The next few days passed in a blur. The police were still piecing together Ella’s life, talking to everyone who had been close to her, and searching for anything that might explain what had happened. But Ana couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still missing. There was a truth lurking just out of reach, and it was killing her not to know.
Sitting on her bed late one evening, Ana glanced at the pile of schoolbooks she hadn’t touched in days. She wasn’t thinking about homework or tests—her mind was focused on Ella. Her best friend, the one who had always been there, was gone, and the weight of it felt like a boulder pressing down on her chest.
The phone in her hand buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Sophie.
Sophie: “Come over. We need to talk. It’s about Ella.”
Ana didn’t need to be asked twice. She grabbed her jacket, making sure to double-check her phone, and dashed down the stairs. As always, Mom was in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared dinner. When she noticed Ana heading out the door, she looked up with a warm smile.
“Where are you going, sweetie?” Mom asked, setting the knife down and walking toward her.
“I’m just going to Sophie’s for a bit. We need to talk about Ella,” Ana said, her voice strained but steady. “I’ll be back soon.”
Mom’s expression softened. She had always been there for Ana, and she could see the weight on her daughter’s shoulders. “I know this is hard, sweetheart. You don’t have to go through this alone. If you need to talk… I’m here.”
Ana smiled faintly, though her heart still felt heavy. “Thanks, Mom. I just… I need to understand what happened to Ella.”
Her mom walked over, wrapping Ana in a tight hug. “We all miss her, Ana. But we will get through this together. Don’t let the mystery eat you up. Take care of yourself, too.”
At Sophie’s house, the atmosphere was tense. Sophie, Marcus, and Lily were all gathered in the living room, their faces drawn with concern. When Ana entered, Sophie rushed over and handed her a phone, her face pale with worry.
“I just… I found something,” Sophie said in a shaky voice.
Ana took the phone and stared at the message on the screen.
Ella’s Message: “I’m scared. I know what I saw. I’m not safe.”
A chill ran down Ana’s spine. Ella’s final message. Sophie’s eyes were wide, her voice almost a whisper. “She sent this to me a few days before it happened… but I didn’t think much of it. I thought she was just being… dramatic.”
Ana’s chest tightened as she reread the message. “Sophie, why didn’t you tell us about this sooner?” she asked, her voice almost desperate.
Sophie’s face twisted with guilt. “I didn’t want to believe it was real, Ana. I thought it was just one of those things… you know how she used to get, especially when she was upset. But now… now I think she knew something. Something was wrong, and I missed it.”
After the intense conversation with Sophie, Ana couldn’t stop thinking about Ella’s words. The suspicion was eating away at her—what had Ella known? Why had she been so scared? Who could have hurt her? She needed to talk to someone, and the only people who could help her make sense of it all were the ones who had always been there for her: her parents.
That night, Ana sat at the dinner table, the weight of everything pressing down on her.
Her parents were quietly eating their meal, trying to offer her some sense of normalcy amidst the chaos. Ana had kept everything inside all day, but now she couldn’t stay silent any longer. She needed them. She needed to say what was really on her mind, even if it made her heart break all over again.
She set her fork down with a sigh. “Mom, Dad… I have to tell you something.”
They both stopped, their attention immediately shifting to her. Dad wiped his hands on a napkin, and Mom placed her fork down, her eyes soft with concern. “What’s going on, honey? You’ve been so quiet lately.”
Ana took a deep breath and tried to steady her voice. “Ella’s… Ella’s death wasn’t an accident,” she said softly, her hands trembling slightly. “I don’t think she fell. I think someone did this on purpose.”
There was a brief silence as her parents exchanged a look. Dad stood up, walking over to her side and kneeling down to her level. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Ana. This is beyond anything a parent should have to watch their child go through,” Dad said quietly. “But you’re right to feel the way you do. Ella deserves justice.”
Mom joined in, her voice strong and calm. “We’ll figure this out, Ana. Together. I know you’re hurting, but you’re not alone. We’re here for you every step of the way.”
Ana looked at her parents, feeling a wave of relief. They understood. They always had. No matter how crazy things got, no matter how lost she felt, they were her constant.
“I don’t know what to do,” Ana admitted, feeling the weight of it all come crashing down. “I just don’t know who to trust anymore.”
Dad squeezed her shoulder again. “You trust your instincts, sweetheart. You’ve always had a good head on your shoulders. And when things get hard, lean on us. You don’t have to carry this alone.”
After dinner, Ana’s parents sat with her, giving her space to talk and express her worries. It wasn’t just about finding out who had hurt Ella—it was about finding peace in the storm. in that moment, Ana realized that the mystery, as painful as it was, couldn’t consume her. Her family was her anchor.
The next day, Ana was back at the police station. Detective Harris was still handling the case, but there was something different today. Detective Grace, who had been working alongside him, pulled Ana aside.
“Ana,” Grace said, her voice careful, “we’ve found something. There’s a connection between Ella’s death and someone she knew, someone we didn’t think to check until now.”
Ana’s heart skipped a beat. “Who?”
“We don’t know yet,” Grace said, her expression darkening. “But we’re getting closer. We’ll need your help to figure this out.”
Later that evening, Ana returned home, her mind racing. But as soon as she stepped inside, she felt a sense of comfort wash over her. Mom was sitting at the kitchen table, her voice low but steady as she spoke with Dad. She could hear their laughter, even through the walls. In that moment, Ana felt a small measure of peace.
“Everything okay?” Dad asked, noticing Ana standing in the doorway.
Ana smiled weakly. “Yeah, I just… I think I’m getting closer to finding out what happened. Thanks, you guys. For everything.”
Mom walked over, pulling her into a hug. “You’re doing great, Ana. We believe in you.”
Ana realized that no matter how dark the road ahead seemed, her family was her light. They weren’t just there for her physically—they were there for her emotionally, holding her up when she felt like she was crumbling.
“I couldn’t do this without you,” Ana whispered, and for the first time in days, she felt a sense of calm settle in her chest.
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and then Add to home screen.