Uncovering the Secrets

Write 5 positive characteristics about yourself!

‘Characteristics… Positive…UGH! This is IMPOSSIBLE. How am I supposed to write characteristics about myself if I don’t even know my name!’

I thought, banging my head on the desk hopelessly.

‘if only I wasn’t in that car crash…’

“Emily! Are you finished? I might as well just take this then,” Mrs. Beacher says to me, taking my worksheet.

I hesitated for a moment, processing what she just said, then responded. “Wait, I wasn’t finished…!” I said, scrambling to take my worksheet from her.

“Well, then you shouldn’t have been sleeping on your desk, I expect you to be a better example for your classmates. Please get back to work!” Mrs. Beacher says sternly, walking away.

‘5 characteristics about me… Let’s do the simple ones: smart, kind, funny, honest… ‘

I thought long and hard about my last characteristic, wanting it to perfectly match me, but… Here’s the thing: I don’t know my name because I was in a car accident. My parents unfortunately passed away from it, and I was the only survivor, but I got amnesia. I was sent to the orphanage and got adopted by a kind family called the Oakleys. Since I didn’t know my name, they named me Emily, and put me in this public school where I struggled, not knowing anything about my past life; My name, my parent’s names, my family members, nothing. Just the car accident. Although, I have been keeping something from my adoptive parents. I actually have one memory from before the car accident. It was a time when me and my family were at the park, enjoying a walk, when this slightly older girl came up to me and said, “ You ruined my life Mia! Someday, you’ll pay! “ The girl said, walking away furiously. I always thought about that moment before bed, thinking it meant something.

‘Could this girl have something to do with the car accident? Did she actually make me pay, and the car accident just happened? What does this mean…’

“Emily! Please stop slacking off!” Mrs. Beacher scowled, interrupting my thoughts, “ The bell rang already, and it’s time for you to go home. Goodbye!”

As I walked out of the school, I kept thinking about when that girl told me she would make me pay.

‘What did I do to enrage her so much? What did she do?’

Thoughts raced through my mind, telling me to figure out who I am.

“Honey! How was school?” Mom said, waving out the window of our run-down, old, minivan.

“Fine,” I said, crawling into the backseat. “Hey Carly,” I added, waving to my older sister next to me. She was on her phone - obviously.

“Oh um hi. “ She said blankly, continuing to scroll on her phone.

“So, Emily! What did you do at school?” Mom said casually driving.

“We were doing a writing project about us. Today we were brainstorming five characteristics about ourselves, “ I said, staring out the window.

“Well, if you need help me and your dad could help brainstorm for you! Ooh, here’s one! You are super duper kind! How is that?”

“ADOPTIVE Dad,” Carly said, rolling her eyes.

Carly still hasn’t accepted the fact that I’m in her family. Apparently, she was about to have a baby brother, but he passed right after he was born. So, her parents decided to adopt me. She still hasn’t accepted that I’m her sister. She still thinks I’m just a stranger living in her house, which makes life harder.

“Carly! That’s rude! She’s been in our family for 3 years now and you have to accept that now-”

“But she isn't in this family! We’re blood, she’s just adopted! I’m sorry if I can’t accept a stranger into this family that easily. Sheesh,” Carly yelled, annoyed.

“Carly! Give me that phone. You’re grounded for one week. Once we get home, go to your room and think about what you said, “ mom said sternly.

Honestly, I don’t really care. These fights happen almost everyday, and most of the time I’m the cause of it. I’m used to it by now.

“You are impossible to live with! How can you accept a stranger into our house so easily? UGH!” Carly said, storming up to her room.

“What happened this time?” Dad asked, eyebrows raising.

“She said Emily isn’t part of our family,” Mom murmured.

“Wow. That’s a new one. Anyway, I’ll be gone soon for David’s bachelor party! It’s gonna be a blast. Take care of the kids,” Dad whispered, realizing I was standing behind mom. “Ah, kiddo! Welcome home! How was school?”

