I couldn't take my eyes off the photograph.
Sister Perry.
The same woman who had made my life miserable with her endless rules and sharp tongue.
The same woman I'd reported to Father Michael.
But why would her picture be hidden in an old box with two little girls?
"Aria, where did you get this?" I asked.
"From the storage room. I told you that already."
"Then why didn't you show me sooner?"
"Because I needed to be sure."
"Sure of what?"
She hesitated.
"That the woman in this photograph was really Sister Perry."
I looked at the picture again. The woman was younger, but there was no mistaking her face.
"What does this have to do with Phoebe?"
Aria shook her head.
"I don't know yet. But she clearly knows something about your childhood."
I wanted to ask more, but footsteps sounded outside the dormitory.
We quickly hid the photograph.
Sister Perry entered, carrying a basket of folded clothes.
Her eyes swept across the room before settling on us.
"What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing, Sister," I answered.
She studied my face.
"You're a terrible liar, Taya."
My heart skipped.
She placed the basket on a nearby bed and approached us.
"Have you seen an old photograph anywhere?"
Aria and I exchanged a quick glance.
"No," I replied.
Sister Perry stared at me for another moment.
Then she smiled.
It was the first time I'd ever seen her smile at me, and somehow, it frightened me more than her anger ever had.
"Good. Some things belong in the past."
She turned to leave.
At the doorway, she stopped.
"And Taya?"
"Yes, Sister?"
"Stay away from Father Michael. Not every confession is forgiven."
She walked out before I could respond.
I stood frozen.
Why would Sister Perry warn me about the very man I'd gone to for help?
And what did she mean by not every confession is forgiven?
Aria touched my arm.
"Taya, we need to find out what happened between them."
I nodded, but my thoughts were already racing.
I'd trusted Father Michael when I'd told him about Sister Perry.
Now Sister Perry was warning me about him.
And somewhere inside this orphanage was a photograph that connected her to my childhood.
For the first time, I wondered whether my search for the truth would force me to choose between two people who might both be hiding something.
Then Aria whispered, "There's one more thing I haven't told you."
I turned toward her.
"What?"
She looked toward the door to make sure we were alone.
"Sister Perry wasn't the only person standing beside you in that photograph."
My breath caught.
"Who was the other person?"
Aria's eyes met mine.
"Someone you've known your entire life."