Chapter 10: The Woman From My Past
The photograph felt heavier than it should have.
It was just a piece of paper.
A frozen moment.
A smile captured years ago.
But in Malik’s hands, it felt like a weapon.
The woman standing beside me in the picture had been someone I once trusted completely.
Someone who knew my secrets.
Someone who knew the parts of my life I tried hardest to forget.
My silence answered before I could.
Malik looked at me.
“You know her.””
I swallowed.
“Yes.””
His eyes searched mine.
“Who is she?””
The entire church waited.
Even Vanessa.
Especially Vanessa.
Because she believed she had finally found the thing that would break me.
My father looked at me.
His expression wasn’t angry.
It was worried.
Because he knew.
He knew exactly who that woman was.
“Ariana,” he said quietly.
I closed my eyes.
There was no more hiding.
Not after today.
“Her name is Celeste.””
Malik looked at the photograph again.
“What was she to you?””
The question was simple.
The answer wasn’t.
“She was my best friend.””
Vanessa smiled.
A small, satisfied smile.
“And now we’re getting somewhere.””
I looked at her.
“What are you implying?””
“That you know exactly what I’m implying.””
My father stepped forward.
“Don’t twist this.””
Vanessa ignored him.
“You never told Malik about Celeste.””
I looked at Malik.
He looked hurt.
But not because of Celeste.
Because once again, there was something I had kept from him.
“I didn’t tell you because she was part of a painful time in my life.””
Malik’s voice was soft.
“But you told me everything was okay.””
I looked down.
“I thought it was.””
The truth was harder to explain.
Celeste wasn’t a secret because I was ashamed of her.
She was a secret because she represented the moment my life changed.
The moment I learned that not everyone who says they love you actually protects you.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“She knows why Celeste disappeared.””
My heart stopped.
Malik looked at me.
“Disappeared?””
I said nothing.
Because there was no point pretending anymore.
Celeste had vanished from my life four years ago.
No goodbye.
No explanation.
Just silence.
And the worst part was that I never knew why.
“She left after something happened,” I said.
“What happened?””
I looked at my father.
He nodded slightly.
It was time.
“Celeste found out I was sick before almost anyone else.””
Malik’s expression softened.
“Before me?””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
Vanessa immediately stepped in.
“And she knew Ariana was scared.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What does that have to do with anything?””
Vanessa looked at Malik.
“Ask her what Celeste told her.””
Malik turned toward me.
I hated that question.
Because I remembered the exact night.
The hospital parking lot.
The rain hitting the windshield.
Celeste sitting beside me.
Her voice shaking.
“Ariana, you need to tell him.””
I remembered crying.
I remembered saying I couldn’t.
And I remembered her answer.
“You don’t get to decide what someone can handle.””
The same words Malik had said to me earlier.
The irony hurt.
“She wanted me to tell Malik,” I whispered.
Vanessa’s face changed.
For a moment, she looked surprised.
Like she expected something else.
Malik noticed.
“Mom?””
Vanessa looked away.
My father saw it too.
“You thought Celeste would prove Ariana was lying.””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
“But she proved the opposite.””
The church became silent.
Malik looked between us.
“Wait.””
His voice became confused.
“You’re saying Celeste knew and wanted Ariana to tell me?””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why are we talking about her?””
Because I had been asking myself the same question.
Until my father spoke.
“Because Celeste left something behind.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Something Vanessa has been hiding.””
Vanessa’s expression changed instantly.
“James.””
My father continued.
“She left evidence.””
The word made Vanessa freeze.
Malik noticed.
“Evidence of what?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone was afraid of what came next.
My father looked at the folder in his hand.
“The reason Vanessa wanted Ariana exposed today wasn’t because she wanted the truth.””
He looked directly at her.
“She wanted to control which truth came out first.””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
Malik stared at his mother.
“Mom?””
My father pulled out another document.
“This was found with Ariana’s treatment records.””
I stepped closer.
“What is it?””
He looked at me.
“A letter.””
My heartbeat increased.
“From who?””
He hesitated.
Then said:
“Celeste.””
The room shifted.
Like the past had just walked back into the church.
Malik looked at the letter.
“Why would she write to you?””
I looked at my father.
Because suddenly, I knew.
Celeste didn’t disappear because she stopped caring.
She disappeared because something happened.
Something I never understood.
Something Vanessa knew about.
My father held the letter.
And then he said the words that changed everything.
“Because Celeste found out who was responsible for Ariana’s treatment information being leaked.””
Vanessa took a step back.
Malik saw it.
And his face hardened.
“Mom…”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
May you like
But my father opened the envelope.
And inside was a truth that had been waiting for years.
