Blackwood Forest (English translation)

Chapter 6

The rest of the dinner was silent. Nobody spoke, and we just looked at each other, except my mother. She just looked at the plate and ate. I haven't seen it that way since my father died.

We finished dinner, packed up and went to the living room. We sat on the sofa while my mother went to get some letters and a chair. I was finding it too strange because I had never seen those letters in my life.

My mother finally sat down in the chair, sighed and started to speak.

-Well Mia, I hope you don't regret it.

-I won't. You can start.

-Okay ... honestly I never thought I would have to tell you this and have this conversation with you, but I think you were always too curious. Anyway, you're old enough too.

-Starting with the photograph of the alleged Caroline here at home. No, that is not the real Caroline. The real Caroline is the one in the police photo.

-So why did the father do that? Why did he lie to me?

-Because Caroline had your father's son and he never wanted you to know.

-Wait, what? Like? Did dad cheat on you?

-Not. They had their son a year before we met. That night, their son went with Caroline and the others to the forest, but his body was never found, so he still thought to be alive. Your father felt very guilty, so he looked for him for 7 months in a row, even when the police had already closed the case, but it was in vain... And so that he was never found. He asked for help and then asked me a photograph of someone you've never met.

-So who is that woman in the photograph that her father has been showing me for years?

-She's called Elle and she was my colleague in college. She moved to Amsterdam so I knew you would never come across her.

-How were you able to never tell me that I had a brother-in-law? Had or have, I don't know ...

-I told you you wouldn't like it.

Ethan and Dylan remained completely silent, frozen. They didn't know how to react, just like me.

-I don't believe I never knew this ... What's his name?

-Tyler. - says my mother lowering her head.

-Tyler ...- I repeat, placing my hand on my chest.

-And going back on the conversation, no, your father didn't cheat me, and he told me everything when he asked me to marry him. And I promised to help him whenever he needed it!

That night Caroline was not supposed to go camping with them, she showed up at our house with Tyler, saying that your father had to go back to her and their son, but your father refused and sent her away.

-He did what ?! How was he able to do that? They could still be alive if he didn't ... no ..- I started to feel a huge tightness in my chest that wouldn't let me speak- I want to be alone!

I got up and left the house. Ethan and Dylan started calling out to me, but I didn't hear, and I kept running out of the house. That left me devastated, and I don't even know why. My father had another son, Caroline was never who I thought she was, I have a brother-in-law who may be dead ... And that was what hurt me the most ...

I sat down on the sidewalk and started to shake. I was nervous, sad, hurt. I felt betrayed ... it was a set of emotions at the same time.

Dylan came after me and sat with me on the sidewalk. He said nothing, just stood by me, waiting for me to say a word but I was blocked, I didn't know how to react.