A message pops in, on my phone.
It's Dan.
"Can we at least talk?"
My heart skips a beat. My fingers tighten around the phone as I stare at the screen, torn between impulse and restraint.
A part of me wants to ignore him, let the silence between us stretch into something permanent. But then, like a cruel echo, I remember my last words to him.
"That's all you've ever done, Dan. Hurt me."
Anger flares inside me again, searing through the hesitation.
I should leave his message unanswered. I owe him nothing.
Then, another message comes in.
"Your parents and mine are meeting today."
Curiosity creeps in, dulling the edges of my anger.
Meeting? Nobody mentioned anything. The house had been unusually quiet this morning, but I hadn't thought much of it. Now, a strange unease settles in my chest.
I begin to type,
"Let's meet outside."
I have a right to know. If everyone is keeping secrets from me, I need to hear the truth from someone, even if that someone is Dan.
But not inside my house.
Not with him standing in my space, where the walls might absorb his words and let them linger.
Not with me standing too close, where I might forget why I hate him.
A final message from him pops up.
"I'll be ready in ten minutes."
I sigh, dropping my phone onto the bed. I've been bedridden for too long, wallowing in my emotions.
Pushing myself up, I catch my reflection in the mirror. The girl staring back at me looks… hollow. A ghost of who she used to be.
For the first time, I have no desire to look good for Dan.
I catch the thought immediately, correcting myself. I mean my brother.
I swallow, but my throat is dry, as if my body is protesting this meeting. Still, I force myself forward.
I gather my hair into a simple ponytail, swipe on some lip gloss, and call it enough. Effort feels like too much work today.
Descending the stairs, I scan the room for my parents. Instead, I see Mrs. May at the counter, slicing carrots with a slow, practiced rhythm.
"Helen, you're stepping out?" she asks without looking up.
"Yes," I lie.
"I'm off to see Selena."
She nods, still focused on the carrots. "Be home for lunch, okay?"
"Where are Mom and Dad?" I ask.
She hesitates, just enough for me to catch it.
"They went out," she says, her tone too casual.
I narrow my eyes.
"You mean they're meeting with Dan's parents today?"
Mrs. May stiffens. The knife halts mid-slice.
I let out a bitter laugh.
"At this point, I don't see the need for these lies anymore." My voice is sharper than I intend, but I don't care.
"Helen, it's not—"
I don't wait for her to finish. I push open the door and step outside.
The air greets me with a sharp gust, whipping against my skin.
I inhale deeply, letting it ground me. My legs move instinctively, carrying me toward the park where Dan is waiting.
It isn't far, but every step feels heavier than the last.
As I approach, I see him sitting on a bench, hunched over his phone. His fingers move across the screen, his brows furrowed in focus.
My heart stings.
Is he texting her?
Was I ready to hear the truth?.
I push the thought away, but it lingers like an unwelcome guest in my mind.
Then, as if sensing me, Dan looks up.
His eyes meet mine, and for a split second, something soft flickers in them. His lips twitch into a small, hesitant smile.
A part of me hates that my heart stirs at the sight.
"Hel," he says, voice gentle.
I hear my own heartbeat, loud and betraying.
"Thanks for coming."
I sit down across from him, keeping my expression unreadable.
"Start talking."
The words leave my mouth before I can filter them.
Dan looks at me, stunned. He wasn't expecting that tone from me. To be honest, I wasn't expecting it either.
For a moment, guilt creeps in, but I push it aside. He deserves this. He's the one who kept the truth from me.
"When did you know you were my brother?" The question tumbles out before I can stop it.
Dan exhales, shifting uncomfortably. Avoiding my eyes.
"I've known for a while," he admits.
"A while?" I scoff. "Like your whole life? Or two—three years ago?"
He hesitates, then finally says it.
"Five years ago."
I blink. A whole five years.
"What?" My voice rises, incredulous. "You knew for five years, Dan? And you said nothing?"
He remains silent, but his jaw tightens.
I gather myself, forcing my emotions under control. "You've been waiting for me to come out here and talk, so talk," I snap impatiently.
Dan sighs. "Hel, it's not like we're entirely blood, you know."
