I stared at the camera for a long time before pressing record.

Four years late.

Four years too heavy.

My hands were shaking—not because I was scared of being judged, but because I finally understood that I deserved it.

“Hi,” I said, voice already cracking. “My name is Sue Jaydens.”

No filters. No background music. Just my face and the truth I had avoided for years.

“This video is not an explanation. It’s not a defense. And it’s not an attempt to be forgiven.”

I swallowed hard.

“I ruined my cousin’s life.”

There. I said it.

Laura Faye Smith. My cousin. My friend. The one person who trusted me when...