The Boy Who Stopped Eating

Chapter 3 - Rebecca's Last Message

Maya took Daniel into the restaurant office.

From the bottom of her handbag, she removed an old phone.

"I haven't used this in months."

She turned it on.

There was one saved voicemail.

Rebecca Carter.

Dated four days before she died.

Daniel's heartbeat quickened.

"What is this?"

"She called me."

Daniel stared at Maya.

"You said you weren't close anymore."

"We weren't."

"Then why would she call you?"

Maya pressed play.

Rebecca's voice filled the room.

"Maya... I know I don't have the right to ask you for anything after what happened between us."

Daniel stopped breathing.

Rebecca sounded frightened.

"If something happens to me, please don't let Ethan think I left him."

Maya paused the recording.

Daniel stood abruptly.

"What does she mean, 'if something happens to me'?"

Rebecca's death had been ruled an accident.

She had driven home during heavy rain.

Her car went through a barrier.

Daniel had been told she died instantly.

Maya looked pale.

"There's more."

She restarted it.

"I found something in Michael's files. I shouldn't have opened them. Daniel doesn't know. I was going to tell him, but if I'm wrong, I'll destroy his family."

Daniel's face hardened.

Michael.

His older brother.

Rebecca continued.

"If I can't tell Daniel myself, there's a key inside Ethan's stuffed rabbit. Please make sure Daniel gets it."

The message ended.

Daniel stared at the phone.

"Why didn't you give me this?"

Maya's eyes filled with shame.

"Because I was angry."

"At Rebecca?"

"Yes."

"About what?"

Maya took a long breath.

Years earlier, Rebecca and Maya had planned to open an event business together.

Just before launch, Rebecca suddenly withdrew.

Maya believed Rebecca had abandoned her after meeting Daniel and entering a wealthier life.

They stopped speaking.

"When she called me, I thought she was being dramatic. Then she died."

Maya looked away.

"I got scared."

Daniel's anger rose.

"You had this for three months."

"I know."

"My wife said she was afraid, and you said nothing."

"I know."

Maya did not defend herself.

That made it harder to keep shouting.

Then Daniel remembered the stuffed rabbit.

Ethan carried it everywhere until two weeks after Rebecca's funeral.

Daniel had removed it after Ethan tore open part of the fabric during a tantrum.

It was now inside a box of Rebecca's belongings.

At home.

Daniel immediately stood.

But when he returned to the table, Ethan was awake.

The boy looked around.

"Where's Maya?"

Daniel crouched.

"We have to go home."

Ethan's face tightened instantly.

"No."

Daniel almost repeated the usual instruction.

Then he stopped.

"What do you need?"

Ethan pointed toward Maya.

"Her."

Maya looked at Daniel.

Daniel nodded.

And for the first time since Rebecca died, instead of deciding what Ethan needed, he listened when his son told him.