Two years after my wife’s death, I remarried, hoping to rebuild my family. But when my 5-year-old daughter whispered, “Dad, new mommy is different when you’re not here,” I was stunned. Strange noises coming from a locked attic, strict rules, and Sophie’s fears created a chilling mystery I couldn’t ignore.
I never thought I’d find love again after losing Sarah. The way grief hollowed out my heart made breathing feel optional for months.
A man stares at a tombstone in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
A man stares at a tombstone in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
But Amelia came into my life, with her warm smiles and gentle patience, and somehow, she made the world a lighter place.
Not just for me, but for Sophie too. My five-year-old daughter took an immediate liking to her, which was a miracle considering the brutality of the last two years.
The first time Sophie met Amelia at the park, my daughter was reluctant to leave the swing set.
A girl on a swing | Source: Midjourney
A girl on a swing | Source: Midjourney
“Five more minutes, Daddy,” she begged, her little legs pumping higher and higher.
Then Amelia walked over, her summer dress catching the late afternoon light, and said something that changed everything: “You know, I bet you could touch the clouds if you just climbed a little higher.”
Sophie’s eyes lit up like stars. “Really?”
“Well, that’s what I always believed when I was your age,” Amelia replied with a wink. “Do you want me to push you?”
A woman talks to a girl on a swing | Source: Midjourney
A woman talks to a girl on a swing | Source: Midjourney
When Amelia offered us the chance to move into the house she had inherited after our wedding, it seemed perfect. The house was magnificent, with high ceilings and intricate woodwork that exuded a quiet grandeur.
Sophie’s eyes widened when she saw her new room, and I couldn’t help but smile at her excitement. “It’s like a princess’s room, Daddy!” she shouted, spinning around. “Can I paint the walls purple?”
A girl twirling around her room | Source: Midjourney
A girl twirling around her room | Source: Midjourney
“You’ll have to ask Amelia, darling. This is her house.”
“Our house now,” Amelia corrected gently, squeezing my hand. “And purple is wonderful, Sophie. We can choose the shade together.”
Then I had to go on a week-long business trip—my first extended trip since getting married. I was nervous about leaving my little family when everything was so new.
A worried man standing in a hallway | Source: Midjourney
A worried man standing in a hallway | Source: Midjourney
“You’re going to be okay,” Amelia assured me, thrusting a travel-sized coffee maker into my hands as I headed to the airport. “And so are we. Sophie and I are going to have some girly time.” “We’re going to paint my nails, Daddy!” Sophie added as I knelt down to kiss her forehead.
Everything seemed under control. But when I came back, Sophie almost knocked me over with her hug, clinging to me like she did right after Sarah died.
A man hugging his daughter | Source: Midjourney
A man hugging his daughter | Source: Midjourney
Her little body trembled against mine as she whispered, “Daddy, new mommy is different when you’re not around.”
My heart lurched in my chest. “What do you mean, darling?”
Sophie stepped back, her lower lip quivering. “She locks herself in the attic. And I hear strange noises when she’s there. It’s scary, Dad! And she says I can’t go in that room, and… and she’s mean.”
I tried to keep my voice steady. “Mean how, Sophie?”
A man talking to his daughter | Source: Midjourney
A man talking to his daughter | Source: Midjourney
“She makes me clean my whole room by myself, and she doesn’t let me eat ice cream even when I’m good.” Sophie lowered her head and sniffed. “I thought the new mom liked me, but… but…”
I hugged Sophie as she started to cry, my mind racing.
Amelia spent a lot of time in the attic, even before I left on my trip. She would disappear up there for hours, and when I asked her questions, she would just smile and say she was “organizing things.”
A man frowns in confusion | Source: Midjourney
A man frowns in confusion | Source: Midjourney
At first, I didn’t pay attention to it. Everyone needs space, right? But now I was worried.
And while the behavior Sophie described wasn’t the worst-case scenario I’d prepared for when she said Amelia was mean to her, it was still a little harsh.
As Sophie cried, I couldn’t help but wonder if Amelia’s arrival in our lives had been a huge mistake. Had I wanted to believe in our happy ending so much that I’d missed something important?
A man hugging his daughter | Source: Midjourney
A man hugging his daughter | Source: Midjourney
But I didn’t say anything when Amelia came downstairs. I greeted her with a smile and remarked about how much Sophie missed me as I picked up my daughter and carried her to her room. Once she had calmed down, we had a tea party with her favorite toys.
I hoped the moment had passed and we could get back to normal, but that evening I found Sophie standing in the attic doorway.
“What’s in there, Dad?”
A girl standing near a closed door | Source: Midjourney
A girl standing near a closed door | Source: Midjourney
I wish I knew the answer. “Probably old things, darling. Come on, it’s almost time for bed.”
But sleep didn’t come that night. I lay on the bed next to Amelia, watching the shadows dance across the ceiling as questions raced through my mind.
Had I made a terrible mistake? Had I let someone into our lives who would hurt my little girl? I thought about the promises I’d made to Sarah during those last few days. To keep Sophie safe. To make sure she grew up knowing love.
When Amelia slipped out of bed around midnight, I waited a few minutes before following her.
A man standing in his house at night | Source: Midjourney
A man standing in his house at night | Source: Midjourney
I watched her from the bottom of the stairs as she unlocked the attic door and slipped inside. I waited but didn’t hear her close the door behind her.
I hurried up the stairs as quietly as possible. On impulse, I quickly opened the door and burst into the room.
My jaw dropped when I saw what was inside.
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