A 6-Year-Old Boy in a Shelter Noticed a Poor Teenage Girl Watching Him Through the Fence Every Day

Every day at the shelter, six-year-old Mike, who didn’t know his parents had died, waited for them to come back. One day, he noticed a poor teenage girl standing outside the fence, silently watching him. He didn’t know it yet, but she wasn’t just watching him — she was WAITING for him.

Mike was only four when his life had shattered in ways no child should ever experience. He had spent that day at the neighbor’s house, playing with blocks and eating peanut butter sandwiches, completely unaware that it would be the last normal day of his life.

When the crash happened, he wasn’t there to hear the screech of tires or the crumpling of metal. He didn’t see the flashing red and blue lights that lit up the dark street. He didn’t feel the weight of the world shifting beneath him when his parents were declared dead.

A sad little boy holding an elephant plushie | Source: Midjourney

A sad little boy holding an elephant plushie | Source: Midjourney

All he knew was that later that night, the neighbor — a kind but visibly shaken woman — took his small hand and said, “You’ll be staying with me tonight, okay, sweetheart?”

He’d nodded, clutching his stuffed elephant, Jumbo. “Where are Mommy and Daddy?”

“They’ll be back soon,” she’d whispered, her voice trembling as she offered a silent apology he’d never hear.

“But I want them now,” Mike’s lower lip quivered. “They always tuck me in. Daddy does the funny voices for my bedtime story.”

The neighbor pulled him close, her tears threatening to fall. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

A woman embracing a heartbroken little boy | Source: Unsplash

A woman embracing a heartbroken little boy | Source: Unsplash

“Can you call them?” Mike asked, his small fingers gripping his elephant tighter.

The neighbor’s breath caught in her throat. “Not tonight, honey. How about I read you a story instead?”

“No. I want Mommy and Daddy to come back for me,” Mike sobbed, his eager eyes glued to the front gate, as if willing them to appear.

But they didn’t come back. Not that night, not the next day… not ever.

Mike didn’t remember much from the days that followed, except that the neighbor’s house felt cold and strange. People he didn’t know came and went, speaking in hushed tones and avoiding his wide, questioning eyes. And then, one day, a lady with soft brown curls and a kind smile arrived. Her name was Brenda, and she was the one who took him to the shelter.

A little boy standing outside a shelter | Source: Midjourney

A little boy standing outside a shelter | Source: Midjourney

Time fluttered by like leaves on the breeze, but Mike’s hope of seeing his parents again never dwindled.

“Will my Mommy and Daddy really come for me?” he asked again, the same question he’d been asking Brenda every day for the past two years.

Mike’s big blue eyes stared up at her with so much hope that it made her chest tighten. She knelt down to meet his gaze, smoothing back a lock of his golden brown hair.

“I really believe they will,” she said softly, even though the truth clawed at the back of her throat.

Mike’s face lit up with a grin. “I believe it too!” he chirped, then bolted across the yard to join the other kids playing ball.

“Wait!” he suddenly stopped and ran back to her. “What if they come while I’m playing? What if they can’t find me?”

A desperate little boy looking up at someone | Source: Midjourney

A desperate little boy looking up at someone | Source: Midjourney

Brenda’s heart shattered. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll make sure they find you.”

“Promise?” His small hand reached for hers.

“I promise,” she whispered, squeezing his hand gently. “Now go play.”

Brenda stood there for a moment, swallowing hard. She hated this part of her job. Watching these kids cling to hope that would never be fulfilled — it broke her in ways she couldn’t even explain. But what else could she do? Tell him the truth that his parents would never come? No. He was too young.

A sad woman lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney

A sad woman lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney

Mike adjusted quickly to life at the shelter. He laughed, played, and made friends easily. But at night, when the other kids fell asleep, he’d sit by the window clutching his stuffed elephant, his small face pressed against the glass.

“Mommy, Daddy,” he’d whisper, as if they could somehow hear him. “When are you coming to take me home? I miss you.”

One particularly difficult night, his whispers turned to quiet sobs. “I’ll be really good, I promise. I won’t ask for any toys or candy. Please come back.”

Brenda tucked him back into bed, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She sat beside him, stroking his hair until he drifted off, all the while wishing she could give him the comfort he so desperately needed.

A distressed little boy lying in bed with his plushie | Source: Midjourney

A distressed little boy lying in bed with his plushie | Source: Midjourney

“Miss Brenda?” he mumbled sleepily.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Do you think they forgot about me?”

Her hand froze mid-stroke. “Oh, Mike… No one could ever forget you.”

“Then why haven’t they come?” His voice was so small and broken.

Brenda gathered him in her arms, rocking him gently. “Sometimes, everything happens for a reason we can’t understand. But that doesn’t mean you’re not loved.”

