A chill ran through my entire body.
I stepped further inside slowly.
There were dozens of notebooks stacked neatly beside the bed.
One lay open.
My hands trembled as I picked it up.
At first, I thought it was a journal.
Then I realized what I was reading.
Schedules.
Detailed notes.
About me.
January 12:
She smiled at the girls today. Rebecca would’ve liked that.
February 3:
Grace called her “Mom” by accident. She cried afterward in the bathroom where she thought nobody heard her.
Maybe she’s finally ready.
I stopped breathing.
Ready for what?
The girls stood quietly behind me watching my face.
Then Grace pointed toward the far wall.
“Daddy talks to Mommy down here every night.”
I slowly turned.
And that’s when I saw the video camera.
Mounted in the corner.
Facing the chair.
My blood ran cold.
Every instinct screamed at me to grab the girls and run.
Then suddenly—
I heard the front door upstairs slam shut.