Chapter 2: The Name From the Past
The name the boy spoke was not loud.
It wasn’t dramatic.
But the second it left his mouth, Mr. Harris looked like the floor beneath him had disappeared.
“Emily,” the boy said softly.
“My mom’s name was Emily.””
The diner went completely still.
Mr. Harris’s hand remained frozen above the counter.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then he whispered:
“Emily Carter?””
The boy nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
I looked between them.
Something about the way Mr. Harris said that name made my stomach tighten.
He wasn’t confused.
He was terrified.
The boy pulled the necklace closer to his chest.
“Do you know her?””
Mr. Harris didn’t answer.
A customer near the window cleared his throat.
“Are you okay, sir?””
Mr. Harris ignored him.
He stepped closer to the boy.
“Where is she?””
The boy’s eyes dropped.
“She’s gone.””
Those two words hit harder than anything else.
Mr. Harris blinked.
“Gone where?””
The boy looked toward the floor.
“She died three months ago.””
For the first time since I had known him, I saw Mr. Harris look truly broken.
He grabbed a chair and sat down.
Nobody understood what was happening.
Including me.
I crouched beside the boy.
“Hey, are you hurt?””
He shook his head.
“I’m okay.””
But he wasn’t.
His elbow was scraped, and his hands were shaking.
I looked at Mr. Harris.
“Who is this child?””
Mr. Harris looked at the necklace again.
His voice was barely audible.
“His name?””
The boy answered.
“Daniel.””
Mr. Harris closed his eyes.
“Daniel…”
He said the name like it was something painful.
I had questions.
A thousand of them.
But before I could ask, Mr. Harris stood.
“Everyone needs to leave.””
The customers looked confused.
One man laughed nervously.
“Excuse me?””
“I said leave.””
His voice cracked.
That scared me more than his anger ever had.
People slowly began gathering their things.
The woman who had wanted to help the boy approached me.
“Is everything okay?””
I didn’t know what to say.
Because I didn’t know if anything was okay anymore.
Within minutes, the diner was empty.
Only three people remained.
Me.
Mr. Harris.
And Daniel.
The little boy sat at a table, holding a glass of water with both hands.
I placed a plate of rice in front of him.
Mr. Harris watched.
This time, he didn’t stop me.
“Eat,” I told Daniel.
He looked up.
“Really?””
I smiled sadly.
“Yes.””
He picked up the fork.
The first bite was so slow it broke my heart.
Like he was waiting for someone to tell him he wasn’t allowed.
Mr. Harris stood across the room.
Finally, he spoke.
“Where have you been living?””
Daniel shrugged.
“Different places.””
“What does that mean?””
“My mom and I moved a lot.””
Mr. Harris swallowed.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Because she was afraid.””
The words changed the air.
“Afraid of what?”” I asked.
Daniel stopped eating.
“My mom said someone would find us.””
Mr. Harris went pale again.
“Who?””
Daniel looked at the necklace.
“She never told me.””
I noticed Mr. Harris’s hands shaking.
He walked to the old office door behind the counter.
“I need to see something.””
He disappeared inside.
A few seconds later, I heard drawers opening.
Then papers moving.
Then something heavy falling.
“Mr. Harris?””
No answer.
I stepped closer.
The office door was slightly open.
Inside, I saw him holding an old photograph.
He was younger.
Much younger.
Standing beside a woman.
A woman who looked exactly like Daniel.
Emily.
Mr. Harris noticed me.
He quickly hid the photo.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
“Who was she?””
Silence.
Then he looked at Daniel.
His expression changed.
“I made a mistake a long time ago.””
“What kind of mistake?””
He didn’t answer.
Daniel stood up.
“Were you my mom’s friend?””
Mr. Harris looked at him.
A tear rolled down his face.
“No.””
The word shocked me.
Then he whispered:
“I was the reason she ran.””
Before I could react, there was a loud knock on the front door.
All three of us turned.
A man stood outside.
Tall.
Wearing a dark coat.
Watching the diner.
Daniel’s face suddenly lost all color.
Because he recognized him.
May you like
And he whispered:
“That’s the man my mom told me to hide from.””