Close-up shot of a woman holding a little boy's hand | Source: Pixabay

Close-up shot of a woman holding a little boy’s hand | Source: Pixabay

By the time Mike turned six, he had become a bit of a bright spot at the shelter. He had a way of lifting everyone’s spirits, from the kids to the staff. But no one missed the way his smile faltered when the older kids were picked up by foster families or adopted.

“Do you think my parents will come today?” he’d ask Brenda, his voice full of the same innocent hope. And she’d answer the same way every time: “I really believe they will.”

Days passed. One warm spring afternoon, Mike noticed her for the first time. He was in the middle of kicking a ball around with a group of kids when something made him look toward the fence. There she was — a teenage girl, around 16, standing just outside the chain-link barrier.

A teenage girl standing near a fence | Source: Midjourney

A teenage girl standing near a fence | Source: Midjourney

She wasn’t like the other adults who sometimes stopped to watch. She didn’t have that pitying look people got when they saw the kids in the yard. She just… stared at Mike. Quiet. Focused.

Her clothes were old and tattered, her hair messy and unkempt. But her eyes — they were dark and intense, locked on Mike like she knew him. He stopped kicking the ball. For a moment, the world around him seemed to fade as he stared back at her.

“Mike!” one of the kids yelled, breaking his focus. “Come on, we’re losing!”

“Who is she?” Mike whispered to himself, unable to look away.

He shook his head, snapped out of the moment, and went back to playing. But when he glanced back at the fence, she was still there.

A curious boy staring at someone | Source: Midjourney

A curious boy staring at someone | Source: Midjourney

The girl became a constant visitor. Every afternoon, like clockwork, she’d show up at the same spot outside the fence, watching Mike as he played. She never said a word, never tried to approach him. She just stood there.

One day, another child noticed her too. “Mike, that girl keeps looking at you. Do you know her?”

The question hit him like a punch to the gut. “No,” he said, but he wasn’t entirely sure.

Mike never told anyone about her. A part of him was curious, but another part was scared to find out who she was and why she was there.

Eventually, Mike was placed with the Smiths. They were a kind middle-aged couple who didn’t have kids of their own. They did their best to make him feel at home, decorating his new room with posters of superheroes and giving him a soccer ball to play with in the backyard.

A kind couple hugging a little boy | Source: Pexels

A kind couple hugging a little boy | Source: Pexels

“Do you like your room, Mike?” Mrs. Smith asked nervously on his first night.

He nodded, clutching his stuffed elephant. “It’s nice. Thank you.”

“We can change anything you don’t like,” Mr. Smith added quickly. “We want you to feel at home here.”

Mike’s eyes welled up unexpectedly. “Can I… can I keep my elephant?”

Mrs. Smith rushed to his side. “Oh, sweetheart, of course you can! This is your home now, and everything in it is yours.”

At first, Mike was shy around them, but over time, he opened up. He started calling them “Mom” and “Dad,” though a part of him still clung to the memories of his real parents.

A heartbroken boy looking outside the window | Source: Midjourney

A heartbroken boy looking outside the window | Source: Midjourney

One day, during a quiet moment with Mrs. Smith, Mike (now 8 years old), asked the question he had avoided for years.

“Did my parents really die?”

Her face softened as she pulled him into her lap. “Yes, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”

“I kept waiting,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Every single day at the shelter, I waited. I overheard you talking to Dad… about the car crash. Why didn’t anyone tell me the truth?”

“Oh, Mike…” Mrs. Smith held him tighter.

Mike buried his face in her shoulder, sobbing quietly. It was the first time he truly understood what had happened, and the weight of it crushed him.

A boy crying | Source: Pexels

A boy crying | Source: Pexels

For the next two years, Mike found stability with the Smiths. But no matter how good they were to him, there was always a part of him that felt incomplete.

Mike was ten when he returned to the shelter for the first time since leaving. The Smiths had told him they wanted to donate some of his old clothes and toys, and he’d insisted on coming along.

Walking through the front doors brought back a flood of memories. The smell of the place, the sound of kids laughing in the yard — it was all so familiar.

“Mike?” a familiar voice called out. “Is that really you?”

Miss Brenda greeted him with a warm smile, pulling him into a tight hug. “You’ve grown so much, young man!” she said, brushing a tear from her cheek.

A boy in the corridor | Source: Midjourney

A boy in the corridor | Source: Midjourney

“Miss Brenda!” Mike hugged her back fiercely. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, sweetheart. Are you happy? The Smiths are treating you well?”

Mike nodded enthusiastically. “They’re really nice. But…” he hesitated. “I still think about before. About my parents.”

Brenda’s eyes softened with understanding. “That’s okay, Mike. That’s perfectly normal.”

As they caught up, one of the staff members poked her head into the room. “Brenda, can you come here for a second?”

Brenda glanced at Mike. “Wait here, sweetheart. I’ll be right back.”

A woman looking at someone and smiling | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at someone and smiling | Source: Midjourney

Mike wandered the room, looking at the photos on the walls. Then, the door opened, and Brenda stepped back in.

