CHAPTER 5: The Memory That Shouldn't Exist
"Expose… who?"
Elara's voice came out barely above a whisper.
But in the silence that followed, it sounded deafening.
No one answered.
Not her best friend.
Not the man who claimed to be her husband.
Just silence.
And somehow—
that silence said everything.
"I think you should leave."
Sophia's voice cut through the tension, sharp and controlled now.
Gone was the sweetness.
Gone was the warmth.
She was looking at the man with something dangerously close to hostility.
"This isn't your place," she added.
The man didn't even glance at her.
His eyes remained locked on Elara.
"I'm not leaving," he said calmly. "Not until she hears the truth."
"She's not ready," Sophia snapped.
"That's not your decision."
Their voices clashed, low but intense.
Elara's chest tightened as she looked between them.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't how people acted over "hallucinations."
"You're both lying to me," she said suddenly.
Her voice trembled—but the words were firm.
That got their attention.
"Everyone is," she continued, her breathing uneven. "My mom. Daniel. You…" her eyes flickered to the man. "And you," she added, looking at Sophia.
Sophia's expression faltered.
Hurt flashed across her face—but it didn't last long.
"Elara, I would never lie to you," she said softly.
The words should have comforted her.
But instead—
they made her uneasy.
Because Daniel had said the same thing.
And her mother.
All of them.
Same tone.
Same reassurance.
Same… script.
A sudden sharp pain shot through Elara's head.
She gasped, grabbing onto the edge of the table.
"Elara!" Sophia rushed forward.
But before she could touch her—
"Don't."
The man's voice stopped her instantly.
Sophia froze.
"What are you doing?" she snapped. "She needs help!"
"No," he said, watching Elara closely. "She's remembering."
Remembering?
Elara's vision blurred.
The room seemed to tilt as fragments—broken, scattered pieces—flashed through her mind.
Voices.
Shouting.
Rain pouring heavily against glass.
"I can't believe you did this!"
Her own voice.
Angry.
Hurt.
Another voice—
Daniel.
"Calm down, Elara. You're overreacting."
"No, I'm not!" she had shouted. "I saw you! With her!"
Her heart pounded violently in her chest.
With her?
Her breathing quickened.
Another flash—
A woman standing beside Daniel.
Smiling.
Soft.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
Blonde hair.
Gentle eyes.
A face she trusted.
A face she loved.
A face—
Sophia.
Elara's eyes snapped open.
She stumbled back, staring at her best friend like she had just seen a ghost.
"You…" her voice cracked. "You were there…"
Sophia's face went pale.
"Elara, listen—"
"You were with him!" she shouted, her entire body trembling. "You and Daniel—!"
The words shattered the air.
"No!" Sophia said quickly. "It's not what you think—"
"Then what is it?!" Elara cried, tears filling her eyes. "Tell me!"
Silence.
Again.
Always silence.
And this time—
it hurt more than anything.
Because silence meant guilt.
"I walked in on you," Elara whispered, more memories flooding back now. "You were together…"
Her chest tightened painfully.
"And you lied to me."
Her voice broke.
"You both lied to me."
Daniel.
Sophia.
The two people she trusted the most.
The two people she ran back to.
Her knees felt weak.
Everything inside her felt like it was collapsing.
"I was going to tell you," Sophia said desperately, stepping forward. "I just—didn't know how—"
"So you decided not to?" Elara laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "You decided to just… keep going behind my back?"
"It wasn't like that!"
"Then what was it?!" she shouted again.
Sophia opened her mouth—
But no words came out.
Because there was nothing left to say.
"And the accident?"
The question came quietly this time.
But it hit harder than any shout.
Elara's tear-filled eyes locked onto Sophia.
"Was that also… not what I think?"
Sophia's breathing hitched.
"Elara, I swear—I didn't—"
"Answer me!"
Her voice echoed through the room.
Sharp.
Demanding.
Broken.
Sophia shook her head quickly.
"I didn't try to hurt you!" she said. "I would never do that!"
But she didn't deny everything.
And Elara noticed.
Of course she did.
"That night," the man spoke up, his voice calm but heavy, "you left after confronting them."
Elara turned slightly toward him, her heart still racing.
"It was raining," he continued. "You were upset. You weren't thinking clearly."
Her breathing slowed slightly as she listened.
"You called me," he added.
Elara froze.
"I… what?"
"You called me," he repeated softly. "You said you were done running. That you were ready to come home."
Home.
The word hit differently this time.
Not strange.
Not distant.
But… familiar.
"And then?" she whispered.
His jaw tightened.
"And then," he said, his voice darkening, "a car came out of nowhere."
Elara's heart dropped.
"And hit you."
The room went silent again.
But this silence—
was different.
Because this time…
it carried fear.
Elara slowly turned back to Sophia.
Her tears had stopped.
Replaced by something colder.
Something sharper.
"Was it really an accident?" she asked quietly.
Sophia didn't answer.
Didn't move.
Didn't even breathe.
And that—
was all the answer Elara needed.