Chapter 6: The Hidden Heart Above the Sky
1549 Words
The journey to Maro's house was unusually quiet.
The vehicle moved steadily along the road while the family sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Questions filled their minds, but none of them knew where to begin.
They had heard about Maro's house.
They had known it existed.
Yet none of them had ever seen it.
Not once.
Not even by accident.
And now, for the first time, they were finally going there.
As the city slowly faded behind them and the mansion came into view, every expectation they carried vanished instantly.
The house was breathtaking.
A magnificent three-story mansion stood proudly behind enormous iron gates. Modern glass walls reflected the morning sunlight, while elegant stone pillars gave the structure a timeless grandeur.
It looked less like a home and more like a private estate.
A place built not only with wealth but with purpose.
As their vehicle approached, the gates opened automatically.
No guard appeared.
No questions were asked.
It was as though the house had been waiting for them.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then slowly, they stepped out.
The compound stretched before them like a private paradise.
Perfectly maintained gardens surrounded the mansion.
Colorful flowers lined stone pathways.
Decorative trees stood neatly trimmed.
At the center of the courtyard, a fountain sent crystal-clear water dancing into the air, its gentle sound creating an atmosphere of peace.
Yet beneath that beauty, something felt strange.
Too perfect.
Too untouched.
As if the house had refused to acknowledge its owner's death.
That feeling only grew stronger when they noticed the staff.
More than ten housemaids moved throughout the property.
All dressed neatly.
All working efficiently.
All continuing their duties as though nothing had changed.
Grandfather exchanged a glance with Namu.
The same question formed in both their minds.
Why were they still here?
Who was paying them?
Who was managing this place?
But neither asked.
Not yet.
Some questions required patience.
And somehow, this house felt full of answers.
The Hall of Memories
The grand entrance doors opened.
And the family stepped inside.
Immediately, they were greeted by a sight that stole their breath.
The entrance hall was lined with photographs.
Dozens of them.
Carefully arranged along the walls.
Each frame preserved a different chapter of Maro's life.
Almost instinctively, everyone moved closer.
The first photographs showed a young Maro during his school years.
He looked cheerful.
Energetic.
Full of life.
Some pictures showed him proudly holding certificates.
Others captured moments on stage receiving awards.
There were photographs of competitions, school events, and celebrations.
Every image revealed a side of him they had never truly seen.
As they continued walking, the photographs changed.
The schoolboy disappeared.
The young man emerged.
College photographs filled the walls.
Maro looked older now.
More confident.
More focused.
There were images of him giving presentations.
Leading groups.
Standing among students who clearly admired him.
The deeper they walked, the more unfamiliar he became.
Then came the family photographs.
And everything stopped.
Smiles.
Festivals.
Birthdays.
Celebrations.
Ordinary moments frozen forever.
There were pictures of laughter around dining tables.
Family gatherings.
Religious ceremonies.
Simple afternoons spent together.
The images radiated warmth.
Love.
Belonging.
Yet they also carried an unbearable sadness.
Because the man smiling within those frames no longer existed.
One of the family members whispered quietly,
"This house feels alive... and empty at the same time."
No one answered.
Because everyone felt it.
Namu stood silently before one photograph.
His expression remained calm.
But inside, memories were colliding with reality.
The more he saw, the more he realized how little he truly knew his brother.
The Second Floor
Eventually, Namu and Grandfather climbed the staircase to the second floor.
The polished wooden steps creaked softly beneath their feet.
Neither spoke.
Both sensed something waiting above.
When they reached the landing, they froze.
At the center of the wall hung a massive portrait.
A beautiful photograph.
Not of Maro.
Of Esima.
And beside her stood Maro.
The image radiated happiness.
The smile on Maro's face was unlike anything Namu had ever seen.
There was no distance in his eyes.
No hidden pain.
Only love.
Pure.
Unconditional.
For a moment, neither man could speak.
"This..."
Grandfather whispered.
His voice failed him.
Because the truth had already become obvious.
This entire floor belonged to Esima.
Soon, the others joined them.
Lana stopped instantly.
"Esima!"
Her eyes widened with excitement.
"It's you!"
Esima stepped forward slowly.
Her small eyes lifted toward the portrait.
Recognition appeared immediately.
A soft smile touched her face.
Then she walked closer.
Until she stood directly beneath the photograph.
"Dad..."
The single word echoed through the hall.
Grandmother turned away slightly.
Tears filled her eyes.
"How much did he love her?"
No one answered.
Because every wall answered for them.
Photographs of Esima covered the second floor.
