Hidden truth
1019 Words
Days passed quietly in the Bennett household.
On the surface, everything looked peaceful.
Maya spent most of her time at home, focusing only on the two people who now defined her world damein and Layrus.
She laughed more these days.
Whenever Layrus played with his toys, Maya would sit on the living room floor beside him, smiling as he crawled clumsily around her.
Watching him seemed to calm her mind.
Damein noticed it.
And it made him strangely happy.
Ever since Maya started taking the medication, something had changed.
The memories that once threatened to return...
Had disappeared again.
Whenever Lucas tried bringing up the past, Maya would simply look confused or change the subject.
It was exactly what Damein had hoped for.
Now Maya's life revolved around only three things.
Her home.
Her husband.
And their son.
Lucas, however, was not convinced everything was fine.
Whenever he visited, he watched Maya carefully.
Something about her behavior felt different.
Almost...
Forced.
But every time he tried asking deeper questions, Maya would smile politely and brush him aside.
"I'm fine, Lucas," she would say.
And Lucas had no proof otherwise.
Yet something about the situation still bothered him.
Meanwhile, the medication Sophie had provided had begun affecting Maya in other ways.
At night, sleep had become difficult.
Almost every evening, Maya woke up suddenly from terrifying nightmares.
Her breathing would become heavy.
Her body drenched in sweat.
"Ah!"
Maya shot upright in bed one night.
Beside her, Layrus stirred slightly in his crib.
Damein immediately woke up.
"Maya, what happened?" he asked.
Maya pressed a hand against her forehead.
"I... I saw something again."
"What did you see?"
Maya closed her eyes.
Trying to remember.
"I was..."
Her voice trembled.
"I was somewhere high. Like a cliff."
Damein's heart skipped a beat.
"And then..."
Maya swallowed hard.
"Someone shot me."
Damein felt his chest tighten.
"Did you see who did it?" he asked carefully.
Maya shook her head.
"No."
She frowned.
"I can't remember."
Her expression twisted in frustration.
"It feels like the memory is right there..."
She pressed her fingers against her temple.
"But I can't reach it."
Damein gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't think about it too much," he said softly.
Ever since Maya returned home, he had started sleeping in her room.
At first, it was simply to help with the baby.
At least...
That was the excuse he gave everyone.
The truth was different.
He needed to watch Maya closely.
He needed to know immediately if her memories started returning.
"Try to rest," he told her.
Maya nodded slowly and lay back down.
But the nightmares continued.
Night after night.
A few days later, Alicia came to visit.
Damein had already left for work, leaving Maya alone at home with Layrus.
The moment Alicia walked in, Maya smiled.
"Alicia!"
"Hey."
Alicia hugged her lightly.
"How are you feeling today?"
Maya sighed as she sat on the couch.
"Honestly?"
"Not great."
Alicia frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Maya hesitated.
Then she said,
"Ever since I started taking my medications, I've been feeling worse."
Alicia sat beside her.
"Worse how?"
"I'm constantly tired," Maya explained.
"And I keep having these horrible nightmares."
"I wake up sweating."
"My head hurts all the time."
Alicia listened carefully.
Her expression darkened.
"That doesn't sound right."
Maya nodded.
"I don't like the side effects."
"They're draining me."
Alicia stood up immediately.
"Let me see the medication."
Maya pointed at the small tray on the table where her pills were arranged.
Alicia picked up the bottles one by one.
Pain relief.
Recovery medicine.
Anti-inflammatory.
Everything looked normal.
Until she reached one particular bottle.
Her brows furrowed.
She read the label again.
Then again.
Her eyes widened.
"What the hell?"
Maya looked up.
"What is it?"
Alicia turned toward her, holding the bottle tightly.
"Maya..."
Her voice was sharp.
"You are not supposed to be taking this."
"What?"
"This medication increases trauma responses in the brain," Alicia said angrily.
"It can literally worsen psychological stress."
Maya blinked.
Confused.
"Why would the doctor prescribe that?"
"That's exactly what I'm wondering!"
Without hesitation, Alicia took a picture of the bottle and sent it to Lucas.
Along with a message.
How can they be so careless as to add this to her medications? This is clearly harming her.
At that moment, Lucas was in his office reviewing documents when his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the message.
Then froze.
His eyes locked onto the photo Alicia sent.
Lucas stared at the medication bottle for several seconds.
Something about it felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Without wasting another moment, he called Maya's doctor.
"Doctor, I need to confirm something."
"Of course."
"Can you send me the official list of medications prescribed to Maya Bennett after her discharge?"
There was a brief pause.
Then—
"Certainly."
A few minutes later, the list arrived.
Lucas opened both files side by side.
His eyes scanned the names carefully.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
Then his jaw tightened.
The medication Alicia photographed...
Was not on the list.
Not even remotely close.
Lucas slowly leaned back in his chair.
At that moment
Everything became clear.
Damein didn't want Maya to remember.
His fingers tightened around his phone.
His expression turned cold.
He called the doctor again.
"Doctor."
"Yes?"
"I need an official letter."
"What kind of letter?"
Lucas's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"A medical statement confirming that Maya Bennett requires proper supervision during her recovery."
The doctor hesitated.
"Why?"
Lucas stared out the office window.
His reflection stared back at him.
Because now he understood.
The nightmares.
The confusion.
The missing memories.
None of it was an accident.
"The current caregiver is clearly incapable of protecting her health," Lucas said coldly.
He paused.
Then added,
"And he may actually be the one causing her suffering."
Silence filled the line.
Finally, the doctor sighed.
"I understand."
The call ended.
Lucas lowered his phone slowly.
His eyes darkened.
If Damein wanted to play this game...
Then Lucas was ready to end it.
And this time
He wasn't going to lose Maya again.
- Writer
