Chapter 3 - The Man Who Told Her Goodbye.
Chapter 3 - The Man Who Told Her Goodbye.
Nora did not sleep that night.
The silver heart necklace rested on the table in front of her.
The same necklace she had worn for six years.
The same necklace she believed represented a memory.
Now it represented a question.
Where was the other half all this time?
Her phone sat beside it.
She stared at the screen for almost an hour.
Then she finally called Ethan.
The call connected after three rings.
“Nora?”
His voice sounded tired.
Not surprised.
That was the first thing she noticed.
He sounded like he had been waiting.
“You knew.”
Silence.
“Nora…”
“No.”
Her voice became sharper.
“You knew something was wrong.”
Ethan said nothing.
That silence hurt more than an answer.
“Who is Emma?”
The line remained quiet.
“Ethan.”
Finally, he spoke.
“You need to stop.”
Nora closed her eyes.
The same words.
The same warning.
Everyone was telling her to stop.
Nobody was telling her the truth.
“Why are you afraid?”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
Another silence.
Then Ethan whispered:
“You don’t understand what happened that night.”
Nora looked toward the window.
Rain covered the glass.
“I was there.”
“I was the mother.”
Ethan’s breathing changed.
“You were supposed to be protected from it.”
Nora froze.
“What does that mean?”
No answer.
“Ethan.”
His voice became lower.
“Some things were done because people thought they were necessary.”
Nora felt sick.
“Necessary?”
“You let me believe my baby died.”
“I know.”
The honesty shocked her.
Not an excuse.
Not denial.
A confession.
Nora stood up.
“Why?”
Ethan did not answer.
“Why did you let me bury a child who might still be alive?”
His voice cracked slightly.
“Because I was told she would never be safe if the truth came out.”
Nora gripped the phone.
“Who told you that?”
The line went silent.
Then Ethan said:
“The same person who has been watching you since the day you left St. Catherine’s.”
Nora felt a chill.
“Who?”
Before Ethan could answer...
The call ended.
Nora stared at the phone.
Then she noticed something.
The front door of her apartment was slightly open.
She knew she had locked it.
Her heart began racing.
Slowly, she walked toward the entrance.
The apartment was dark.
Silent.
Someone had been inside.
On the floor near the doorway was a small object.
A handmade rabbit.
With one blue button eye.
And a note attached.
Nora picked it up with shaking hands.
May you like
Only four words were written.
“Stop searching for her.”
