WHAT I FELT WAS LOVE - by Queen Esther's Plays

CHAPTER FIVE — THE WOMAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING The call had ended. But nobody in Evelyn's house moved. Amara stared at her mother. "Mum..." Evelyn was still holding the phone. Her fingers trembled. "It was Miriam," she finally whispered. Amara's eyes widened. "She is alive." Evelyn nodded slowly. "After seventeen years..." Her voice broke. "She finally called." Amara moved closer. "What did she say?" Evelyn looked at her daughter. "She said Nadia is looking for her." "Why?" "Because Miriam knows the truth." Amara's expression hardened. "Then we need to find her." Evelyn immediately shook her head. "No." "Why not?" "Because Miriam told me not to." Amara stared at her mother. "After everything that has happened, you're still telling me to wait?" "Amara, listen to me." "No, Mum." Her voice trembled with frustration. "Daniel was taken from you seventeen years ago. You were told he died. Nadia raised him. Miriam disappeared. And now that we finally know the truth, you want us to sit here and do nothing?" Evelyn had no answer. Amara continued. "I'm tired of secrets." A long silence followed. Then Evelyn whispered, "So am I." --- DANIEL COMES HOME The front door opened. Evelyn and Amara turned. Daniel stood there. His face was pale. Amara froze. For a moment, neither sibling spoke. Daniel looked at Evelyn. Their eyes met. Something changed in his expression. "You're my mother." Evelyn's eyes filled with tears. "Daniel..." He stepped forward. "I saw the birth certificate." Evelyn couldn't speak. Daniel swallowed. "Why did you let me believe Nadia was my mother?" Evelyn's face crumbled. "I didn't know." Daniel stared at her. "You didn't know?" "I was told you died." "Who told you?" "Nadia." Daniel looked away. For seventeen years, he had called another woman "Mum." He had trusted her. Loved her. Believed every story she told him. Now everything was collapsing. Amara slowly walked toward him. "Daniel." He looked at her. "I should have known much earlier." "Known what?" "That you were my sister." Amara shook her head. "You were a child too." But you knew before trying to ask me out. Daniel looked at her. That was the only way I could come closer. Daniel looked at the photograph on the table. The little boy standing beside the newborn baby. His little sister. "I remember something." Evelyn looked up. "What?" Daniel closed his eyes. "That night." Everyone became silent. "I don't remember everything." He touched his forehead. "But I remember someone carrying me." "Who?" "I don't know." "Was it Nadia?" Daniel shook his head. "No." Amara's heart raced. "Then who?" Daniel opened his eyes. "I remember a man's voice." --- THE MEMORY Daniel sat down. He stared at the floor. "He kept saying something." Evelyn leaned closer. "What did he say?" Daniel struggled to remember. Then he whispered, "Take the boy." Evelyn's face changed. "What?" "He said, 'Take the boy before she wakes up.'" Evelyn covered her mouth. Amara looked at her. "Mum?" Evelyn shook her head. "I don't remember that." Daniel continued. "But there was another voice." "Whose?" "A woman's." "Was it Nadia?" "No." Daniel closed his eyes again. "The woman was arguing with the man." "What did she say?" Daniel opened his eyes. "She said, 'You promised her you wouldn't hurt the children.'" Silence. Amara felt a chill. "The children?" Daniel nodded. "She said children." Evelyn suddenly stood. "That means..." She stopped. Amara looked at her. "What?" Evelyn's face had gone pale. "The plan wasn't only about Daniel." "It was to eliminate both siblings". --- FAVOUR'S WARNING Meanwhile, Favour was walking home. She kept looking behind her. The unknown call was still in her mind. If you want Amara alive and safe, stop asking questions. She reached her gate. Before she could open it, her phone vibrated. A message. Don't go home. Favour froze. Another message appeared. They're watching you. She immediately called Amara. No answer. She called again. Still nothing. Then she noticed something across the street. A black car. It had been there earlier. Now it was gone. Favour's heart began pounding. She turned around. Someone was standing behind her. An elderly woman. Favour stepped back. "Who are you?" The woman looked at her. "I told you not to send that photograph." Favour recognized her voice. It was the woman who had given her the envelope. "Miriam?" The woman nodded. Favour's eyes widened. "Yes Miriam." "Why are you here?" "Because Nadia knows you've been helping Amara." Favour swallowed. "Is Amara in danger?" Miriam looked toward the road. "She has been in danger since the day she was born." --- THE SECOND ENVELOPE Miriam handed Favour another brown envelope. "Give this to Amara." Favour took it. "What is inside?" "Something her mother should have seen seventeen years ago." Favour looked at the envelope. "Why can't you give it to her yourself?" Miriam's expression changed. "Because if Nadia sees me with Amara, she will know where I have been hiding." "Then come with me." "No." "Why?" "Because there is someone else watching." Favour looked around. "Who?" Miriam whispered, "The man who helped Nadia take Daniel." Favour's eyes widened. "He's still alive?" Miriam nodded. "And he's closer to Amara than you think." Before Favour could ask another question, Miriam walked away. "Miriam!" She stopped. Favour shouted, "Why did Nadia take Daniel?" Miriam turned. