Sunday was meant to be a day of rest. But how do you rest when your whole world is upside down.
I had spent the entire Saturday in the hospital, sitting beside my mother's bed. I held her hand, whispered prayers, wiped her forehead like she could feel it. She still hadn't opened her eyes. Still locked in silence. The doctors gave us updates that sounded more like rehearsed speeches than hope. Stable, but still unconscious. Still unresponsive.
I refused to cry in front of her. I just pressed my forehead to her arm and told her, again and again, that I was here.
That I wasn't going anywhere.
Sunday morning, Uncle Henry knocked gently on my door.
"Tiara," he said softly, "I think you should rest today. I'll be the one to go today."
I sat up, eyes groggy. "But... what if she wakes up?"
He gave me that calm smile of his-the one that made him seem dependable. "Then I'll call you. Immediately. You need your strength, sweetheart."
I didn't want to, but I nodded. He was already dressed for the hospital. I watched him leave with a strange tightness in my chest. I told myself it was just the stress.
Later in the afternoon, I decided to help clean up a bit. Something-anything-to distract me. I was sweeping the veranda when I noticed the small trash bin by the gate was full. I tied the bag and walked out through the smaller side gate to dispose it.
As I pushed open the smaller gate and stepped into the street to drop the trash, a black SUV with tinted windows slowed down in front of the house.
I straightened up, eyes narrowing.
It didn't stop fully. It hovered-just long enough for the passenger window to roll down.
Something fell to the ground.
A brown envelope.
Then the window slid shut, and the car drove off without a word.
I looked around. No one was watching.
Cautiously, I bent down and picked it up.
There was writing on the back in messy but deliberate letters:
"Tiara - Open when alone."
A chill ran through my body.
I took the envelope inside quickly, locked my door, and sat on my bed with shaking fingers.
I opened it.
A flash drive.
Nothing else.
No note. No explanation.
I plugged it into my laptop. My hands trembled.
Two files. One video. One audio.
I clicked on the video first.
Grainy surveillance footage. A familiar gate. Our compound.
The timestamp: the morning of my mother's accident.
My heart stopped.
The video showed Uncle Henry's car driving in. He looked around cautiously, then parked near my mum's car. The gate had just closed. The gateman was nowhere in sight.
He walked quickly to my mum's vehicle. He crouched down near the front tire. Fiddled with something.
It wasn't clear exactly what he did, but it didn't look innocent.
Then she came out. My mum.
They didn't greet warmly. No hug. Not even a smile. It was tense.
She got into her car. He got into his. Both drove off.
I couldn't breathe.
I paused the video. My hands were ice.
He was there. He touched her car. And now she's in a coma.
With trembling fingers, I clicked the second file-the audio.
It was scratchy but clear enough.
My uncle's voice.
"Make sure my brother doesn't survive that surgery. I don't want loose ends. Do your job and I'll pay you well."
I dropped the laptop like it burned me.
Did my Uncle also have something to do with my Father's death.
My chest tightened. I felt like the floor had dropped beneath me.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
"You and your mum are not safe. We need to meet. Tonight. 8pm. I'll explain everything."
I stared at it, heart racing.
Who was this? Why were they helping me?
My mind was spinning when...
A knock.
I jumped, grabbing the flash drive and hiding it under my pillow.
Another knock. Softer.
"Tiara?" Aunty Viv's voice echoed in the hall way. "You have a visitor."
My throat went dry. "Who is it?"
He chuckled. "Come and see."
I hesitated. Then unlocked the door slowly.
Jason.
I blinked in disbelief. He stood there, holding a small bag, a gentle frown on his face.
"Jason?"
"Hey."
Aunty Viv smiled and walked away. "I'll leave you two."
As soon as she was gone, I pulled Jason into my room and locked the door behind us.
"Jason, you don't understand," I blurted. "Something is wrong. I think my uncle-he did something to my mum's car. And my Dad... I have proof. You have to take me out of here, please. Now."
He grabbed my shoulders gently. "Tiara. Calm down. What are you talking about?"
"I'm serious," I cried. "Come... look."
I showed him the flash drive. The videos. The recordings.
He watched in stunned silence.
Then he exhaled. "Tiara... this is big. This is huge. This... this is evidence. We need to go to the police."
"I don't know if I can," I said. "What if they're in on it? What if he finds out before I get there?"
Jason ran a hand through his hair, pacing.
"You said someone wants to meet? That text?"
I nodded and showed him.
He stared at it, jaw clenched. "Then I'm going with you."
"What?"
"There's no way you're going alone. It could be dangerous. We'll go together. You're not doing this alone, Tiara."
I looked at him, tears swimming in my eyes.
He looked back with certainty, like someone who had already made the choice.
"I've got you," he said quietly. "Okay?"
I nodded slowly, my heart still pounding.
"Okay."
I hugged him tightly, the relief crashing over me like a wave. "I'm so glad you're here."
He pulled back and smiled gently. "Always."
