Chapter 1
The photographer
The first thing Nia noticed when she woke up was the ring on her finger.
The second thing she noticed was that she had no idea who had put it there.
She stared at the gold band, her heart beginning to race.
“No…”
She pulled it off.
Her phone buzzed on the bedside table.
12 missed calls.
Nine from Mum.
Three from Maya.
Nia frowned.
She was about to call Mum back when another notification appeared.
A message.
Mum: Please call me. We need to talk.
Nia called immediately.
Mum answered on the first ring.
“Nia?”
“Mum, why have you called me nine times?”
There was silence.
Then Mum said quietly,
“Good morning, Mrs. Cole.”
Nia froze.
“What did you just call me?”
“Mrs. Cole.”
“Mum, it's too early for jokes.”
“I’m not joking.”
Nia laughed nervously.
“Mum… what are you talking about?”
Another silence.
“Nia,” Mum whispered, “you've been married to Ethan for three years.”
The room suddenly felt too small.
“Who is Ethan?”
Mum didn't answer.
Nia stared at the ring in her palm.
“Mom?”
“You really don't remember?”
“No.”
A shaky breath came through the phone.
“Oh, God.”
“What?”
“You need to come home.”
“Why?”
“Because there are things you need to see.”
---
Twenty minutes later, Nia was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring at a photograph.
Her hands were shaking.
The woman in the picture was unmistakably her.
She was wearing a white wedding dress.
Standing beside her was a man she had never seen before.
He had his arm around her waist.
And she was smiling at him like she loved him.
Nia turned the photograph over.
June 14, 2023.
Three years.
Three years of her life were apparently missing.
She opened her phone with trembling fingers and searched the name Mum had given her.
Ethan Cole.
The contact appeared immediately.
Not only was he saved in her phone—
there were years of messages between them.
Photographs.
Videos.
Arguments.
Apologies.
Private jokes.
A picture of Ethan kissing her forehead.
Another of the two of them standing in front of a hospital.
And then—
a photograph of a tiny baby.
Nia's breath caught.
She scrolled faster.
“No… no, no, no.”
Her phone rang.
Maya.
Nia answered.
“Maya, tell me this is some kind of joke.”
“What did you find?”
“Who is Ethan?”
Maya went completely silent.
“Maya?”
“You spoke to him?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because you promised me you wouldn't.”
“I don't remember making that promise!”
Maya's voice dropped.
“Nia… you don't remember anything, do you?”
“Apparently I'm married to a man I don't even know.”
“You know him.”
“No, I don't.”
“You did.”
Nia swallowed.
“Then tell me what happened.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because last time you remembered, you tried to kill him.”
Nia stopped breathing.
“What?”
Before Maya could answer, there was a knock at the door.
Three slow knocks.
Nia looked toward it.
“Maya…”
“What?”
“Someone's at my door.”
“Don't open it.”
Another knock.
Nia stood.
“Maya, who is it?”
Maya's voice trembled.
“Nia…”
“What?”
“It's Ethan.”
The call went silent.
Nia slowly walked toward the door.
Her hand reached for the handle.
She opened it.
A tall man stood on the other side.
Dark eyes.
Familiar face.
A wedding ring on his finger.
He looked at Nia for several seconds.
Then he smiled sadly.
“Good morning, wife.”
Nia's stomach dropped.
“I’m not your wife.”
His smile disappeared.
“I know.”
“What?”
Ethan stepped closer.
“You just don't remember being one.”
Nia stared at him.
“Why would I forget my own husband?”
Ethan looked at her for a long moment.
“Because someone wanted you to.”
He turned to leave.
Then Nia noticed something in his hand.
A photograph.
She grabbed it.
It was another picture of her and Ethan.
But this time, someone had written something on the back.
Nia turned it over.
Her blood ran cold.
There were only eleven words.
Nia, if you are reading this, he has made you forget again.