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then she replied: "Because Nadia wasn't only trying to steal a child." Favour stared at her. "Then what was she trying to do?" Miriam's voice dropped. "She didn't want Amara's mom to know the truth." Then she disappeared into the darkness. --- BACK AT AMARA'S HOUSE Amara opened the door. Favour stood outside. "You came." Favour immediately entered. "I need to talk to you." Amara noticed the envelope in her hand. "What's that?" Favour gave it to her. "Miriam." Amara froze. "You saw Miriam?" Favour nodded. "She gave me this." Evelyn walked closer. "Open it." Amara carefully opened the envelope. Inside was a hospital document. She read it. Then her eyes widened. "Mum..." Evelyn took the paper. Her hands began shaking. "What is it?" Amara looked at her. "It says Daniel wasn't declared dead." Evelyn's eyes widened. "Now we have what to use against Nadia". Amara pointed at the document. "His medical record." Daniel stepped closer. The document showed that Daniel had been transferred from the hospital. Not buried. Not declared dead. Transferred. And beneath the transfer information was a handwritten note. Patient released under the authority of Nadia. Evelyn's face went blank. Daniel eyes widened. "She lied." Amara looked at Daniel. "She didn't just tell mum you were dead." She looked at her Daniel. "She made sure you believed it too." Daniel stared at the paper. Then his phone vibrated. Unknown number. One message. You want the truth? Go to the old hospital tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. Come alone. Daniel looked at Amara. She immediately noticed his expression. "What happened?" Daniel showed her the message. Evelyn shook her head. "No, you are not going there alone." Daniel looked at her. "Why?" "Because that's exactly what Nadia wants." --- THE LAST SCENE Across the city, Nadia sat in her car. Her phone rang. She answered. "Did they receive the document?" "Yes." "And Daniel?" "He saw the message." Nadia smiled. "Good." The caller hesitated. "Are you sure this is wise?" Nadia looked toward the old hospital in the distance. "Seventeen years ago, we separated the children." She paused. "Tomorrow night, we bring them back to where it all began." --- THE HOSPITAL THAT REMEMBERED The next morning, Amara couldn't stop thinking about the message. The old hospital. 9:00 p.m. Come alone. There was something about it that frightened her. Not because of the hospital itself. But because everyone connected to her past seemed to lead back there. Miriam. Nadia. Daniel. Her mother. And the mysterious man. She walked into the kitchen. Evelyn was already there. "You didn't sleep," Evelyn said. "Neither did you." Evelyn sighed. "Daniel must not go there alone." Amara nodded. "I know." Evelyn looked at her. "You have something in mind." Amara sat down. "We don't have to obey the message." "What do you mean?" "If whoever sent it wants Daniel at the hospital, then they expect him to come alone." Evelyn understood. "So we don't let him go alone." --- DANIEL'S DECISION Daniel entered the room. "I heard you." Amara looked at him. "You can't go alone." Daniel shook his head. "I'm going." "Then we're going with you." "No." "Daniel—" "I don't want anything to happen to either of you." Amara stood. "And you think something happening to you will be better?" Daniel became silent. Evelyn walked toward him. "For seventeen years, I thought I had lost you." Daniel looked at her. "I won't lose you again." His eyes filled with tears. "But Mum..." "No." Evelyn held his hand. "Whatever happened seventeen years ago, we face it together." For the first time, Daniel allowed himself to call her by the name he had carried unconsciously all his life. "Mom." Evelyn broke down. Amara looked away, wiping her eyes. The family they had lost seventeen years ago was slowly finding its way back together. But they still didn't know why Nadia had broken it apart. --- THE OLD HOSPITAL 9:03 p.m. The hospital was almost empty. The building had changed over the years. Some parts had been renovated. Others remained untouched. Daniel stood outside. Amara and Favour waited nearby with Evelyn. "You promised you wouldn't come alone," Amara whispered. Daniel gave her a small smile. "I didn't." They entered. The corridor was silent. Every step seemed to awaken an old memory. Daniel suddenly stopped. "What?" Amara looked at him. "I remember this place." He stared at the wall. "There was a clock here." Evelyn looked around. "Yes." Daniel pointed. "It was there." His breathing became heavier. "I remember Nadia." Everyone froze. "What did she do?" Daniel closed his eyes. "She was carrying me." "And Miriam?" "She was shouting." "What was she saying?" Daniel opened his eyes. "She kept