CHAPTER FOUR
1057 Words
LIYAH’S POV
I stared at my phone long after the call ended. I didn’t know the man. At least, I didn’t think I did. But the way he spoke made it sound like I was the only person who didn’t know what was going on.
I tried calling the number back, but it didn’t go through. I tried again. Nothing. I dropped my phone on the bed and sat there quietly.
Your mother should have told you by now.
Those words kept playing in my head. What exactly was my mother supposed to tell me?
I couldn’t stay in my room anymore. I walked out and found her in the kitchen. She was standing by the window, looking outside.
“Mom.”
She turned around. “What is it?”
“Who called me?”
Her face changed. “What are you talking about?”
“The man who called me last night.”
She stared at me. “You shouldn’t have answered.”
That answer made me even more suspicious. “Why?”
She looked away. “Liyah, please.”
“No, Mom. I need answers.”
She sighed and sat down. I sat opposite her. For a while, neither of us spoke. Then she said quietly, “I made a mistake.”
“What kind of mistake?”
“One that I have been trying to fix for years.”
I didn’t know what to say. She looked towards the old picture of my father on the wall.
“Your father and I thought we could handle everything ourselves.”
I listened.
“We borrowed money when things were difficult. We thought we’d pay it back once things got better.”
“But things didn’t get better.”
She shook her head. “No.”
She looked down at her hands. “After your father died, everything became harder.”
I reached for her hand. “Mom.”
She squeezed mine. “I tried everything, Liyah. I sold things. I borrowed from people. I took whatever work I could find.”
I knew she had struggled, but hearing her say it made everything feel different.
“How much do we owe?”
She didn’t answer immediately. “Enough that I can’t pay it.”
My stomach tightened. “What happens if you don’t?”
She looked at me. “They will take the house.”
I looked around the kitchen. Our small house suddenly felt even smaller.
“And then?”
She looked away. “I don’t know.”
I didn’t know what to say. For the first time, I understood why she looked so frightened whenever the phone rang.
“Then we’ll find a way,” I said.
She gave me a sad smile. “I’ve already found one.”
I frowned. “What way?”
She didn’t answer.
“Mom.”
She stood up. “I need you to be patient.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I know.”
She walked towards the cupboard and took out a small envelope. She held it for a moment before putting it back. I watched her carefully.
“What is that?”
“Nothing.”
“Mom.”
She turned around. “Liyah, there are things you don’t need to know yet.”
“But it’s my life too.”
She went quiet. I immediately regretted saying it. She looked tired.
“I know.”
Then there was a knock at the door. My mother froze.
I looked at her. “Is it him?”
She didn’t answer.
The knock came again, this time harder. My mother quickly walked towards the door.
“Stay here.”
I watched her open it.
A woman was standing outside. She was dressed simply and held a small handbag. I didn’t recognize her.
She spoke quietly to my mother. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”
My mother stepped outside and closed the door behind her. I couldn’t hear everything, but I could see the worry on my mother’s face.
After a few minutes, the woman left. My mother came back inside.
“Who was that?”
“Someone I know.”
“About the debt?”
She didn’t answer. I was beginning to get tired of being kept in the dark.
That evening, Daniel came to see me. The moment he saw my face, he knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
He gave me a look. “Liyah.”
I sighed. “My mother is hiding something from me.”
“About the debt?”
“Yes.”
I told him about the phone call and the woman who came to the house. Daniel listened carefully.
“Did your mother tell you what the man wanted?”
“No.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Maybe you should come away with me.”
I looked at him. “What?”
“Not forever. Just for a few days.”
I smiled sadly. “Where would we go?”
“Anywhere.”
I laughed softly. “You don’t even have a plan.”
“I’ll make one.”
For a moment, I forgot about everything.
My phone rang. It was my mother.
I answered. “Hello?”
“Liyah, come home.”
Her voice sounded different. “What happened?”
“Just come home.”
“Mom?”
She ended the call.
I looked at Daniel. “I have to go.”
He nodded. “I’ll walk you.”
When I got home, the lights were on. My mother was sitting in the living room.
But she wasn’t alone.
The same man from before was sitting across from her.
I stopped at the doorway. He looked at me. This time, he didn’t smile.
My mother stood up. “Liyah, sit down.”
I slowly walked inside.
The man placed a document on the table. I looked at it.
“What is that?”
Nobody answered.
I looked at my mother. She couldn’t even look at me.
The man finally spoke. “Read it.”
I stared at the document. I didn’t understand why my hands suddenly felt cold. I reached for it.
But before I could open it, my mother whispered, “Liyah, please don’t hate me.”
I looked at her.
My stomach dropped.
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