Writers 
At exactly 11:47 p.m., Maya saw a message that was never meant for her eyes.
She wasn't snooping.
At least, that's what she kept telling herself.
Daniel had fallen asleep beside her, his phone charging on the edge of the bed. Maya had only reached for it because the alarm was going off, and she wanted to silence it before it woke him.
Then the screen lit up.
Unknown Number: You really haven't told her yet?
Maya froze.
Her thumb hovered above the screen.
A second message appeared.
Unknown Number: Daniel, you promised me she wouldn't find out this way.
Maya's heart dropped.
She slowly looked at the boy sleeping beside her.
For the first time in two years, she wondered if she actually knew him at all.
Maya stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity.
She wanted to wake Daniel.
She wanted to ask him who the person was, why they were messaging him so late, and most importantly, what exactly he had promised them.
But something stopped her.
Maybe it was fear.
Or maybe she was afraid that once she asked, there would be no going back.
She carefully placed the phone back where she had found it and moved to the other side of the bed.
Daniel shifted slightly in his sleep.
“Maya?” he mumbled.
She froze.
“Yeah?”
“You okay?”
She swallowed.
“I'm fine. Go back to sleep.”
Daniel opened his eyes for a moment, studying her face in the darkness.
“You don't look fine.”
“I said I'm fine.”
He stared at her for another second before closing his eyes again.
Maya turned away from him.
She didn't sleep that night.
The next morning, Daniel acted as though nothing had happened.
He walked into the kitchen wearing the same old smile she had fallen in love with two years ago.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
Maya forced a smile.
“Morning.”
“I made breakfast.”
“You did?”
“Don't sound so surprised.”
She laughed softly, but it didn't feel real.
Daniel placed a plate in front of her and sat across from her.
For the next few minutes, they ate in silence.
Maya kept watching him.
Every little movement suddenly seemed suspicious.
The way he checked his phone.
The way he turned the screen away from her.
The way his smile disappeared whenever a notification appeared.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
“Daniel.”
He looked up.
“Hmm?”
“Is there something you're not telling me?”
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
But Maya noticed.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly what I said.”
Daniel put his fork down.
“Maya, what's wrong?”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“Who is she?”
Silence.
Daniel's face went completely still.
Maya's heart sank.
“So there is a she.”
“Wait,” he said quickly. “It's not what you think.”
“Then tell me what it is.”
He stood up and walked toward her.
“Maya, please. Just give me a chance to explain.”
“Explain what?”
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
Both of them looked at it.
The same unknown number.
Daniel's face immediately changed.
Maya stood up.
“Answer it.”
“Maya—”
“Answer it, Daniel.”
He hesitated.
Then he picked up.
“Hello?”
Maya couldn't hear what the person on the other end was saying, but she could see Daniel's expression becoming more serious with every second.
Finally, he whispered,
“You weren't supposed to call me.”
Maya's heart raced.
Daniel ended the call.
She stared at him.
“Who was that?”
He looked down at the floor.
Then he slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small white envelope.
He placed it on the table between them.
Maya frowned.
“What is that?”
Daniel took a deep breath.
“Something I've been trying to tell you for weeks.”
She picked up the envelope.
Her name was written across the front.
MAYA.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Maya pulled it out.
Her eyes widened.
It was a picture of her.
But not a recent one.
It was from years ago.
From a time before she had ever met Daniel.
She looked at him, completely confused.
“Where did you get this?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he whispered,
“That's what I've been trying to find out.”
Maya looked back at the photograph.
And suddenly, she noticed something written on the back.
Three words.
Ask your mother.
Her heart stopped.
Because there was only one person who could possibly know what that photograph meant.
And she hadn't spoken to her mother in years.