Chapter 8: The Girl With My Face
Renee stared at Aaliyah's phone.
“Give it to me.””
Aaliyah pulled it away.
“No.””
“Aaliyah, listen.””
“You know who sent this.””
Renee looked toward Monique.
“I know who it is.””
“Who?””
Renee swallowed.
“Her name is Nia.””
Aaliyah stared.
“That's my sister?””
Renee nodded.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“I haven't spoken to her in years.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“She contacted me.””
Renee looked at her.
“Why?””
“To find her family.””
Monique whispered,
“She shouldn't have come.””
Aaliyah turned sharply.
“Why?””
Monique looked devastated.
“Because the people who wanted you gone may still be watching.””
Calvin suddenly lifted his hand.
“Everyone stop.””
He looked toward the auditorium seats.
Aaliyah followed his gaze.
The families were still there.
But several people had begun standing.
Not leaving.
Watching.
One man in the third row had a phone raised toward the stage.
Calvin walked down the stairs.
“Sir, put the phone away.””
The man didn't move.
Derrick followed.
“Who are you?””
The man smiled.
“Just a proud father.””
Calvin's expression hardened.
“Which graduate?””
The man didn't answer.
Then he turned and walked toward the exit.
Calvin followed.
“Stop.””
The man ran.
Several guests screamed as chairs overturned.
Derrick started after him, but Marcus grabbed his shoulder.
“Don't.””
“Why?””
“Look at his hands.””
The man's right hand disappeared into his jacket.
Marcus stepped in front of Derrick.
“Stay back.””
The man reached the doors.
Then stopped.
He turned.
And smiled.
“I already got what I came for.””
He held up a phone.
Aaliyah's blood ran cold.
“My photograph?””
The man nodded.
Then he disappeared through the doors.
Calvin immediately called for security.
Aaliyah looked at her phone.
Another message appeared.
*He's not the one you should be afraid of.*
Then:
*Look behind you.*
Aaliyah slowly turned.
Monique stood directly behind her.
“Mom?””
Monique's eyes were filled with tears.
“I'm sorry.””
Aaliyah stepped back.
“For what?””
Monique reached for her.
Aaliyah flinched.
Monique stopped.
“For lying.””
“You said you didn't know where my sister was.””
“I didn't.””
“Then how does Renee know her?””
Monique looked toward Renee.
“Because Renee arranged the separation.””
Renee shook her head.
“No.””
“You gave her away,” Monique said.
“I saved her.””
“You sold her.””
The auditorium went silent.
Derrick turned toward Renee.
“What?””
Renee's face twisted.
“That isn't what happened.””
“How much?”” Marcus asked.
Renee looked at him.
“What?””
“How much did you take?””
Renee didn't answer.
Derrick's voice shook.
“You sold a child?””
Renee whispered,
“I was desperate.””
Aaliyah felt sick.
“Who paid you?””
Renee looked at her.
“No one.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Then who received the child?””
Renee's silence returned.
Calvin suddenly spoke.
“There's something wrong with the photograph.””
Aaliyah looked at him.
“What?””
He took it carefully.
“Look at the background.””
Aaliyah leaned closer.
Behind Nia was a brick wall and a sign.
She recognized the logo.
It belonged to a foundation her father had donated to for years.
Derrick's face changed.
“That organization?””
Calvin nodded.
“It closed fifteen years ago.””
Aaliyah stared at him.
“Then how was this taken?””
Calvin turned the photograph over.
There was an address written on the back.
Derrick read it.
His face went pale.
“I know that place.””
Monique whispered,
“Where?””
Derrick didn't answer.
Aaliyah looked at him.
“Dad.””
He swallowed.
“It was an old children's home.””
Renee sat down.
Monique closed her eyes.
Derrick continued.
“It's where Renee told me she had found Aaliyah.””
Aaliyah's heart stopped.
“I was there?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“When you were three.””
Aaliyah looked at Renee.
“You told me I was rescued from there.””
Renee whispered,
“You were.””
“No.””
Aaliyah shook her head.
“You said my mother abandoned me.””
Renee began crying.
“She had.””
Monique stepped forward.
“I never abandoned you.””
Aaliyah turned.
“Then why didn't you come for me?””
Monique's voice broke.
“I did.””
“When?””
“Every year.””
Aaliyah froze.
“What?””
Monique wiped her tears.
“I sent letters.””
“To whom?””
“Renee.””
Renee stared at her.
“I never received them.””
Monique laughed bitterly.
“You're still lying.””
She reached into her coat.
She pulled out a stack of envelopes.
Old.
Yellowed.
Each one had the same return address.
Each was addressed to:
*Aaliyah Carter.*
Aaliyah took the stack.
Her hands shook.
“They were never delivered.””
“No,” Monique whispered.
Renee covered her face.
Aaliyah looked at the envelopes.
Then she noticed something.
Every letter had been opened.
Then resealed.
She looked at Renee.
“You read them.””
Renee couldn't look at her.
Aaliyah's voice became dangerously quiet.
“You read every letter my mother sent me.””
Renee whispered,
“I had to know what she was saying.””
“And you never gave me one.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Renee finally looked up.
“Because one letter contained the truth.””
Aaliyah's heart pounded.
“What truth?””
Renee pointed toward Monique.
“She wasn't your biological mother.””
Monique closed her eyes.
Aaliyah looked at her.
“Is that true?””
Monique didn't answer.
Aaliyah stepped closer.
“Mom.””
Monique whispered,
“I carried you.””
Aaliyah stared.
“But…”
“I gave birth to you.””
“Then what does she mean?””
Monique looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn's face was wet with tears.
Marcus whispered,
“There's another truth.””
Aaliyah turned.
“What?””
Marcus looked toward Monique.
“The woman who gave birth to Nia wasn't Monique.””
Aaliyah's mouth fell open.
“What?””
Marcus pointed toward Evelyn.
“It was her.””
Aaliyah slowly looked at the older woman.
Evelyn shook her head.
“I never meant for any of this to happen.””
Aaliyah's voice trembled.
“Then why does Nia have my face?””
Evelyn whispered,
“Because she is your twin.””
Aaliyah looked at Monique.
“Then who is my mother?””
Monique couldn't answer.
And somewhere inside the auditorium, a phone began ringing.
Everyone turned.
The sound was coming from Renee's handbag.
Renee stared at it.
Then she whispered,
“That's impossible.””
Aaliyah reached inside.
She pulled out an old phone.
The screen displayed one incoming call.
*NIA REED.*
Aaliyah answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a woman's voice whispered,
“Aaliyah, don't let Monique tell you the whole story.””
Aaliyah's eyes widened.
“Who are you?””
The voice trembled.
“I’m Nia.””
Aaliyah looked toward Monique.
Nia continued,
“She isn't your mother.””
The call ended.
May you like
Then the auditorium lights flickered.
And every exit door locked at once.
