C08
Alyssa wiped her tears, her voice trembling as she asked, “Dad, Mom, where’s Mia? Back then, she almost got beaten to death by the traffickers when she tried to save me. If it weren’t for a passerby stepping in, she wouldn’t
have survived. I’ve missed her so much.”
The room seemed to tilt as her words landed like a thunderclap. My parents froze, their faces ashen. They exchanged panicked glances, the weight of the revelation sinking in.
The truth unraveled mercilessly in their minds–the lies, the false accusations, the years of cold hostility they had directed at me. For ten long years, they had cherished a fraud while treating their real daughter as a nuisance, someone.undeserving of kindness.
Their breaths came faster, shallow and ragged. Guilt clawed at them, relentless and unyielding. What had they
done?
My father slumped into the nearest chair, burying his head in his hands. “All this time… we’ve been wrong. So horribly wrong.”
My mother’s lips trembled as she reached for her phone, her hands shaking so violently that she almost dropped it. She tried to call me, but the automated message that played confirmed what she already knew–I had blocked
them.
Desperation flared in her eyes as she turned to my father. “What do we do? How do we fix this?”
He snatched his phone and quickly dialed Dillon, only to hear the call disconnect after a single ring. A second attempt met the same fate, followed by the realization that Dillon, too, had blocked their numbers.
My father’s face twisted with frustration, his voice rising. “Damn it! That boy refuses to answer us!” Panic turned into action as they hurriedly grabbed their coats and rushed to their car, their movements frantic. The drive to Dillon’s house was a blur, fueled by desperation and regret.
But when they arrived, the house loomed cold and unwelcoming. No matter how hard they pounded on the door or pleaded, no one answered. Even the neighbors seemed to avoid eye contact, retreating behind closed curtains.
Left with no alternatives, they went to the police. Sitting across from the officer, they reported me as missing, hoping for some thread of hope to grasp. But their hope was crushed when the officer returned with grim news.
“She left no trace. There’s no way to find her unless she wants to be found.”
Their world shattered. Staggering out of the station, they clung to each other, sobbing uncontrollably in the middle of the street. Strangers walked by, their curious gazes only adding to my parents‘ humiliation.
***
Far away, in a hidden corner of the world, I had started over.
Green Ridge was a small mountain village nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of wildflowers and pine. A winding dirt path led to the heart of the village, where simple wooden houses with sloping roofs stood in clusters.
The villagers were kind–hearted, their smiles genuine. It was a place untouched by greed and pretense, a sanctuary from the chaos of my former life.
I hadn’t discovered the village by chance. Five years ago, Gabriel and I had been in a terrible accident. Our car had careened off the road into a raging river and we were swept away by the current. When I awoke, disoriented and in pain, it was in this village. The locals had pulled us from the water, their warmth and care saving our lives.
But not all wounds could heal. Shielding Gabriel in the accident had cost me my hearing. The world became silent, isolating me even further.
Before we left, Gabriel had held my hand and promised, “The moment we return, I’ll marry you.” I had believed him, trusted his words. But instead, he had shattered my heart, proposing to Alyssa at the very wedding meant for
- us.
Scars and Lies
newunny to Green niuye len like Commny nume. why Savinys, i purchased a pivt vi fanu un tire villages euye, building a cozy wooden house that overlooked the forest. Life became simple, free of the noise and betrayal that had defined my past.
I spent my days tending to a small garden, foraging for wild vegetables and enjoying the company of the villagers. An elderly neighbor often brought over homemade meals, her kindness a balm to my wounded soul. The village children became my companions, their laughter and curiosity filling my quiet home with warmth.
For the first time in years, I found peace. The pain of the past still lingered, but it no longer consumed me.
That peace shattered the day Dillon found me.
It was an overcast afternoon. I was walking along a dirt trail with my elderly neighbor, carrying a basket of wild vegetables. The rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird filled the air.
Then, the hum of an approaching car broke the tranquil silence.
A sleek black sedan came into view, kicking up dust as it skidded to a stop in front of us. My heart sank, a sense of foreboding washing over me.
The car window rolled down, revealing Dillon’s face. He looked gaunt, his skin pale and his eyes hollow. For a moment, he seemed frozen, his gaze fixed on me as though he couldn’t believe I was real.
Then he opened the door and stepped out, his movements slow and deliberate.
“Honey,” he said, his voice hoarse, “I finally found you.”
I stiffened, instinctively taking a step back. My grip tightened on the basket and my eyes narrowed.
“Stay right there!” I snapped. “Don’t come any closer!”
Dillon stopped in his tracks, his hands raised slightly as if to show he meant no harm. His expression softened, his voice pleading.
“Honey, please… I know I made mistakes. I shouldn’t have hidden things from you or treated Alyssa the way I did. I’ve changed. I swear I won’t make the same mistakes again. I…” He hesitated, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. “I didn’t realize it back then, but I’ve fallen for you. I thought Alyssa was
