"Someone I've known my entire life?" I repeated.
Aria nodded.
"Who is it?"
She hesitated before turning the photograph toward me.
I looked at the little girl beside Sister Perry, then at the woman standing behind her.
My breath caught.
"Sister Catherine?"
My godmother.
The woman who had comforted me through my nightmares, defended me when Sister Perry punished me unfairly, and reminded me that I was never truly alone.
Why was she standing beside Sister Perry in a photograph connected to my childhood?
"Where did you find this again?" I asked.
"The old storage room."
"Does Sister Catherine know you have it?"
"I don't know."
I snatched the photograph from Aria.
"Then I'm asking her myself."
"Taya, wait!"
But I was already walking away.
I found Sister Catherine in the small chapel, arranging flowers beside the altar.
She looked up when I entered.
"My child, what's wrong?"
I placed the photograph in front of her.
Her smile disappeared.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she looked toward the chapel entrance to make sure we were alone.
"Where did you get this?"
"Please, Sister. Just answer one question. Why are you in a photograph with Sister Perry and two little girls?"
She closed her eyes briefly.
When she opened them, they were filled with tears.
"Because I was there the day you were brought to this orphanage."
I stared at her.
"You've never told me that."
"I know."
"Why?"
She reached for my hand, but I stepped back.
"Who is the other girl, Sister?"
Her lips trembled.
Before she could answer, someone appeared at the chapel entrance.
Father Michael.
His eyes fell on the photograph.
Then he looked at Sister Catherine.
"You promised me this secret would never leave the past."
Sister Catherine went pale.
I turned toward him.
"What secret?"
Father Michael approached us slowly.
Then he looked directly into my eyes.
"Taya, there is something about the day you came here that nobody has ever told you."
I held my breath.
"What is it?"
He glanced at Sister Catherine.
She shook her head desperately.
But Father Michael had already made his decision.
"You weren't supposed to grow up here alone."