THE TRUTH
742 Words
Daniel didn’t say a word.He just stared at Maya.For the first time since I had known him, I saw something in his eyes that scared me.
Fear.Not confusion.Not anger.
Fear.
“Maya,” he finally said, his voice low. “What are you talking about?”
She swallowed.
“You heard me.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Who was driving?”
Maya looked at me.
Then back at Daniel.
“You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“It was me.”
Everything went silent.
I stared at her.
“What?”
Daniel froze.
“You?” he whispered.
Maya nodded.
“I was driving that night.”
Daniel took a step backward.
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No.” His voice became louder. “That’s impossible. Chris told me he was driving.”
“Chris lied.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Why would he lie about something like that?”
“Because he was there.”
My heart dropped.
“Chris was in the car?”
Maya nodded.
“He was sitting beside me.”
Daniel looked at me.
I could see the questions forming in his eyes.
“What happened?” I asked.
Maya wiped her tears.
“We were arguing. Chris wanted me to stop the car. I refused. Then suddenly…”
She paused.
“What?”
“There was another car.”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“I don’t remember another car.”
“You weren’t supposed to remember.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Maya looked at Daniel.
“After the accident, you hit your head. The doctors said you had memory loss.”
Daniel slowly touched the side of his head.
“I know.”
“But you didn’t just forget the accident.”
She took a shaky breath.
“You forgot what happened right before it.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What happened?”
Maya looked down.
“Chris got out of the car before the crash.”
My eyes widened.
“Then who was with you?”
“No one.”
Daniel’s face went pale.
“Then why did Chris say he was driving?”
“Because he knew I would be blamed.”
“And you let him lie?”
“I was scared!”
Her voice broke.
“I was seventeen. I didn’t know what to do. Chris told me that if I confessed, my life would be ruined.”
Daniel looked furious.
“So you let me believe Chris was driving?”
“I tried to tell you.”
“When?”
“Many times.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Because Chris threatened me.”
Silence.
I looked between them.
“What did he threaten you with?”
Maya hesitated.
Then she pulled out her phone.
“He had proof.”
“Proof of what?”
She opened a message and handed the phone to Daniel.
His eyes moved across the screen.Then his expression changed.I leaned closer.
It was a message from Chris.If you tell Daniel what really happened, I’ll make sure Amara finds out what you did to her.My stomach dropped.
“What did you do to me?”
Maya looked at me.
“I didn’t hurt you.”
“Then what does he mean?”
She didn’t answer.
Daniel looked at her.
“Maya…”
She started crying.
“There’s one more thing.”
I already knew I wasn’t going to like it.
“What?”
Maya looked directly at me.
“The accident wasn’t an accident.”
My breath caught.
Daniel stared at her.
“What are you saying?”
Maya’s voice trembled.
“Someone caused it.”
“Who?”
She opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, Daniel’s phone rang.
Chris.
Daniel looked at the screen.None of us moved.The phone kept ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then Daniel answered.
“Hello?”
Chris said something.
Daniel’s expression changed.
He pulled the phone away from his ear.
“What did he say?” I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“He knows we’re here.”
My heart started pounding.Maya grabbed my hand.Then we heard footsteps behind us.
Slow.
Heavy.
Getting closer.
Daniel turned around.
And when I saw who was standing at the end of the hallway, my blood ran cold.
Chris.
He smiled.
“You really should have left this alone, Amara.”
And then he walked toward us.
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