“Could we just go to the classroom?”
She led me down a hallway covered in children’s drawings.
Inside the classroom, soft voices and crayons filled the air.
Then I saw it.
On the memory board, between photos of pets and grandparents, was a picture of Ava and Mia in their pajamas, their faces sticky with ice cream.
Demi stood between them, holding Mia’s wrist.
I stepped closer, staring.
“Where did this come from?”
Ms. Edwards lowered her voice.
“I don’t know how much I should share, but Demi said those were her sisters. She talks about them sometimes. Her mother brought the photo and said it was from their last ice cream trip.”
I leaned against the wall.
“Macy gave it to you?”
“Yes. She said the loss had been very hard on Demi.”
My throat tightened.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
“If you want it taken down, just tell me,” she added.
I shook my head.
“No. Let Demi keep her memory.”
For illustrative purposes only
Macy’s Confession
That evening I finally called Macy.
She answered after several rings.
“Taylor?”
“I need to talk.”
Her house was smaller than I remembered. Toys were scattered across the yard.
She met me at the door, visibly shaking.
“Taylor, I’m so sorry. Demi misses them… I kept meaning to reach out—”
I interrupted her.
“Why did you still have a photo from that night? I recognized their pajamas.”
Her face tightened.
“That photo… was it taken that night?”
She lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“Then tell me everything.”
She twisted her hands nervously.
“That night, I picked the twins up first. I was supposed to collect Demi from my mother’s house and bring her back to yours.”
I remembered helping the girls choose my dress for the gala that evening.
“They started begging for ice cream,” Macy continued. “I thought it would only take ten minutes.”
“But you told the police there was an emergency with Demi.”
Her face crumpled.
“I lied. I just wanted Demi to join us. I’m so sorry, Taylor.”
Silence filled the room.
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