THE MESSAGE SHE NEVER SENT Part 5 — THE TRUTH.

Elora could not move. She was still holding the phone against her ear, even though the call had already ended. That voice. She knew it. There was no doubt. For three years, she had trusted that person. She had cried in front of them. She had shared her secrets with them. And when Kian left, they were the one who stayed. Or so she thought. Elora opened the photograph again. She zoomed in on the person standing behind her. The image was old and slightly blurred, but there was enough to recognize the clothes. The bracelet. The watch. Everything. Her heart sank. It was Nadia. Her closest friend. The person who had been there on the night everything fell apart. Elora immediately called her. No answer. She called again. Still nothing. Then a message appeared. Nadia: We need to talk. Elora stared at the words. Her fingers trembled as she replied. Elora: Why did you do it? The reply came almost instantly. Nadia: Because I was afraid. Elora frowned. Elora: Afraid of what? There was a long pause. Then Nadia sent a location. Come alone. --- An hour later, Elora arrived at the old café where she and Nadia used to meet. Nadia was already there. She looked different. Not because she had changed physically. Because for the first time, Elora could see the guilt in her eyes. “You sent the photograph,” Elora said. Nadia looked down. “Yes.” The word hit harder than Elora expected. “Why?” Nadia swallowed. “I wanted Kian to leave you.” Elora stared at her. “But why?” Nadia finally looked up. “Because I loved him.” Silence. Elora felt as though the entire world had stopped. “You loved Kian?” “I did.” “And you destroyed us because of that?” Nadia's eyes filled with tears. “I thought if he believed you had betrayed him, he would come to me.” Elora shook her head. “You lied to him.” “Yes.” “You watched me cry for three years.” “Yes.” “And every time I blamed myself, you were there pretending to comfort me.” Nadia began to cry. “I know.” Elora stood up. “I trusted you.” “I know.” “No, you don't.” Her voice broke. “You don't know what you did to me.” Nadia wiped her tears. “There is something else you need to know.” Elora stopped. “What?” Nadia reached into her bag and pulled out an old phone. She placed it on the table. “This is the phone I used that night.” Elora stared at it. “There is a recording on it.” “A recording of what?” Nadia looked terrified. “The conversation between Kian and the person who gave him the photograph.” Elora's heart raced. “Who was that person?” Nadia shook her head. “I don't know.” “What do you mean you don't know?” “I thought I was the only one involved.” She pushed the phone toward Elora. “But when I heard the recording later, I realized someone else was behind everything.” Elora slowly picked up the phone. There was one audio file. 11:47 p.m. — THREE YEARS AGO. She pressed play. At first, there was only static. Then Kian's voice. “Why are you doing this?” A second voice answered. Elora froze. She knew that voice too. Her face went pale. Nadia whispered, “I told you there was someone else.” Elora stared at the phone. The voice continued: “You were never supposed to find out.” The recording suddenly stopped. Elora looked at Nadia. “Who is that?” Nadia said nothing. Then Elora's phone buzzed. A message appeared from an unknown number. “Now you know who started it. But do you know why?” Elora stared at the screen. Then another message appeared. “Ask Kian what happened before he met you.” Her heart dropped. There was still another secret. And this time, it was one Kian had kept from her. TO BE CONTINUED…

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