Our family’s first few months together was all I could have imagined. Lucas greeted me with warmth and without the reluctance I had been afraid of. I read his favorite bedtime stories, played games with him for hours, and assisted him with his homework.
I even learned how to prepare his favorite mac and cheese just the way he liked it, with breadcrumbs on top for added cheese.
Ben and I would always look at each other with delighted smiles when Lucas suddenly began referring to me as “Mom.” Everything seemed to be coming together just right.
After a comfortable evening, I was putting Lucas to bed one night. His eyes suddenly widened and became serious as he glanced up at me. He muttered, “You know, my real mom still lives here.”
I ran my fingers through his hair and laughed quietly. “Oh, my love, your mother will always be in your heart.”
However, Lucas shook his head and gripped my palm so tightly that my pulse skipped a beat. “No, she is present. within the home. I occasionally see her.
The back of my neck pricked cold. I faked a smile, dismissing it as the wild fantasy of a youngster. “Honey, it’s only a dream. Get some rest.
Lucas calmed down, but I was uncomfortable. I dismissed the idea, telling myself that he was simply getting used to a new routine and a new family. However, as the days went by, I started to feel uneasy about little things in the house.
First of all, after cleaning up Lucas’ toys, I would discover them in the identical spot where I had taken them. Again and again, not just once or twice.
Additionally, I would rearrange the kitchen cabinets as I saw fit, but the next morning, everything was back where it had been, as if someone had tried to undo my influence on the house. I kept convincing myself that it was only my imagination, even though it was unsettling.
I then observed something one evening that I couldn’t explain. Irene’s picture had been moved from the living room to a more subdued shelf in the corridor. However, it was back in its original location the following day when I arrived downstairs, immaculately dust-free as if it had just been cleaned.
I inhaled deeply and made the decision to talk to Ben about it. “Are you relocating items throughout the house?” One evening, as we were wrapping up dinner, I inquired in an attempt to sound informal.
Ben glanced up and smiled as if I had cracked a dumb joke. “Why would I, Brenda? I believe you are simply dreaming.
He chuckled, but there was a glimmer of unease or even hesitation in his eyes. I sensed an imperceptible barrier between us, but I couldn’t pinpoint it.
Lucas and I were working on a puzzle on the floor of the living room a few evenings later. He was concentrating, putting the pieces in place with his tiny tongue sticking out, when he glanced up at me with big, earnest eyes.
“Mom tells you not to touch her belongings.”
A beat skipped in my chest. “What are you saying, my love?” I looked toward the corridor and inquired, attempting to speak steadily.
Lucas lowered his voice and leaned forward. “Actual mother. He looked over his shoulder as if he thought someone was seeing us, and muttered, “She doesn’t like it when you move her things.”
I sat motionless, attempting to comprehend his words.
He gave me a really serious expression, as if he were disclosing a secret he shouldn’t have. I nodded, feigned a grin, and gently squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry, Lucas. You need not be concerned. Let’s complete our puzzle, shall we?
But when Ben and I laid in bed that night, my thoughts were racing. I made an effort to convince myself that it was only a child’s hyperactive imagination. However, every time I closed my eyes, I could hear what Lucas was saying and see how he looked anxiously toward the corridor.
I discreetly got up and went to the attic after Ben had finally fallen asleep. I was aware that Ben had a box up there containing some of Irene’s old belongings. I might be able to better comprehend Lucas’s behavior if I could see them and learn more about her.
With my flashlight cutting through the darkness as I ascended the rickety stairs, I eventually located the dusty but clean box hidden in a corner.
As if it had absorbed years of memories, the lid seemed heavier than I had anticipated. When I took it off, I saw her wedding ring meticulously wrapped in paper, old pictures, and letters she had written to Ben. I experienced an odd twinge of shame since it was all so personal.
However, there was another factor. Some of the goods appeared to have been relocated recently, almost like they had just been handled. Then I saw it: a little door in the corner, partially obscured by a pile of boxes.
I squinted at the door and froze. Despite my many visits to the attic, I had never observed it. I twisted the rusty, tarnished knob and slowly pushed the boxes away. With a click, it opened into a small, dimly lighted chamber with a little window.
I instantly recognized the woman from the pictures seated on a blanket-covered twin bed. Her eyes widened as she looked up.
You’re Emily, Ben’s sister, aren’t you?” I muttered, taking a step back in shock.
