still.
Her eyes widened.
“That mark…”
Maya touched behind her ear.
“What mark?””
Evelyn stared at her as though she were looking at a ghost.
“Who is your mother?””
Maya hesitated.
Then she looked toward the ballroom entrance.
Her small finger lifted.
Evelyn followed it.
And stopped.
A woman stood frozen beneath the golden archway.
Sarah.
Early forties.
A modest dark coat.
Tired eyes.
Tears already gathering in them.
For several seconds, neither woman moved.
Evelyn's face slowly drained of color.
Her lips parted.
“You…”
Sarah gripped the edge of her coat.
Evelyn took a step backward.
“No.””
Sarah said nothing.
Evelyn stared harder.
“You were there.””
Sarah's chin trembled.
“I remember you.””
“You were there that night,” Evelyn said.
Maya looked between them.
“Mom?””
Evelyn's voice broke.
“The night they told me my baby died.””
Sarah closed her eyes.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Then her hand disappeared inside her coat.
She pulled out a folded, yellowed document.
Evelyn stared at it.
And whatever she saw on Sarah's face made her whisper one word.
“Impossible.””
May you like
Sarah unfolded the paper.
And began to raise it.
