Chapter Five — What She Never Said
1074 Words
Lena didn't sleep that night.
The photograph sat on her bedside table.
She had turned it face down twice.
It hadn't helped.
The four words were still burned into her mind.
You deserve the truth.
By morning, she had made a decision.
She wasn't going to ask Aria about it.
Not yet.
If Aria wanted to tell her, she would.
At least, that was what Lena told herself.
But by noon, she was standing outside Aria's apartment.
She knocked.
Nothing.
She knocked again.
The door opened.
Aria stood there in an oversized shirt, her hair messy and her eyes tired.
When she saw Lena, she froze.
“Lena?”
“Can I come in?”
Aria hesitated.
Then stepped aside.
Lena entered.
The apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
A camera sat on the table beside several photographs.
Lena noticed one immediately.
It was a picture of a little girl.
She looked about ten years old.
She was smiling at the camera.
Lena picked it up.
“Who is she?”
Aria went still.
“My sister.”
Lena looked at her.
“You have a sister?”
Aria nodded.
“Had.”
The word made Lena's heart sink.
“What happened?”
Aria took the photograph from her.
“She died.”
Lena's expression softened.
“I'm sorry.”
“It was years ago.”
“Still.”
Aria looked down at the photograph.
“She was the reason I started taking pictures.”
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid I'd forget her.”
Lena sat beside her.
“You won't.”
Aria looked at her.
“You don't know that.”
“I know what it feels like to be afraid of losing something important.”
Aria smiled sadly.
“You really are a writer.”
“What does that mean?”
“You make everything sound beautiful.”
“Not everything is beautiful.”
“No.”
Aria looked at the photograph.
“Some things are just painful.”
Silence settled between them.
Then Lena remembered the message.
“Aria.”
“Yes?”
“Who is Adrian?”
Aria's expression changed.
“He's someone from before.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“He knew my sister.”
Lena waited.
Aria looked toward the window.
“Adrian was her best friend.”
“Was?”
“He blamed me for what happened.”
Lena frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I was supposed to be with her that night.”
The room seemed to become colder.
“What happened?”
Aria shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because every time I tell the story, I become that girl again.”
“What girl?”
“The girl who couldn't save her.”
Lena moved closer.
“You don't have to tell me everything today.”
Aria looked at her.
“But I need you to understand something.”
“What?”
“If Adrian comes near you, don't trust him.”
“Why?”
“Because he doesn't want to protect me.”
“Then what does he want?”
Aria's voice dropped.
“Revenge.”
Lena stared at her.
“For what?”
Aria didn't answer.
Instead, she stood and walked toward the window.
“I need to tell you something else.”
Lena waited.
Aria turned around.
“I like you.”
Lena's heart skipped.
“I know.”
“No.”
Aria shook her head.
“You don't.”
She walked toward Lena.
“I don't mean I enjoy being around you.”
She stopped in front of her.
“I mean I think about you when you're not there.”
Lena couldn't speak.
“I think about calling you.”
Aria's voice trembled.
“I think about what you'd say when something happens. I look for you in crowds. I take photographs because sometimes I see something beautiful and wish you were there to see it too.”
Lena's eyes filled with tears.
“Aria…”
“I know it's complicated.”
“It is.”
“I know my life isn't simple.”
“I know.”
“And I know you deserve someone who doesn't come with this much baggage.”
Lena stood.
“I never asked for perfect.”
Aria looked at her.
“What did you ask for?”
Lena smiled through the tears.
“Someone honest.”
Aria looked away.
“I want to be.”
“Then start.”
Aria nodded.
“I will.”
For the first time, neither of them tried to hide what was happening between them.
Lena reached for her hand.
Aria held it.
Then the doorbell rang.
They both froze.
Aria's smile disappeared.
“No.”
The bell rang again.
Lena looked at her.
“Who is it?”
Aria didn't answer.
The knocking began.
Three times.
Hard.
Then a voice came through the door.
“Aria.”
Adrian.
Aria released Lena's hand.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Lena—”
“I said no.”
She followed Aria to the door.
Aria opened it.
Adrian stood there.
His face was furious.
“You told her?”
Aria said nothing.
Adrian looked past her.
His eyes landed on Lena.
“So you finally know.”
Lena stepped forward.
“Know what?”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“Ask her.”
Aria's voice became firm.
“Leave.”
“You think you can hide forever?”
“I don't owe you anything.”
“You owe your sister.”
Aria flinched.
Lena saw it.
Adrian noticed too.
And for a moment, his anger disappeared.
Something like regret crossed his face.
Then he pulled an envelope from his pocket.
He handed it to Lena.
“Read this.”
Aria immediately reached for it.
“No.”
Lena held it tighter.
“What is it?”
Adrian looked at Aria.
“Something she should have shown you herself.”
He turned and walked away.
Lena looked at the envelope.
Then at Aria.
“What's inside?”
Aria's eyes filled with fear.
“Please don't open it.”
That was the wrong thing to say.
Because now Lena knew.
Whatever was inside that envelope—
it could change everything.
She slowly opened it.
And the first thing she saw was a photograph.
Her breath caught.
It was Aria.
Standing beside her sister.
And beside them—
was Lena's father.
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