Chapter 6: The Name Nobody Wanted To Say
Nobody spoke after my mother said those words.
Someone I knew.
That sentence stayed in my mind.
Because there were only so many people in my life.
Only so many people who could have been involved.
I looked at Jason.
His face had lost all color.
“Who?””
My mother looked away.
“Emily…”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You brought me into this house. You let me find that test. You let me discover all these lies one piece at a time.””
My voice shook.
“I want the truth now.””
Daniel looked at my mother.
“Tell her.””
She closed her eyes.
Then she whispered:
“The father is your father’s brother.””
I froze.
“What?””
My mother started crying.
“Your uncle.””
The room became silent.
I couldn’t process it.
“My uncle?””
She nodded.
I took a step back.
“That’s impossible.””
“I wish it was.””
I looked at Daniel.
Then Jason.
Then my mother.
“This family is unbelievable.””
Jason looked devastated.
“Emily…”
I turned toward him.
“No.””
My voice was sharp.
“You don’t get to comfort me.””
He stopped.
Because he knew.
He had lost that right.
I walked to the window and stared outside.
The neighborhood looked exactly the same.
Cars parked in driveways.
Children riding bikes.
People walking their dogs.
Everyone living normal lives.
And meanwhile, my entire family was a collection of secrets.
“Why?””
I didn’t even know who I was asking.
“Why did nobody tell me?””
My mother answered quietly.
“Because we were afraid.””
I turned.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I wiped my face.
“Afraid of what?””
She looked at me.
“Of losing you.””
I laughed sadly.
“You already lost me.””
Those words hurt her.
I saw it.
But they were true.
For years, my mother had protected a secret because she thought the truth would destroy our family.
She never realized the lies were what destroyed it.
Daniel walked toward me.
“Emily, there is something important you need to understand.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Jason didn’t know any of this.””
I glanced at Jason.
He nodded.
“I swear.””
“How convenient.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I found out about you being my sister recently. My father told me after we had already started dating.””
I stared at him.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Because I was terrified.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing you.””
Again.
That phrase.
The same excuse everyone used.
I shook my head.
“Everyone keeps saying they were afraid of losing me, but nobody was brave enough to choose me.””
That silence was the answer.
Then my phone rang.
The sound cut through the room.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
But something told me not to.
I answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then a woman’s voice said:
“Is this Emily?””
“Yes.””
“I’m sorry to call you like this.””
My heart started racing.
“Who is this?””
The woman hesitated.
Then she said:
“My name is Rachel.””
I looked around the room.
Nobody knew that name.
“I’m sorry, but I think you need to know something about your mother.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
The woman took a breath.
“She didn’t tell you the whole truth.””
I felt cold.
“What are you talking about?””
Rachel’s voice lowered.
“Your mother wasn’t hiding one affair.””
I looked at my mother.
She was watching me.
Terrified.
Rachel continued.
“She was hiding what happened the night your father died.””
My blood ran cold.
Because nobody had ever questioned my father’s death.
It had always been called an accident.
Until now.
Rachel whispered:
“Emily… your mother knows why he never came home that night.””
I slowly lowered the phone.
May you like
And when I looked at my mother’s face…
I knew Rachel was telling the truth.