“Fine,“ I said, “I have some homework to finish.”

“Ok. Ask me or mom if you need anything, ok? “ Dad said, worryingly. I nodded, slowly walking up the stairs. “ You okay kiddo?”

“Yeah, don’t worry about me.”

“Ok then. Dinner is at 8, don’t forget!”

“Yeah, I know.” I said, closing my bedroom door.

‘Finally, I’m safe.’

I heard my mom and dad arguing downstairs. They always do that.

I zipped open my backpack, and pulled out a sheet of paper.

‘Math, seriously?’

I rolled my eyes as I started working on it.

‘Okay, first question: (5x6÷ 2)+5=? What the heck even is this?! I’m only in 4th grade and they’re making me do this? Sheesh. Should I ask Dad? No, he’s busy with work. Mom? No, she’s making dinner. Carly?’

I thought for a while, until I brought up the courage to knock on Carly’s door.

“What do you want, stranger?” Carly scowled, her eyes red from crying.

“Well… I need help with my homework. Can you help me?” I murmured.

“I mean I am busy but… Sure.”

Carly welcomed me in, and helped me with the math problems.

(5x6÷ 2)+5=?

“Ok, so if you need help with 5x6, think about 5x1. That’s 5 right?

“Right!” I answered, enthusiastically.

“Ok. 5x3?”

“Um…” I counted on my fingers. “ 15!”

“Right! So, 5x4 would be 20 right? You just add 5. So, if 5x5 is 25, 5x6 must be…”

“Ah, 30!” I squealed, amazed at the progress I’ve made.

“Great! Now, let’s work on dividing by 2…”

This is the closest we’ve ever come to acting like sisters. We’ve never been close. We only talked in short conversations like “Hi”. Or “Hello”. Nothing else. So, with this, it was a big accomplishment. After Carly successfully helped me finish the math problem, she spoke.

“Hey Emily…” Carly said, looking down.

“Yeah?” I asked, curiously.

“I’m sorry for saying you’re a stranger. You’re actually a great addition to this family.”

“Oh, thanks Carly. That feels great to hear,” I smiled.

“Girls! Come down for dinner!” Mom yelled.

Me and Carly rushed downstairs, our bellies aching.

“Ooh! Homemade burgers? Yum!” I squealed, excitedly.

“Yep! Eat up!” Mom answered proudly.

We finally acted like one big happy family. A perfect family. But we weren’t. We all had secrets, everyone does. And sooner or later, I was going to find out.

And, just to prove my point, my father has just betrayed our family.

“EARL! What have you done?!” My mom sobbed, “ You cheated on me! What will happen to Carly? And Emily? You-you, bastard!”

“I’m sorry Selena. I… I was drunk. It was my buddy’s bachelor party! What was I supposed to do?” My dad argued.

“I don’t know, not sleep in the same bed as someone 15 years younger than you?!” My mom screamed, throwing pillows at my dad. He covered his face and hunched over. Slowly backing over to the door as my mother screamed, he opened his bedroom door.

There we were: Me and Carly.

“Dad….” Carly mumbled.

“DAD! I-I trusted you! WE trusted you! How could you do this to us…?!” I sobbed, going into Carly’s open arms. Mom was still raging. But this time, instead of throwing things across the room, she was packing up.

After a few minutes of sobbing, my mother finished packing her bag.

She was leaving. Leaving our family.

“MOM! NO! DON’T LEAVE US! PLEASE!” I screeched, reaching out for my mother as Carly held me back.

“Emily… Mom needs time alone. She just needs to cool off, y’know?” Carly smiled weakly. I knew that fake smile. She was never coming back. Mom took one last look at me and smiled.

“I’ll always be thinking of you, my baby,” She said.

I reached my hands out desperately as Carly held me back by my feet, tears running down her face.

“Emily, just… Just let her go!” Carly sobbed.

I trusted her. I trusted both my parents. And they both betrayed me. Betrayed me and Carly. And now we’re alone.

Alone and betrayed.