Chapter Three — The Woman Who Stayed
Lena grew into awareness the way people grew into hunger—slowly, then all at once.
By ten, she knew they were poorer than most. By twelve, she knew Miriam lied to landlords and smiled through it. By fourteen, she knew some truths were protected by silence, not spoken.
At school, fathers came on visiting days. Some loud. Some drunk. Some proud.
Lena sat alone.
"Where's your dad?" a girl asked once.
Lena shrugged. "Working."
It was easier than explaining absence.
Miriam never spoke of him. Not with bitterness. Not with longing.
Just absence, shaped and deliberate.
At night, Lena sometimes heard her crying. Not loudly. Never enough to draw attention. Just soft sounds that slipped through walls like breath.
One evening, Lena stood in the doorway.
"Are you sick?" she asked.
Miriam wiped her face quickly. "No."
"Are you sad?"
Miriam hesitated, then opened her arms.
Lena went to her without thinking.
"I'm scared," Miriam said into her hair. The confession surprised them both.
"Of what?"
"That one day you'll hate me."
Lena pulled back. "Why would I?"
Miriam looked at her like she was memorizing her face.
"Because love built on lies still leaves scars."
Lena didn't understand, but she nodded anyway.
Years later, facts began to surface.
A document misplaced. A name that didn't match a record. A school official asking questions.
"Your father," the woman said carefully, "is he alive?"
Miriam stood rigid beside Lena.
"Yes."
"Can we contact him?"
"No."
The word was sharp. Final.
That night, Miriam sat Lena down.
"There are things," she said, hands folded tightly, "that I can't tell you yet."
"Why?"
"Because the truth doesn't always heal.
Sometimes it destroys."
Lena stared at her. "Am I yours?"
Miriam reached out, gripping her hands with desperation. "I chose you. Every day."
Lena never wanted to push things far she was confused,full of curiosity that made way for a big revelation,this is where Lena knew the woman that raised her was keeping things from her.