I couldn't stop thinking about the diary.
Even during dinner, my mind kept drifting back to those words.
"This is the truth she must never know."
And my name… written again and again.
It didn't make sense.
I glanced at my mother sitting across from me. She looked the same as always—calm, quiet, normal. She asked me about my day, just like she always did.
But tonight… something felt different.
"Why are you so quiet?" she asked.
I forced a small smile. "Just tired."
She nodded, not suspecting anything.
Or maybe… she did.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
The house was silent. Too silent.
I kept turning from one side to another, my thoughts getting louder with every second. Finally, I gave up. I sat up in bed, my heart already racing.
I knew what I had to do.
Slowly, I stepped out of my room. The hallway was dark, lit only by the faint light coming from the window. Every step I took felt heavier, like the house itself was watching me.
I reached the storage room door.
For a moment, I hesitated.
Then I opened it.
The smell of dust filled the air as I stepped inside. Everything was exactly where I left it.
Except now… it didn't feel harmless anymore.
I quickly walked to the wooden box and pulled out the diary. My fingers trembled as I opened it again.
Page after page… filled with writing.
I flipped to the next entry.
"She is growing up faster than we expected.
If she finds out the truth now… everything will fall apart."
My chest tightened.
Who wrote this?
And who were they talking about?
Me?
I kept reading.
"We had no choice. That night changed everything.
If we didn't do what we did… she wouldn't be alive today."
I froze.
The words echoed in my mind.
That night…?
What night?
What did they do?
And why did it sound like something terrible had happened?
A sudden noise came from outside.
Footsteps.
My heart nearly stopped.
I quickly closed the diary, holding my breath.
The footsteps came closer… then stopped right outside the door.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't breathe.
For a second, I thought the door would open.
But it didn't.
After a few moments, the footsteps faded away.
I let out a shaky breath, my hands cold and numb.
Something was very wrong.
This wasn't just a secret.
This was something bigger.
Something dangerous.
I looked back at the diary, my fear slowly turning into determination.
Whoever wrote this…
Whatever happened that night…
I was going to find out.
No matter what it cost.