saying..." He paused. "Don't take him." Suddenly, the lights went off. Favour screamed. "Amara!" Evelyn grabbed her daughter's hand. Then a voice came from the darkness. "Daniel." Everyone froze. The lights came back on. Nobody was there. Except for a photograph lying on the floor. Daniel picked it up. It was another picture from seventeen years ago. But this one showed something they had never seen. Nadia wasn't alone. The mysterious man was standing beside her. And in his arms... was Daniel. --- MIRIAM RETURNS A voice came from behind them. "Now you understand." They turned. Miriam stood at the end of the corridor. Evelyn nearly collapsed. "Miriam." Miriam slowly walked toward them. "Seventeen years." She looked at Daniel. "You've grown." Daniel stared at her. "You knew me." "I knew your mother." She looked at Evelyn. "And I failed her." Evelyn's eyes filled with tears. "Why didn't you come back?" "I tried." "Then why did you disappear?" Miriam looked toward the photograph. "Because Nadia wasn't working alone." Daniel stepped forward. "Who was the man?" Miriam looked at him. "You remember him?" "Only his voice." Miriam's expression changed. "But you were only three." Amara asked, "Who is he?" Miriam hesitated. Then she said: "His name is Victor." Daniel looked confused. "Who is Victor?" Miriam looked at Evelyn. "Someone your mother trusted." Evelyn's face suddenly changed. "That's impossible." Miriam shook her head. "You thought he was your friend." Evelyn whispered, "Victor..." Then she remembered. A man who had been around the hospital that night. A man who had promised to help. A man who had disappeared immediately after Daniel was declared dead. --- THE REAL REASON Daniel stared at Miriam. "Why did Nadia take me?" Miriam took a deep breath. "Because of something she never wanted your mom to know." Evelyn looked up. "What was that?" "Nadia doesn't have a womb." "What?" Miriam looked at her. "She never told you because she felt you will mock her and distance yourself." Evelyn frowned. "How will she have such thought?" Miriam lowered her voice. "Nadia had been involved in something dangerous." Amara stepped forward. "What?" Miriam looked at her. "She was afraid your mother would expose her." Daniel's expression hardened. "So she took me to silence her?" "Partly." "What's the other reason?" Miriam looked at both siblings. "To have someone to call her child." "That's not even reasonable" Daniel said. She wanted a child of her own, why didn't she go to the ophanage. Miriam didn't answer. Instead, she reached inside her bag. She removed an old hospital file. Then she handed it to Evelyn. Evelyn opened it. Her eyes widened. "This can't be." Amara looked over her shoulder. "What is it?" Evelyn couldn't speak. Miriam answered for her. "It is Daniel's original birth record." Daniel looked at it. There was nothing different from what they knew. His date of birth was correct. His mother's name was Evelyn. But beneath the information was another name. Victor. "Working with Nadia." Daniel stared at the document. "Exactly?" Evelyn dropped the file. "My friend did this." Miriam looked at her. "He did." Amara's eyes widened. "Victor is part of the dangerous group Nadia is working with?" Miriam nodded. Daniel stepped backward. The truth had just become bigger than any of them expected. --- NADIA'S PLAN At that exact moment, Nadia was sitting in a dark room. Victor stood beside her. "They found Miriam." Nadia nodded. "I know." "And Daniel knows I'm working with you." Nadia turned toward him. "Then it's time." Victor looked at her. "Time for what?" Nadia smiled. "To stop hiding." Victor's expression changed. "You said nobody would know." "They weren't supposed to." "Then why did you let Miriam survive?" Nadia slowly stood. "Because I needed her." "For what?" Nadia picked up an old photograph. Amara as a baby. Daniel beside her. Evelyn in the background. And Victor standing near the door. Nadia stared at the picture. "Because Miriam isn't the only person who knows the truth." Victor looked confused. "Who else?" Nadia smiled. "The children." --- THE CLIFFHANGER Back at the hospital, Miriam suddenly looked toward the entrance. Her face changed. "What is it?" Amara asked. Miriam whispered, "We have to leave." "Why?" "Now." Daniel looked behind them. A figure stood at the end of the corridor. Victor. Daniel stared at him. Something inside him shifted. A memory returned. A man's hand. A dark corridor. A voice. "Take the boy." Daniel's eyes widened. "That's him." Victor began walking toward them. Evelyn grabbed Amara's hand. Miriam stepped in front of them. Victor stopped. For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Victor smiled. "After seventeen years..." His eyes moved to Daniel. "...you finally came back." Daniel stared at him. "Why did you take me?" Victor's smile disappeared. Before he could answer, Nadia's voice echoed from behind him. "Because, Daniel..." Everyone turned. Nadia stood there. "...you were never supposed to survive the night you were born." TO BE CONTINUED.

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