Caught

Melody's breath caught in her throat.

The words hung heavy in the air, and for a second she could barely process them. Why are you pretending to be Melanie, Melody?

Her mind spun. How? How could her mother know? Had she slipped somewhere? Missed something obvious? Had she stood differently? Spoken too warmly? Her thoughts were racing—searching for the answer, desperate to regain control.

No. No, maybe it was a guess. A bluff.

She swallowed hard and forced herself to breathe, her face tightening as she tried to control her heart rate and lied through her teeth. "I… I'm Melanie. Are you mistaken about something?" she said quickly in a voice firmer than she felt inside. "You said so yourself… I called you Mom, didn't I? I understand why you might want me to be Melody. After all, you have raised her and loved her for all these years...."