Emily’s countenance changed from one of surprise to one of a silent, unsettling serenity. “I apologize. This is not how you were intended to find out.
What I was seeing was unbelievable. “What kept Ben from telling me? Why are you up here?
She smoothed the edge of her blanket and peered down. Ben did not want you to be aware of it. once you saw me like this, he assumed you would leave once you found out. I’ve I have now spent three years here.
“Third years?” I was having trouble processing it. “All this time, you’ve been hiding up here?”
Emily slowly nodded while averting her eyes. “I don’t spend much time outside. It’s better up here. However, I become restless sometimes. Lucas, too… I occasionally speak with him. What a sweet boy he is.
I felt cold. “What are you telling him, Emily? He believes his mother is still living. She doesn’t like it when I rearrange stuff, he informed me.
Emily’s expression relaxed, but her eyes still had a hint of unease. Sometimes I tell him stories. regarding his mom. He is missing her. I believe that knowing she’s still… there gives him peace.
However, he believes you to be her. Lucas believes you to be his biological mother,” I murmured, my voice cracking.
She turned her head away. “Perhaps that is a better option. Perhaps having the sense that she is still present helps him.
I closed the door behind me and backed out of the room, my mind whirling. This was above my wildest expectations. As soon as I came downstairs, I spotted Ben in the living room, his expression instantly filled with worry.
“Ben,” I muttered, struggling to keep my composure. “What kept you from telling me about Emily?”
His gaze darted away and he turned pale. “Brenda, I—”
“Are you aware of her recent actions? Lucas believes that she is his biological mother.
Ben dropped onto the couch with his head in his hands as his face fell. “I had no idea it had gotten so bad.” I considered… I figured it would be best to keep her here, out of sight. I couldn’t abandon her. She is my sister. Additionally, Emily changed after Irene’s death. She resisted seeking assistance.
I held his hand as I sat next to him. But she’s mistaking Ben and Lucas. He’s only a kid. He doesn’t comprehend.
Ben let out a sigh and slowly nodded. “You’re correct. This is unfair to both you and Lucas. We cannot continue to act as though nothing is wrong.
“I think we should set up a camera, just to see if she’s really been leaving her room,” I said after a little while. to be certain.”
After some hesitation, Ben consented. That evening, we placed a tiny, covert camera outside Emily’s door.
We watched the video in our room the following evening after Lucas had gone to bed. Nothing happened for hours. Then, shortly after midnight, her door creaked open.
With her hair free over her face, Emily entered the hallway and stood staring at the door to Lucas’ bedroom.
Lucas then emerged, rubbing his eyes, and approached her. I could see his tiny hand reaching for her even on the blurry picture. With her hand on his shoulder, she crouched down and whispered something to him. Although I was unable to hear what was being said, I watched Lucas nod and respond while maintaining the same sincere expression while gazing up at her.
An uncontrollable flood of despair and rage washed over me. Ben, she’s been allowing his creativity to flourish. This isn’t beneficial.
Ben’s face was drawn and exhausted as he watched the screen. “I understand. This has gotten out of hand. We must stop allowing her to harm him in this way.
Ben sat down with Lucas the following morning and gave him a straightforward explanation of everything. He informed him that his biological mother was not returning and that his aunt Emily was ill, occasionally acting in ways that bewildered people.
I could tell Lucas was having trouble understanding since he was silent and focused on his tiny hands. However, she claimed to be my mother. “Dad, you can’t send her away,” he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes.
Ben gave him a firm hug while speaking in an emotional tone. “I understand, friend. However, that was her attempt to make you feel more connected to your mother. She shares our love for you. We will also assist her in recovering.
Ben made arrangements for Emily to see a doctor later that day. She objected and even sobbed during the agonizing process, but Ben persisted in his explanation that she required assistance. The house felt nearly lighter when she was admitted to the hospital.
At first, Lucas had trouble. He would inquire about Emily, occasionally wondering if she would return. But with time, he came to realize that his beliefs were false, and he began to accept the reality.
Ben and I became closer as we supported one another while we helped Lucas deal with everything.
When I married him, I didn’t anticipate the journey, but somehow, we emerged stronger, united not only by love but also by all of our shared experiences as a family.
Here’s another tale for you if you enjoyed this one: Ruth knew something wasn’t right as she walked into her in-laws’ house. Her father-in-law’s peculiar text and the eerie silence were only the start. However, nothing could have prepared her for what she discovered when she followed an enigmatic sound to the attic and unlocked the door.
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