Chapter 2: The Photograph
The torn pieces of paper lay between them.
No one moved.
Outside, the announcer called another graduate’s name.
Cheers erupted.
Inside the backstage room, Nia could hear only her own breathing.
“Give me the folder,” Angela said.
Vanessa held it against her chest.
“You have no right to bring this here.””
Angela took another step.
“I have every right.””
“You disappeared.””
“I was forced out.””
“You abandoned her.””
Angela’s eyes flashed.
“I never abandoned my daughter.””
Nia looked at her mother.
Then at Vanessa.
“Someone needs to tell me what’s going on.””
Neither woman answered.
Nia pointed at the folder.
“What is that?””
Angela’s expression softened.
“The truth.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You always loved that word.””
“Because it matters.””
“It matters now?”” Vanessa snapped.
“After eighteen years?””
Nia’s face tightened.
“Eighteen years?””
Angela looked at her.
“I didn't know where you were.””
Vanessa immediately cut in.
“She knew exactly where you were.””
Angela turned toward her.
“You know that’s a lie.””
Nia stepped between them.
“Stop.””
Her voice cracked.
Both women fell silent.
Nia wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
“I don't care who hates who.””
She pointed toward the torn gown.
“I have five minutes before I’m supposed to walk onto that stage.””
Her eyes moved to the folder.
“And I want to know why my mother came into my graduation carrying court papers.””
Angela looked down.
“Because I found something that was hidden from me.””
“What?””
Angela reached for the folder.
Vanessa pulled it away.
Nia stared at Vanessa.
“Why are you scared?””
“I’m not.””
“You are.””
“I said I’m not.””
“You ripped the page.””
Vanessa’s fingers tightened around the folder.
Nia took another step.
“You saw that seal and you panicked.””
Vanessa’s voice dropped.
“You don't understand what you're looking at.””
“Then explain it.””
Silence.
Angela reached into her bag again.
This time, she pulled out her phone.
“I have copies.””
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
Angela turned the screen toward Nia.
“There are records from the year you were born.””
Nia stared at the phone.
“What records?””
“Custody documents.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Don't.””
Angela continued.
“Hospital records. Court filings. A name-change request.””
Nia’s lips parted.
“My name?””
Angela nodded.
“Yours.””
Vanessa stepped toward her.
“You promised.””
Angela’s expression changed.
“To whom?””
Vanessa stopped.
Nia slowly turned.
“What promise?””
“No one,” Vanessa said.
Nia’s eyes narrowed.
“You just said ‘you promised.’”
Vanessa looked away.
Angela whispered, “Tell her.””
“Shut up.””
“Tell her why you changed the paperwork.””
“I didn't change anything.””
Angela held up her phone.
“Then why does the original court record have a different guardian listed?””
Nia’s stomach tightened.
“Guardian?””
The word seemed to hang in the air.
Vanessa looked at her.
“Nia…”
“No.””
Nia backed away.
“Don't say my name like that.””
The stage lights shifted as someone opened the auditorium entrance outside.
A bright beam swept across the floor.
A staff member’s voice called from the other side of the curtain.
“Nia? We’re looking for Nia Carter.””
Nia flinched.
Angela stepped toward her.
“You don't have to go out there until you know.””
Nia looked toward the entrance.
“My classmates are waiting.””
Vanessa suddenly thrust the folder toward herself.
“Then go.””
Nia stared at her.
“You don't want me to see this.””
Vanessa said nothing.
Nia reached for the folder.
Vanessa pulled it back.
Then the backstage door handle moved.
All three women turned.
A male staff member’s voice came through the door.
“Everything okay in there?””
Vanessa immediately hid the folder behind her back.
Angela looked at Nia.
Nia looked at the torn gown.
Then she looked at the door.
“I'm fine,” Nia called.
The handle stopped moving.
Footsteps faded.
Nia waited until they disappeared.
Then she whispered, “Give me the folder.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Nia stepped forward.
“Give it to me.””
“You're not ready.””
“I’m eighteen.””
“That doesn't mean you understand.””
Angela suddenly reached past Nia and grabbed the folder.
Vanessa resisted.
The folder slipped.
It hit the floor.
Several pages spilled out.
One landed face-up beneath the stage-light spill.
Nia bent down.
She saw the same family photograph.
This time, she could see the people clearly.
There was Vanessa.
There was a much younger Angela.
And there was a baby.
Nia stared at the photograph.
Her breath stopped.
“That baby…”
Angela whispered, “Yes.””
Nia looked at her.
“Why do I have that picture?””
Angela's face went pale.
“Because that was the day everything changed.””
Before Nia could ask another question, Vanessa suddenly grabbed the photograph and turned it over.
Written across the back were four words.
Nia caught only the first two.
*BIOLOGICAL MOTHER:*
May you like
Then Vanessa folded the photograph in half.
And the name beneath it disappeared from view.
