Shadows of the Past

The early morning sun filtered through the church windows, casting a warm glow over the hallways. The usual Sunday routine had begun—prayers, breakfast, and the gentle murmur of students preparing for the day. However, Maria's mind was elsewhere. Today, she had decided to enter Sister Agnes' old room.

Agnes had been gone for months, but Maria had never truly found closure. There were too many unanswered questions surrounding her death. The room had remained locked, untouched, gathering dust over time. Maria took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Unveiling the Forgotten Room

The air inside was heavy, filled with the scent of aged books and the faint lingering traces of Agnes' perfume. Dust covered everything—her bed, the wooden desk, and the bookshelves that lined the walls.

Maria ran her fingers over the desk, wiping away the dust. Memories flooded her mind—Agnes sitting there, reading, writing in her journal, offering gentle words of wisdom.

Why did she never tell me she was sick?

Determined, Maria began cleaning. She dusted off the table, arranged the books, and swept the floor. As she reached under the bed to clean, her hand brushed against something—a stack of papers.

She pulled them out and her heart skipped a beat. Among them was a medical report. Maria sat on the bed and unfolded it, her eyes scanning the words.

Diagnosis: Cervical Cancer (Stage IV)

Her breath caught in her throat. Agnes had been battling cancer… and she never told anyone.

She checked the date of the report. It was from six months before Agnes died. That meant she had been sick even before she had converted to Islam.

Maria clenched the paper in her hands.

"She knew..." she whispered to herself. "She knew she was dying, and she never told me."

Tears welled up in her eyes. Why had Agnes kept it a secret? Why had she chosen to suffer alone?

Maria carefully folded the report and tucked it into her pocket. She couldn't leave it there. She needed to talk to someone.

And she knew exactly who to call.

A Shocking Revelation

That night, Maria sat on her bed, the dim light of her lamp casting shadows on the walls. Her hands trembled as she held her phone. She dialed Ayesha's number.

The phone rang twice before Ayesha picked up.

"Maria? It's late. Is everything okay?"

Maria took a deep breath. "Ayesha, I went into Agnes' room today."

There was a pause. "And?"

"I found something… something shocking," Maria whispered. "Agnes had cancer. Stage four. She knew she was dying."

Ayesha gasped. "What? Are you sure?"

"I found her medical report. The date on it is six months before she passed away. That means she was sick before she converted to Islam."

Silence hung between them for a long moment. Then Ayesha spoke, her voice shaking.

"Maria… that means she knew she didn't have much time left. Maybe that's why she started searching for answers."

Maria wiped her tears. "Why didn't she tell me? Why did she hide it?"

"Maybe she didn't want anyone to worry. Maybe she wanted to live her last days in peace."

Maria felt a deep ache in her heart. She had always thought she knew everything about Agnes, but now, she realized how little she truly understood about her struggles.

As the conversation continued, Maria suddenly felt a wave of emotions rush through her. She had never spoken about her past to anyone. But tonight… tonight, she needed to.

Maria's Dark Past

She took a deep breath. "Ayesha, can I tell you something? Something I've never told anyone before?"

"Of course, Maria. I'm listening."

Maria closed her eyes, gathering the strength to speak.

"Years ago, I was running from someone. A man named Fredrick."

Ayesha remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"Fredrick was a man of the dark world. He controlled people, manipulated them. I was working for a man named Vincent back then. Vincent ran a nightclub, and I… I was part of it."

"Maria… what do you mean?" Ayesha's voice was filled with concern.

"I was dancing in the club, Ayesha. And some nights… some nights, I was forced to go with people. I had no choice." Maria's voice broke. "It was the worst time of my life."

Tears streamed down her face as she continued.

"Fredrick wanted to control me. He killed Vincent and took over the club. He wanted me to stay. But I couldn't. One of his guards, James, helped me escape."

"Did you get away?" Ayesha asked softly.

"We tried. But Fredrick followed us. There was a gunfight, and our car crashed. James died on the spot. I was badly injured."

Maria took a shaky breath.

"Somehow, I managed to get to a small house. An old man opened the door. I begged him for help… and then I passed out."

"What happened next?"

"When I woke up… I was in a church hospital."

She wiped her tears.

"That's when I met Agnes. She took care of me like a mother. She saved me."

Ayesha was silent, processing everything Maria had just said.

"Maria… I had no idea you had gone through all this."

"No one does," Maria whispered.

She took a deep breath and added, "Fredrick wasn't just after me for the club. He had a history with my family. He killed my parents, Ayesha. And my younger brother."

Ayesha gasped. "Oh my God… Maria, I am so sorry."

Maria clenched her fists. "I've been running my whole life. Agnes was the only one who made me feel safe."

Ayesha's voice was soft but firm. "You're not alone anymore, Maria."

Maria wiped her tears. She had spent so many years keeping this pain buried. But tonight, she had finally let someone in.

She looked at the medical report in her hand.

"I need to find out more about Agnes' last days. I need to understand why she made the choices she did."

Ayesha nodded. "And I'll help you."

Maria felt a warmth in her heart. For the first time in years, she didn't feel alone.

As she ended the call, she knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning of uncovering the truth.

Agnes had secrets… and Maria was going to find them all.