After I said no to the power of attorney, Brittany’s friendliness disappeared.
Not all at once. Little by little.
She stopped calling me Mom. She stopped cooking dinner. She started having long phone calls on the back deck that ended the second I walked outside.
And she started telling Ethan things.
I’d overhear pieces of it through the walls at night.
“She left the stove on again today.”
I hadn’t.
“She asked me the same question three times.”
I hadn’t.
“She’s starting to get paranoid, Ethan. She thinks people are going through her things.”
That last one was interesting. Because three days before that night, somebody had gone through my things.
I came home from the grocery store and noticed that my jewelry box was in the wrong spot on my dresser. Two inches to the left. And the drawer of my nightstand, where I keep my checkbook and my passport, was closed all the way.
I never close that drawer all the way. It sticks.
Somebody had been in my bedroom.
That afternoon, I drove to the Best Buy in Kenosha and bought a small home security camera. About the size of a golf ball. Wireless. Motion activated. It records to the cloud.
I set it up on the top shelf of my bookcase. Tucked between two old photo albums. Pointed at my bedroom door and the luggage rack at the foot of my bed.
Nobody in the house knew it was there.
That evening, at dinner, I mentioned my trip.
“My flight to Denver leaves Saturday morning at seven-thirty. Out of O’Hare.”
My younger sister, Linda, lives in Denver. She’d just had hip replacement surgery. I was going to stay with her for two weeks while she recovered.
“I’ll have to leave the house by five,” I said.
Brittany looked up from her wine glass. And she smiled.
“Don’t oversleep, Margaret,” she said. “Airport security can be terribly strict these days.”
Something about that smile made the back of my neck prickle.
I’d seen that smile before. Across a lot of tables. On a lot of faces.
It’s the smile people get when they think they already know how the story ends.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
At TheArchivists, Ethan specializes in uncovering compelling stories that reflect a wide range of human experiences. His work is celebrated for its authenticity, creativity, and ability to spark meaningful conversations, earning him recognition among peers and readers alike.
Passionate about the art of storytelling, Ethan enjoys exploring themes of culture, history, and personal growth, aiming to inspire and inform with every piece he creates. Dedicated to making a lasting impact, Ethan continues to push boundaries in the ever-evolving world of digital content.