Chapter 5: The Secret Inside the Seam
Nia barely slept that night.
She sat at her small kitchen table with the prize envelope beside her and the eye clinic's estimate spread out in front of her.
The amount in the envelope represented something she hadn't allowed herself to imagine for a long time.
A consultation.
A possible surgery.
A chance to protect the vision she still had.
She carefully opened the envelope and counted the documents inside.
The official award letter was there, along with the payment instructions and a confirmation of the prize amount.
Her hands trembled.
Olivia sat across from her, holding a mug of tea.
"You're going to call the clinic on Monday, right?""
Nia nodded.
"As soon as they open.""
"Good.""
Nia looked at the medical estimate.
"The doctor said the surgery might help. But I still need another examination before anything can be scheduled.""
"Then that's what you'll do.""
Nia smiled.
For a moment, the room felt peaceful.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message from her mother.
*Mom:* Come downstairs. We need to talk.
Nia stared at the screen.
Olivia noticed her expression.
"What's wrong?""
"My mother.""
"Don't answer.""
But Nia was already standing.
"I need to know what she wants.""
Olivia followed her to the front door.
"I'll wait here.""
Nia walked downstairs.
Her mother was standing near the building entrance, still wearing the burgundy dress from the previous evening.
Maya stood beside her in casual clothes.
Neither looked particularly happy.
"Where have you been?"" her mother asked.
"Upstairs.""
"We need to discuss last night.""
Nia folded her arms.
"What about it?""
Her mother sighed.
"You embarrassed your sister in front of important people.""
Nia stared at her.
"She was wearing my dress.""
"She was wearing a dress you made.""
"That's the same thing.""
"Don't twist my words.""
Maya stepped forward.
"Can we stop arguing? I have a problem.""
Nia looked at her.
"What problem?""
Maya pointed at the cream dress hanging over her arm.
"The seam is worse this morning.""
Nia examined it.
The damage was obvious now. The side seam had separated, and the lining was beginning to pull away.
"That's because you kept moving in it.""
Maya frowned.
"Well, I couldn't just stand still all night.""
Their mother interrupted.
"That's enough. Nia, you need to repair it.""
Nia blinked.
"Excuse me?""
"You made it. You know how it's constructed.""
Maya held out the garment.
"Just fix it before Monday.""
Nia didn't take it.
"You stole my dress, and now you want me to repair it?""
"Nobody stole anything," her mother snapped.
"I made a decision for this family.""
Nia's voice grew quieter.
"You made a decision about something that belonged to me.""
Her mother stepped closer.
"Don't forget who paid for your childhood.""
Nia looked at her.
"Did I ever ask you to steal from me?""
Maya rolled her eyes.
"Oh, here comes the victim speech.""
Nia turned toward her.
"You wanted the dress. You knew I made it.""
"I liked it. That's not a crime.""
"Then why did you tell Mom nobody would find out?""
Maya's expression changed.
Their mother immediately stepped between them.
"That's enough.""
Nia stared at Maya.
"What did she mean?""
Maya looked away.
"Nothing.""
Nia waited.
Her mother took the dress from Maya and pushed it toward Nia.
"Just repair the seam. We'll forget this entire incident.""
Nia didn't move.
"No.""
Her mother looked genuinely shocked.
"What did you say?""
"I said no.""
"You think winning one little competition makes you important?""
"No. I think making something with my own hands gives me the right to decide what happens to it.""
Her mother laughed bitterly.
"You're becoming arrogant.""
Nia turned toward the stairs.
"Goodbye, Mom.""
"Wait!""
Nia stopped.
Her mother lowered her voice.
"If you don't fix that dress, Maya could lose an important opportunity.""
Nia turned around.
"What opportunity?""
Maya answered before her mother could.
"I have a meeting with a boutique owner on Monday. I was supposed to show them the dress.""
Nia frowned.
"Why?""
Maya hesitated.
Their mother looked at her sharply.
"Tell her.""
Maya swallowed.
"The boutique owner is looking for a designer to collaborate with. I wanted to show her something beautiful.""
Nia looked at the cream dress.
"You were going to tell her you designed it?""
Maya's silence answered the question.
Nia felt her stomach tighten.
Her mother stepped forward.
"Your sister is trying to build a career. You should be supporting her.""
"By letting her take credit for my work?""
"She has the confidence to present herself properly. You have the talent to make things. It's a perfect arrangement.""
Nia stared at her mother.
For years, she had heard variations of those words.
Maya was outgoing.
Maya was beautiful.
Maya knew how to impress people.
Nia was quiet.
Nia was talented.
Nia could stay behind the scenes.
Her mother had always treated those differences as an excuse to give Maya everything and expect Nia to be grateful for whatever remained.
But something had changed.
Nia reached for the dress.
Her mother seemed relieved.
Then Nia carefully placed it on the nearby bench.
"I won't repair it for her meeting.""
Maya's eyes widened.
"You're serious?""
"Yes.""
"You're ruining everything!""
Nia looked at her.
"You ruined it when you decided my work was yours.""
She walked away.
Behind her, her mother called out.
"Don't expect me to help you when your eye gets worse!""
Nia stopped for one second.
The words hurt.
They always did.
But this time, she kept walking.
Upstairs, Olivia opened the door before Nia could knock.
"How did it go?""
Nia entered and sat down.
"They want me to fix the dress.""
Olivia stared.
"After everything?""
Nia nodded.
"And Maya was planning to show it to a boutique owner.""
Olivia's mouth fell open.
"To claim she made it?""
"I think so.""
Olivia sat beside her.
"Then you need to protect your work.""
Nia looked at the prize envelope.
"I just want to pay for my eye treatment.""
"You can do that and still stand up for yourself.""
Nia leaned back.
She was exhausted.
But Olivia was right.
The next morning, Nia visited the eye clinic and arranged an appointment for a new examination.
She carried her award letter carefully inside her handbag.
When she returned home, she found a message from an unfamiliar number.
*Unknown:* Hello, Nia. My name is Evelyn Brooks. I'm the boutique owner Maya mentioned. I need to speak with you about the cream dress.
Nia read it twice.
May you like
Another message arrived.
*Evelyn:* I believe there is something about that garment you should know.
