Chapter 5: The Locked Drawer
I held the small key in my palm the entire drive back to my mother’s house.
It was barely bigger than my thumbnail.
Nothing about it looked important.
But somehow, it felt heavier than anything I had ever carried.
Because if Thomas was telling the truth, this tiny piece of metal could explain why my mother had pushed me away.
And maybe why Derek was so desperate to get rid of me.
I parked two houses away from my old home and sat in the car.
The lights were on.
A shadow moved behind the living room curtains.
Derek.
Even from a distance, I could feel his presence.
That bothered me.
A few days ago, I would have driven straight home without thinking twice.
Now I was sitting in my own neighborhood like I was a stranger.
I looked at the house.
The place where my mother had held my hand through every difficult moment of my life.
The place where I had taken my first steps.
The place where she told me, “No matter what happens, this will always be your home.””
I closed my eyes.
Because that memory hurt more than anything.
I finally got out of the car.
I didn’t walk toward the front door.
I went around the back.
The small gate creaked as I opened it.
The sound made me freeze.
I waited.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Nothing.
I slowly moved toward the back entrance.
The door was unlocked.
That surprised me.
My mother always locked everything.
Especially after my father left.
I stepped inside.
The kitchen was dark.
The house felt different at night.
Colder.
Like the walls remembered everything that happened there.
I walked quietly toward the hallway.
My old bedroom door was open.
The room was almost empty now.
The bed remained.
The closet remained.
But everything that made it mine was gone.
I looked away.
I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself.
I had a reason for being there.
My mother’s bedroom.
The door was slightly open.
I stood outside for a moment.
This felt wrong.
Not because I was breaking into someone’s house.
Because this was my mother.
The woman who used to tell me I could tell her anything.
But Derek had changed the rules.
I stepped inside.
The room smelled like her lavender perfume.
For a second, I almost stopped.
Then I remembered the boxes.
The words.
“Maybe it’s time you learn how to live without me.””
I walked toward the dresser.
The third drawer.
That was the one.
I remembered being twelve years old.
I had come into this room looking for a birthday card my mother hid from me.
I opened every drawer except that one.
When I reached for it, she immediately stopped me.
“Not that one, Jason.””
I laughed.
“Why?””
She smiled.
“Because some things are private.””
At the time, I didn’t think anything of it.
Now I did.
I pulled the drawer open.
Locked.
My heart started beating faster.
I took out the key.
For a moment, I hesitated.
Then I inserted it.
The lock turned easily.
Inside was a small black folder.
And an old photograph.
I picked up the photograph first.
It was my grandfather.
But he wasn’t alone.
Standing beside him was a younger version of my mother.
And next to them…
Was Derek.
My hand froze.
“No…”
I looked closer.
It wasn’t possible.
Derek looked younger, but it was definitely him.
Why was he in a family photo from before I even knew he existed?
I grabbed the folder.
Inside were several papers.
I didn’t read everything.
I didn’t need to.
One sentence caught my attention.
“Transfer agreement.””
My stomach dropped.
There were signatures.
My mother’s.
And Derek’s.
But the date was from years before they started dating.
How?
I heard a noise downstairs.
A door closing.
I quickly put the folder back.
Footsteps.
Someone was inside.
I turned off the bedroom light and moved behind the door.
The footsteps got closer.
A man’s voice filled the hallway.
“Where is it?””
My blood went cold.
Derek.
He was talking to someone on the phone.
“I told you, I’m handling it.””
Pause.
“No, Jason doesn’t know anything.””
I held my breath.
“He’s emotional. He won’t figure it out.””
My hands curled into fists.
He was talking about me.
Derek continued walking.
“I just need more time before the final transfer.””
Transfer.
The same word from the document.
My heart pounded.
Who was he talking to?
Then I heard another voice through the phone.
A woman.
I couldn’t hear everything.
Only a few words.
“Your promise…”
Derek whispered:
“I know what I promised.””
He stopped outside the bedroom.
I froze.
The door handle moved.
Then my phone vibrated.
A notification.
I forgot to silence it.
Derek stopped.
Silence.
Then his voice changed.
“Who’s there?””
I didn’t move.
The bedroom door slowly opened.
Light from the hallway entered.
Derek stepped inside.
His eyes scanned the room.
Then landed on me.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
His expression wasn’t angry.
It was something worse.
Fear.
“What are you doing here?””
I stepped out slowly.
“I could ask you the same thing.””
His face hardened.
“You broke into your mother’s room?””
“No.””
I held up the folder.
“I came looking for answers.””
Derek stared at it.
And for the first time since I met him…
He looked scared.
“Jason.””
His voice became quiet.
“Give me that.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
He took a step forward.
“You don’t understand what you’re holding.””
I looked at him.
“Then explain it.””
He said nothing.
That was the answer.
May you like
And in that moment, I knew.
The truth inside that folder was something Derek had spent years trying to hide.
