The Shadows We Hide

Chapter 2

CATHERINE POV

I woke up to the heat of someone else’s body pressed against mine. The weight of reality came crashing down like a tidal wave, leaving me gasping for air.

Zak.

The memory of last night clawed its way back to the forefront of my mind. Disgust pooled in my stomach, twisting into knots.

I felt used, discarded, and hollow—feelings that should have dulled with time, but somehow, they always struck fresh.

I slid out of bed, careful not to wake him, and retreated to the shower. The water scalded my skin, but I welcomed the sting.

It was easier to focus on the physical pain than the turmoil inside. My sobs echoed in the tiled space, raw and unrelenting.

“You’ve forsaken me, Lord,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Why? Why have You abandoned me?”

The only response was the steady drum of water hitting the floor.

When I finally stepped out, I caught a glimpse of myself in the fogged mirror. Puffy, red-rimmed eyes stared back at me, and my reflection looked more corpse than human.

For a fleeting moment, I wished I truly was dead.

But then, I thought of Cassidy and Cody.

They needed me. I couldn’t leave them—not now, not ever.

I quickly dressed, avoiding my reflection, and went to check on the twins. As I entered their room, panic set in—Cassidy was there, but Cody was missing.

“Cody?” I called out, my voice rising with each repetition. “Cody! Where are you?”

No answer.

“Oh my gosh, Cody, stop playing around! This isn’t funny!” My voice cracked as dread gnawed at me.

Before I could spiral further, Cody appeared, holding a lit birthday cake. The flickering candles danced in the dim morning light, casting eerie shadows across his face.

“Morning, Mother,” he said, his tone unsettlingly sweet. “I just remembered it’s Zak’s birthday. Shouldn’t we celebrate? Thirty-eight is a big number, after all.”

I stared at him, confused and wary. His words didn’t match the hollow look in his eyes.

“Cody… are you okay? What are you doing?”

He smiled—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes—and walked past me, heading toward Zak.

I followed him, my heart pounding as Cody entered our bedroom.

“Happy birthday to you,” he began singing, his voice syrupy and deliberate. “Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday, dear Daaaddd… Happy birthday to you!”

Zak beamed, pulling Cody into a hug. “That’s my boy!” He looked at me, his expression darkening. “Catherine, where were you? You let Cody come here and sing while you stood around doing nothing?”

“Dad,” Cody interjected smoothly, “Mom actually helped bake the cake and wanted me to surprise you.”

Zak’s scowl softened into a smirk. “Oh, then good job.” His gaze drifted to Cassidy. “What about your sister? The good-for-nothing. But don’t worry, soon you’ll have a better sibling. Isn’t that right, Cathy?”