Pictures of birthdays.
Pictures of bedtime stories.
Pictures of laughter.
Pictures of ordinary moments transformed into treasured memories.
Every image revealed another piece of a hidden life.
A hidden family.
A hidden love.
The hall itself felt warm and welcoming.
A large television faced a comfortable sofa.
Children's books sat neatly arranged on a nearby table.
One of them contained tiny pencil drawings.
Small scribbles.
Signs of use.
Signs of life.
Signs of Esima.
Lana smiled softly.
"She drew these."
Esima nodded proudly.
Beyond the hall were bedrooms.
One room belonged unmistakably to Esima.
Colorful walls.
Toys.
Storybooks.
A small bed.
Everything remained exactly as she had left it.
The moment she entered, she climbed onto the bed and sat quietly.
"This is my room."
There was no uncertainty in her voice.
Only certainty.
Only belonging.
Namu stood silently at the doorway.
His chest tightened.
Every room told the same story.
Everything here existed for Esima.
Not for luxury.
Not for status.
Not for appearance.
For her.
His father slowly touched one of the photo frames.
"My son..."
His voice trembled.
"...lived an entire life we never saw."
The words settled heavily over the room.
Painful.
Honest.
True.
And for the first time, none of them felt anger toward Maro's secrecy.
Only respect.
Because they finally understood.
He hadn't hidden this life out of shame.
He had protected it.
Above the Sky
The third floor felt different.
The moment they climbed the final staircase, they sensed it.
The atmosphere changed completely.
The rooftop stretched before them beneath an endless blue sky.
At its center stood a magnificent swimming pool, its surface sparkling beneath the sunlight.
Luxury surrounded them.
Decorated tables.
Elegant lighting.
Floral arrangements.
Everything prepared with extraordinary care.
But none of that shocked them.
The crowd did.
Nearly two hundred employees stood gathered around the rooftop.
And beyond them-
Hundreds more people.
Friends.
Supporters.
People who had attended Maro's funeral.
People whose lives he had touched.
More than a thousand individuals filled the rooftop.
Waiting.
Watching.
And then-
The moment Esima appeared-
The crowd erupted.
"Happy Birthday, Esima!"
The greeting thundered across the rooftop.
Esima froze.
Her eyes widened.
Slowly, a smile appeared.
Bright.
Innocent.
Beautiful.
For the first time since Maro's death, genuine happiness lit her face.
People approached one after another.
Greeting her.
Blessing her.
Giving gifts.
And at the center of everything stood an enormous birthday cake.
Forty kilograms.
Beautifully crafted.
Shaped perfectly like Esima herself.
The detail was astonishing.
Even the adults stood speechless.
Namu stared at the celebration.
His chest tightened.
Because only one thought existed in his mind.
Maro planned this.
Even after death...
He had found a way to celebrate her birthday.
The realization broke something inside him.
And healed something too.
The Locked Room
As the celebration continued, Namu's attention drifted elsewhere.
Toward a single door standing at the far end of the rooftop.
Unlike everything around it, the door carried no decorations.
No flowers.
No lights.
No signs of celebration.
It stood alone.
Silent.
Waiting.
His father noticed it too.
Without speaking, they walked toward it.
The closer they got, the stronger the feeling became.
This room mattered.
Namu reached for the handle.
Locked.
A housemaid approached.
Without question, she produced a key.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
And instantly, everything changed.
The atmosphere inside felt completely different.
Heavier.
Colder.
More personal.
The room was simple.
Quiet.
Preserved.
Then Namu saw it.
A photograph.
Large.
Beautifully framed.
And hanging alone upon the wall.
It wasn't Esima.
It wasn't family.
It wasn't business.
It was a young woman.
Extraordinarily beautiful.
Her eyes carried a quiet depth.
Her smile seemed distant.
Almost unreachable.
Namu stopped breathing.
His father stepped closer.
Both men stared at the image in stunned silence.
Because one thought echoed through their minds.
Maro never loved anyone.
At least...
That was what everyone believed.
Then who was she?
Why was her photograph hidden here?
Why protect it behind a locked door?
Why keep her above everything else?
Namu finally found his voice.
"...Who are you?"
The room remained silent.
The woman in the photograph offered no answer.
Only another mystery.
Another secret.
Another hidden chapter of Maro's life.
Final Line
As they stood beneath the endless sky, staring at the face of the unknown woman, a question settled deep within their hearts-
Was this the love Maro had hidden from the world?
And if she was...
Why had he hidden her above everything else?
- Writer
