CHAPTER FIFTY–TWO–A WHISPER IN THE DARK
Nia stared at the message, a mix of emotions swirling in her chest. After a long moment, she replied with a simple “OK.”
The next evening, as Nia clocked off from work, she felt a knot of anxiety forming in her stomach. The drive to her parents‘ house in Manhattan seemed both too long and too short. As she pulled up to the modest two–story building with its peeling paint, memories of happier times flooded back, quickly followed by the pain of recent years.
Nia sat in her car for a moment, gathering her courage. She checked her reflection in the rearview mirror. adjusting her blouse nervously before finally stepping out and approaching the front door.
Her knuckles had barely grazed the wood when the door swung open, revealing her mother, Elena. The older woman’s face was a mask of conflicting emotions – hope, wariness, and a flicker of the warmth Nia remembered from her childhood.
“Nia,” Elena said, her voice soft. “Come in, mija.”
Nia stepped into the familiar living room, its walls lined with family photos that seemed to mock her with images of happier times. Her father, Carlos, sat in his favorite armchair, his face unreadable as he nodded. a curt greeting
The silence was broken by the sound of the front door opening again. Luis strode in, his presence. immediately lightening the oppressive atmosphere.
“Hey, everyone,” he said, giving Nia a quick hug before kissing their mother’s cheek. “Sorry I’m a little late. Traffic was brutal.”
As they settled around the dining table, the aroma of Elena’s cooking filled the air the familiar scents of ropa vieja, black beans, and plantains that had once meant home and safety to Nia. Now, they just made her stomach churn with anxiety.
The clink of cutlery against plates was the only sound for several long minutes. Finally, Elena cleared her
throat.
“So, Nia,” she began hesitantly. “Luis tells us you’re working at a big company now?”
Nia nodded, swallowing a mouthful of food. “Yes, Colossius Tech. It’s… it’s a good job.”
Carlos grunted, the first sound he’d made since Nia’s arrival. “Janitorial work, right?”
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken judgment. Nia felt her cheeks flush. “Yes, Dad. It’s honest work.”
Luis jumped in, his voice forcefully cheerful. “Nia’s been doing great there. She even helped organize a charity initiative recently.”
Elena’s eyes widened slightly. “Is that so? That’s… that’s wonderful, Nia.”
But Carlos shook his head, his fork clattering against his plate. “Charity? What about making amends for what you did? Have you even tried to contact that poor girl’s family?”
Nia felt as if she’d been slapped. “Dad, 1-‘
“Carlos,” Elena warned, but he pressed on.
“No, Elena. She needs to hear this. You took a life, Nia. Accident or not, you can’t just pretend it didn’t happen.”
Nia’s chair scraped against the floor as she stood abruptly. “You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t think about Kyra every single day?”
Luis stood as well, placing a hand on Nia’s arm. “Come on, let’s get some air.”
As they stepped out onto the front porch, Nia’s hands shook as she pulled out a cigarette. Luis produced
a lighter, and they stood in silence for a moment, smoke curling into the night air.
“I’m sorry,” Luis said finally. “I thought… I don’t know what I thought.”
Nia exhaled slowly. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have come.”
Luis turned to face her, his expression serious. “No, Nia. You belong here as much as any of us. Dad’s just… he’s stuck in the past. He’ll come around eventually.”
Nia laughed bitterly. “Will he? Sometimes I think it would be easier if I really was guilty. At least then their anger would make sense”
Luis was quiet for a long moment. “I believe you, you know. About what really happened that night.”
Nia felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. “Thanks, Luis. That… that means a lot.”
They finished their cigarettes in companionable silence. As Nia stubbed hers out, Luis pulled her into a tight hug.
“I’ll come visit you more often, okay?” he murmured. “We’ll get through this. As a family.”
Nia nodded against his shoulder, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability before pulling away. “I should go,” she said, glancing back at the house.
Luis nodded. “I’ll smooth things over here. Drive safe, sis.”
hirlwi
As Nia walked to her car, she felt a whirlwind of emotions – gratitude for Luis’s support, aching sadness at her parents‘ continued disappointment, and a renewed sense of guilt over her deception at work.
Old Man Barnaby grunted as he and Nia hauled a large bin of rubbish towards the waiting garbage truck. The summer heat was oppressive, making their uniforms cling uncomfortably to their skin.
“I tell you, Nia,” Barnaby wheezed, “I’m getting too old for this heavy lifting.”
Nia chuckled, adjusting her grip on the bin. “Come on, Barnaby. You’ve still got some fight left in you.”
As they reached the truck, Nia’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She wiped her hands on her uniform before checking the message.
“It’s from Mr. Harlow,” she frowned, reading aloud, “Emergency meeting in ten minutes. All janitorial staff to report to the conference room immediately.”
Barnaby raised an eyebrow. “Emergency meeting? That can’t be good.”
They hurried back inside, joining their colleagues as they filed into the conference room. Mr. Harlow stood at the front, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a look of nervous anticipation. Beside him stood a woman Nia had never seen before tall, with sharp features and steely gray eyes that seemed to assess each person as they entered.
Once everyone was seated, Mr. Harlow cleared his throat. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice I have an important announcement to make.” He gestured to the woman beside him. “This is Veronica
Stark. She’ll be taking over as supervisor of the janitorial department, effective immediately.”
A murmur rippled through the room. Nia glanced at Bamaby, whose weathered face had creased into a frown.
Veronica stepped forward, her heels clicking authoritatively on the polished floor. “Good morning.
everyone. I’m looking forward to working with you all and bringing this department up to the standard that Colossius Tech deserves.”
As the day progressed, it became clear that Veronica’s idea of “standards” meant a complete overhaul of their current system.
