Chapter 2: The Envelope Under My Bed
Nadia didn't ask questions when I arrived.
That was why she was my best friend.
She opened the door wearing an oversized sweatshirt, her hair tied into a messy bun, and the second she saw my face, she stepped aside.
"Oh my God.""
I walked past her.
I didn't cry until the door closed behind me.
Then everything collapsed.
I sat on the floor of her apartment hallway with my backpack still on my shoulder and cried so hard my chest hurt.
Nadia sat beside me.
Not saying anything.
Just staying.
After ten minutes, she handed me a glass of water.
"What happened?""
I looked at her.
"My parents stole my tuition money.""
Her expression changed.
"What?""
I opened my banking app.
She looked at the balance.
Then she looked at me.
"Maya.""
"I know.""
"No. I mean… Maya.""
Her voice lowered.
"They took nine thousand dollars?""
I nodded.
"To buy Dylan a car.""
The silence afterward was worse than yelling.
Nadia stood and started pacing.
"That's insane.""
"I found something.""
I pulled the envelope out of my backpack.
She stared at it.
"Where did you get that?""
"Outside their house.""
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a bank withdrawal receipt.
My name was printed at the top.
My account number.
The date.
The amount.
$9,000.
My hands shook.
But not because I was surprised.
Because I finally had proof.
Nadia leaned closer.
"Wait.""
She pointed at the bottom.
"Signature.""
I looked.
The authorization signature wasn't mine.
It wasn't even close.
My mother had signed my name.
I couldn't breathe.
"She forged it.""
Nadia grabbed her phone.
"We need to report this.""
I shook my head.
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
Because some part of me still wanted an explanation.
A terrible one.
A selfish one.
But an explanation.
The next morning, I went back.
Not because I forgave them.
Because I needed to look them in the eyes.
My father opened the door.
He looked like he hadn't slept.
"Maya.""
I held up the envelope.
His face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
"You found that.""
It wasn't a question.
I stepped inside.
My mother was sitting on the couch.
Dylan was playing a video game.
Nobody looked happy to see me.
"I want the truth.""
My father crossed his arms.
"We already told you.""
"No.""
I placed the receipt on the table.
"The real truth.""
My mother went quiet.
Dylan stopped playing.
My father stared at the paper.
"You shouldn't have gone through our trash.""
"I shouldn't have had to find my own stolen money in your trash.""
My mother stood.
"Maya, listen—"
"No.""
My voice shook.
"But I want you to listen.""
I pointed at Dylan.
"You bought him a car.""
Dylan looked uncomfortable.
"I didn't ask you to do that.""
I laughed.
"You accepted it.""
He looked down.
My father stepped forward.
"You need to calm down.""
I stared at him.
"Do you know what I did to save that money?""
Silence.
"I skipped meals.""
My voice cracked.
"I worked until my feet hurt. I missed birthdays. I missed parties. I told myself it was worth it because someday I would graduate.""
My mother looked away.
"And you took it.""
"We needed it.""
"For what?""
Nobody answered.
That was the moment I knew.
They weren't sorry.
They were sorry they got caught.
I picked up the receipt.
"I'm going to the bank.""
My father's expression changed.
"Maya.""
"I'm going to find out exactly what happened.""
He stepped closer.
"Don't destroy this family over money.""
I looked at him.
"This family was destroyed when you decided my future was worth less than a car.""
I walked out.
But before I reached the door, Dylan spoke.
"Maya.""
I stopped.
He swallowed.
"There was something else.""
I turned around.
"What?""
He looked terrified.
"Mom didn't just take the tuition money.""
The room went completely silent.
"What else?""
Dylan opened his mouth.
But my father's voice cut through the room.
"Dylan.""
One word.
A warning.
And my brother immediately stopped talking.
I walked closer.
"Dylan. What else?""
He looked at me.
Then at our parents.
May you like
And whispered:
"Your college account wasn't the first thing they took.""
