when i was little about 5 i lived with my sister Megan, dad& mom. we lived in a pretty big house. the basement was my room, the attic was Megan's and the other rooms were mum and dads escape rooms.
one day when i came home from school with Megan i saw police car's crowding around my house, talking to my dad. my mom was no where to be seen. "when was the last time you seen your mother?" a police officer asked me. "yesterday night. she goes to work at 8." he nodded. "your mother has gone missing." my heart stopped and i turned to Megan who was crying, dad however was not. in fact from his face you'd never guess anything was wrong.
months went by and we couldn't find her, then one day dad told us we had to move. we had to go to a much smaller house. we didn't mind. it only had 2 rooms so Megan and i shared which we both hated. we made do.
years went by and we never found her, so Megan and i moved into our own houses and stared our own families. i'm 42 now and saw my old house where mom lived was for sale. going home i begged my wife Alice if we could move. telling her about how big it is. naturally she said no, but eventually she agreed. so excited 😆 i told dad, he said not to as it may cause bad childhood memories but it didn't.
so getting all packed we moved. my daughter Jess loved it instantly, most 14 year olds would. she claimed mums old room instantly. we let her and she got to moving. Ellie our 12 year old daughter got dads old escape room and got to unpacking in there. Sam our 15 year old son got the basement and we got the master bedroom where mum and dad slept.
= The next morning =
"dad! dad !" it was Jess she seemed really happy about something. "yes Jess?" i asked her curiously, "didn't you live here?" i nodded. "well then what's in the closet?" i got confused. "i have never been in that room. mom and dad always told me not to. why?" she took me by the hand, making me smile.
in the closet she pointed to a small door on the top shelf. "i don't know where the keys are." Jess stated. wanting help. "neither do i. can you ask Ellie if the key is the desk in dads room." Jess nodded. "el! el!" i could hear.
"she said their is a desk with a lock. she could pic it if you want." Jess reported back to me. "tell her to. i have to go see Sam." i went to see my old childhood room. looking around lovingly at my old place.
"hey dad!" Sam greeted. "hey Sam." i greeted back. "i use to play video games down here with Megan all the time." he smirked. "Megan played video games?" i laughed and nodded. "i never said she was good. i am though." so we played for about 20 minutes. "dad!" Jess exclaimed. "there is no key." i sighed and looked at her. "live curious then."
= That night.=
my wife Alice was sleeping early and Sam& Jess wanted to sleep too so it was just me and El in the living room. i noticed she had begun falling asleep but i knew she'd wake up soon.
suddenly she woke up abruptly screaming. "Ellie? you okay?" i asked concerned. "i had a nightmare. it was awful!" i hugged her tightly. "it was just a dream." she smiled. "it was a woman... crawling at me. she had brown hair like you, but blue eyes like Megan does." she stated. my heart stopped, was she describing my mother who she's never met? "what was she wearing?" Ellie thought. "a blue dress. it was really pretty. no shoes though." that's what my mother went missing in !
once we both went to bed (Ellie went into Jess as she was scared) i felt safe with Alice. although i had a dream. it was mom on her favourite chair which we don't have anymore. she was watching her favourite movie (sharks). i smiled softly at the memory that had become a dream.
my dread filled the next morning as all my kids and Alice reported having had nightmares about my mother who they'd never seen. she wasn't one for pictures so i didn't have many of her.
"Jess i'm gonna break through your closet door." i told her as she nodded determined. although i wished i never had.
when i opened it i found the dead body of my mother.