His words hit me like a slap.
I stare at him, my chest tightening. "Dan, we were in a relationship," I whisper, my voice unsteady. "You could have told me. You should have told me."
I feel my throat closing up, emotions tightening their grip on me.
Dan leans forward, desperation flickering in his eyes. "Come on, Hel, You know I do care about us.
I just… I didn't want what we had to end."
He reaches for my hands, but I don't move. I don't pull away, but I don't hold him either.
My heart melts. Damn him.
"But that was selfish," I manage to say.
"Selfish?" He lets out a bitter laugh.
"I was protecting us." His voice rises, frustration spilling into his words.
I inhale sharply. He's right,
Dan suddenly stands, moving to sit beside me. His presence is warm, familiar. Dangerous.
"I don't want to lose you," he murmurs.
For the first time since this mess unraveled, I look at him, really look at him, and for a fleeting moment, I see the boy I once loved. The one who made me feel safe. The one who was mine.
Then he leans in.
For a second, I freeze. My body betrays me, wanting to close the distance, to return to what once was.
But I can't.
I won't.
I pull back.
"Aren't you even bothered by all of this?" I ask, my voice thick with confusion.
Dan leans back, rubbing his face. "I've made peace with it."
I frown. Peace?
"You do realize you're the reason our parents have been traveling so much?" I press.
I watch as his demeanor change,
"You mean your parent," He corrects me
Dan exhales, looking down at the ground and goes on again,
"And, I just found out about that last year, when we started dating."
I shake my head, my thoughts spinning. "You could have told me," I whisper, still struggling to process it all.
He meets my gaze. "And then what? What would have changed?"
I open my mouth, then close it. He's so sure. So settled in his truth. But I can't accept it.
"What do you want, Hel?" His voice sharpens. "I'm at peace where I am."
I feel anger bubbling up. "How can you be? You were literally kidnapped!"
Silence.
Dan's head snaps toward me, his expression darkening.
"Kidnapped?" His voice is low, almost dangerous.
"A child only gets kidnapped when their parents are actually not around to miss them."
"You don't know that for sure," I say weakly.
Dan tilts his head, a bitter smirk forming. "No, you don't know that."
I swallow, my mind racing.
"But still----" Dan cuts me short as I begin to speak again,
"I have a home, a real home, atleast my parents are present are yours present?".
His words hit me hard
I stay silent.
He's partly right.
"Don't you want to know what really happened? How it all happened?" I ask, desperate to shake him out of this false sense of peace.
Dan pauses, his face unreadable.
Then he exhales, his eyes flickering with something cold.
"I saw the footage," he says, voice flat. "And that's all I need."
My stomach twists.
The footage. I remember my parents saying the same thing.
Before I can ask,
A sharp chime of my phone slices through the air.
We both glance down at the screen.
"Dom."
Dan's jaw clenches.
I stare at the screen, heart pounding.
" "You're still with him?" Dan's voice is sharp, laced with something dangerously close to accusation.
I inhale deeply, forcing myself to meet his gaze. Stay calm, Hel.
"You know that's not true," I say firmly, my voice steady, though my hands are clenched into fists.
But Dan doesn't seem convinced. His eyes darken, scrutinizing me like I'm lying, like there's something unspoken between Dom and me.
His silence fuels my frustration. I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head.
"How about Sabrina, then?" I fire back, my words sharp and cutting.
Dan's body tenses. His jaw tightens as anger flickers across his face.
"You know very well this has nothing to do with Sabrina," he snaps, his voice low and dangerous. His hands tremble slightly at his sides. He's barely holding himself together.
I step closer, refusing to back down. "You know very well this has everything to do with her—"
Dan cuts me off before I can finish. "Are you trying to make me jealous, Hel?"
I stare at him, stunned.
Unbelievable.
Of all the things I expected, this wasn't it.
A bitter taste settles in my mouth. "I can't do this right now," I murmur, shaking my head.
I turn on my heel, my body rigid as I start walking away. My heart pounds, but I don't look back.
Dan's voice slices through the air,
raw with emotion.
"Run to him, then! But you're going to regret this!"
His words echo behind me, but I don't stop.
I keep walking.