Episode II — The Son I Never Knew

I stared at my phone.

My hands were shaking.

“A son?”

I called my mother back immediately.

She didn't answer.

I tried again.

Nothing.

I rushed home.

When I entered the house, she was sitting in the living room, staring at an old photograph.

She quickly turned it face down.

“Mom, what did you mean?” I asked.

She didn't respond.

“Did I have a child?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“Amara, there are things about your past you were never supposed to know.”

“Why?”

“Because it was for your own protection.”

“Protection from who?”

Before she could answer, someone knocked on the door.

Three slow knocks.

My mother suddenly went pale.

“Don't open it.”

The knocking came again.

This time, a man's voice followed.

“Mrs. Cole, I know she's inside.”

I looked at my mother.

“Who is that?”

She grabbed my wrist.

“Whatever happens, don't tell him you saw the boy.”

The door opened.

A tall man stood outside.

It was the boy's father.

He looked directly at me.

Then he smiled.

“Hello, Amara.”

My heart stopped.

I had never told him my name.

He stepped inside.

“I think it's time we talked about your son.”

And then he placed something on the table.

An old photograph.

I picked it up.

It showed me.

Holding the little boy in my arms.

And on the back, someone had written:

“Amara and Noah — One week before the accident 

Episode 3 coming soon...