My mother-in-law Cynthia moved in, and soon after, my daughter Lisa began acting oddly. She was no longer her cheerful self, and it worried me deeply.
One night, I saw her sleepwalking through the house, clutching her teddy bear.
I quietly followed her, and what I discovered that night shocked me, leading to a bigger mystery I needed to solve.
We were a happy family, living together in peace. Our days were filled with laughter, playful moments with our daughter, Lisa, and cozy family dinners.
Tony worked as a financial analyst, always dreaming of starting his own business, while I balanced my career and took care of our home.
One evening, Tony came home with exciting news.
“Amelie, I found partners, and I can finally start my own business, just like I’ve always dreamed!” he announced, grinning from ear to ear.
“That’s amazing, Tony!” I hugged him, feeling proud. “You’ve worked so hard for this.”
“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he said, looking a bit hesitant.
“With our new jobs, we’ll be even busier.
Mom has been complaining about her health and suggested moving in with us. She wants to help with taking care of Lisa.”
I frowned.
“Tony, you know how Cynthia feels about our marriage. She never really accepted me.”
“I know, but she insisted,” Tony replied.
“And we really could use the help right now.”
I sighed, unsure.
“Alright, but only because we need the help. And of course, she wants to move in now that things are looking up for us.”
***
A few days later, Cynthia moved in. She entered the house with a big smile, her hands held in front of her, carrying a gift for Lisa.
“Hello, Lisa!
Look what Grandma brought you,” she said, handing Lisa a fluffy teddy bear.
“Thank you, Grandma!” Lisa hugged the bear tightly, her eyes sparkling with joy.
Tony looked at me, hoping I would make an effort. “Thanks, Cynthia. I’m sure Lisa will love it,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Amelie, I know we’ve had our differences,” Cynthia began.
“But I want to make this work for Tony and Lisa.”
“I hope so,” I replied cautiously.
***
Days turned into weeks, and I noticed changes in Lisa. She became cranky and sleepy during the day. She wasn’t her usual cheerful self, and it worried me.
“Lisa, honey, why are you so tired?” I asked one afternoon as she rubbed her eyes.
“I don’t know, Mommy.
I just feel sleepy,” she replied, yawning.
That night, as I checked on her, I saw her walking around. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be in a daze.
“Lisa, sweetie, what are you doing?” I whispered, gently taking her by the hand.
She didn’t respond, just continued clutching the teddy bear. I carefully guided her back to bed and tucked her in, feeling a knot of worry in my stomach.
The next morning, over breakfast, I decided to bring it up with Tony.
“Tony, I saw Lisa sleepwalking last night,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
“She was wandering around with that teddy bear your mom gave her.”
Tony looked surprised. “Really? That’s strange.”
Before he could say more, Cynthia, walking nearby, chimed in.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
Tap READ MORE to discover the rest 🔎👇
