When helping her estranged mother pack up, Lucy stumbles upon a cryptic note in a list: “Do not show Lucy.” Her curiosity ignites, leading her to uncover a dusty videotape hidden in a safe. What secrets could her parents be keeping from her—and why did they never want her to know?
I remember that day vividly, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife.
Dad was driving, his knuckles tight on the steering wheel, while I stared out the window, fuming.
The rhythm of the tires on the road didn’t calm me; it just amplified the silence between our arguments.
“Why do I have to do this on my day off?” I snapped, crossing my arms. “Couldn’t you have taken a taxi or asked a friend?”
Dad shot me a look, his voice sharp.
“Lucy!
How can you say that? Your mother needs help! Isn’t it too much to ask for you to help her pack her things?”
I huffed, the familiar frustration bubbling up.
“Dad, you know exactly what my relationship with her is like…”
“I know!” he interrupted, his voice louder now.
“You haven’t spoken in over a decade. You’ve always been stubborn—just like her.”
“Stubborn?” I said, my voice shaking with anger.
“She ruined my life, Dad!”
“Don’t exaggerate. She only wanted you to have a decent education,” he countered.
“All I ever did was study and follow her plans! I just wanted her to be proud of me, but it was never enough…”
“She did it because she loves you,” he said, his tone softening.
I turned away, staring out at the passing houses.
“Funny how my life started to feel better the moment I stopped speaking to her.”
Dad sighed. “Lucy…”
“That’s it,” I cut him off.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.
Let’s just get this over with.”
When we pulled up to my parents’ house, I couldn’t contain the storm inside me.
I slammed the car door and marched toward the house, my emotions spilling over with each step.
I stepped into the house, the smell of dust and old wood filling my nose.
The living room looked the same as I remembered—familiar but distant, like a faded photograph.
Todd followed close behind, his footsteps heavier than mine.
“So, what exactly do we need to take?” I asked, trying to mask my irritation.
Todd reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He squinted at the tiny print, holding it closer to his face.
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