Ghostly Affairs

Chapter 10

Lin stood at the entrance of the modest house, her hand poised to knock. She glanced briefly at May, who stood beside her, eyes flickering nervously toward the door. There was no recognition in her gaze—just uncertainty.

"This is it," Lin murmured softly. "Ready?"

May shifted uncomfortably. "I don't remember anything about this place... What if they don't even want to talk about me?"

Lin, sensing the tension in May's voice, gave her a reassuring nod. "We'll take it step by step. I'll explain everything. Trust me, May."

Taking a deep breath, Lin knocked on the door. Moments later, it creaked open to reveal an older woman, Mrs. Kornnaphat. Her eyes, though tired, were kind but immediately curious as she looked Lin over.

"Hello, may I help you?" Mrs. Kornnaphat asked cautiously, glancing briefly over Lin's shoulder as if expecting someone else.

Lin smiled warmly and introduced herself. "Good afternoon. My name is Lin Kwong. I'm a lawyer, and I've been investigating certain details about your daughter May's accident. I was hoping we could talk. I understand this is a difficult topic to revisit, but I believe there's more to her story that could offer some clarity."

Mrs. Kornnaphat blinked, surprise flashing across her face. "A lawyer?" she repeated, her voice a little shaky. She hesitated before stepping aside, signaling for Lin to enter. "Please, come in."

Lin stepped inside the house, the warmth of the living room a stark contrast to the chilly atmosphere of the subject at hand. The air felt heavy, and Lin could sense the years of grief and uncertainty that filled the space.

May lingered by the doorway, taking it all in. "This place... it should feel familiar," she murmured, her voice faint, "but it doesn't."

As Lin sat on the couch, Mr. Kornnaphat entered the room. His face was more serious, though there was a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. He greeted Lin with a cautious nod before sitting beside his wife. "You're investigating May's accident?" he asked, his voice gruff with emotion. "Why? What made you suddenly look into this?"

Lin adjusted her posture, sensing the weight of the question. "I came across her case while investigating other similar incidents. Something about it stood out to me, and as I've dug deeper, it feels like there are missing pieces. I'm not trying to stir up more pain for your family, but I believe there might be more to what happened."

Mrs. Kornnaphat's eyes softened with sadness, and she exchanged a glance with her husband. "We've kept May's condition private," she began softly. "It's been two years since the accident, and only close friends and family know. We just... we couldn't deal with the attention anymore."

May, standing quietly near the window, stared at her mother with wide, bewildered eyes. "They kept it quiet?" she whispered to herself. "I was in a coma all this time...?"

Lin nodded, acknowledging the pain in Mrs. Kornnaphat's voice. "I understand, and I can't imagine how difficult it's been for you both. But I'm hoping that by revisiting some of what happened, we might find answers that could help May's case."

Mr. Kornnaphat leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed. "But why now? It's been two years since the accident. What do you think you can uncover that no one else has?"

Lin met his gaze, her voice steady but empathetic. "I've worked on cases where things were overlooked or buried. I don't think anyone intentionally missed anything, but I believe there are important details that may have been lost or never surfaced. I want to give you a clearer picture of what happened to May."

Mrs. Kornnaphat's expression softened, though there was still hesitation in her eyes. "May was a bright girl... so full of life before the accident. She had been working so hard, juggling her studies and other things. But then... after that tournament, she wasn't the same."