“Mike, there’s someone here to see you,” she said gently.

He frowned. “Who?”

When the door opened wider, his heart stopped.

There she was. The same girl from the fence.

She looked different now — older, taller, and more vibrant. Her hair was clean, her clothes neat and well-fitted. But her eyes were the same, dark and intense, locked on him like they had been all those years ago.

A young woman smiling at someone | Source: Midjourney

A young woman smiling at someone | Source: Midjourney

“Who are you?” Mike asked.

The girl stepped forward, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. “My name is Angela,” she said softly. “I… I’m your sister.”

Mike’s eyes widened. “What?” He stumbled backward slightly. “No, that’s… that’s not possible.”

Angela took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she spoke. “Your father… he was my father too. From his first marriage.”

“Stop,” Mike whispered, shaking his head. “You’re lying. Why are you lying?”

“I’m not lying, Mike,” Angela’s voice cracked. “I’ve been watching over you for years. You were always playing with that stuffed elephant. You used to wear a blue t-shirt almost every day. You taught the younger kids how to play soccer.”

Mike’s heart raced as he tried to make sense of her words. “But… I never knew I had a sister.”

A shocked boy | Source: Midjourney

A shocked boy | Source: Midjourney

“You didn’t,” Angela said, her voice breaking. “Your father left me and my mom when I was ten. He never told you about us. We had nothing after he left… no money, no home. My mom died a few years ago. And after that, I was on my own.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “One day, I saw Dad with you and your mom. I followed you, and that’s how I found out you were my little brother. After the accident… after they died, I found out you were here. I watched you every day, Mike. I wanted to come for you, but I had nothing to give you. I wasn’t ready.”

“All those days at the fence…” Mike’s voice trembled. “That was you?”

Angela nodded, wiping away tears. “I couldn’t leave you alone. I couldn’t.”

An emotional woman | Source: Midjourney

An emotional woman | Source: Midjourney

Mike’s chest felt tight as he listened, his hands clenching at his sides. “Why didn’t you talk to me? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I was scared,” Angela admitted. “But I made a promise to myself that I’d work hard, get a job, and save enough to take care of you. I’ve been working as a waitress, saving every penny I could. And now… I’m here to take you home.”

Mike stared at her, his emotions swirling. “I thought I was alone. When I found out my parents were gone, I thought I didn’t have anyone.”

“You were never alone,” Angela choked out. “Every day, every single day, I was there. Watching. Waiting. Hoping I could be good enough for you.”

Mike took a step forward, then another. “You… you really want me?”

“More than anything in the world,” Angela sobbed. “You’re my little brother, Mike. You’re my family.”

A boy overwhelmed with emotions | Source: Midjourney

A boy overwhelmed with emotions | Source: Midjourney

Mike burst into tears and ran into her arms. Angela pulled him into a hug, both of them crying as years of grief and loneliness poured out of them.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered into his hair. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”

“You’re here now,” Mike mumbled against her shoulder. “You’re here now.”

Angela got custody of Mike a few months later. The process wasn’t easy, but she somehow convinced the Smiths and fought for Mike’s custody with everything she had.

Grayscale shot of a woman walking with a boy on a rainy day | Source: Pexels

Grayscale shot of a woman walking with a boy on a rainy day | Source: Pexels

The first night in their small and cozy apartment, Mike looked around at the modest space adorned with a worn couch, a small kitchen, and a secondhand bed. He smiled.

“It’s perfect,” he said.

“Are you sure?” Angela asked nervously. “It’s not much. Nothing like what the Smiths could give you…”

Mike turned to her, his eyes serious. “But it’s ours, right?”

“Yes,” Angela’s voice cracked. “It’s ours.”

She sat beside him, brushing his hair back. “We don’t have much, but we have each other. That’s enough, right?”

Mike nodded, clutching his stuffed elephant — the last reminder of his old life. “It’s more than enough.”

A boy clutching an elephant plushie | Source: Midjourney

A boy clutching an elephant plushie | Source: Midjourney

“I promise you, Mike,” Angela whispered, pulling him close. “From now on, you’ll never have to wonder if someone’s coming back for you. I’m here. And I’m staying. Always.”

Mike snuggled into her side, finally feeling complete. “I know,” he said softly. “I can feel it.”

That night, for the first time in years, Mike didn’t sit by the window waiting for someone to come. He didn’t need to anymore. His family was already there. Beside him.

Night view of a cottage window from a breathtaking garden | Source: Midjourney

Night view of a cottage window from a breathtaking garden | Source: Midjourney

Minha esposa me fez prometer nunca abrir sua velha mala vermelha — mas uma noite, ouvi um barulho vindo de dentro e tive que olhar

Por 11 anos, honrei o único pedido de Judith — nunca abrir a velha mala vermelha que ela mantinha enterrada em nosso armário. Mas uma noite, ouvi uma voz vindo de dentro da mala. A curiosidade venceu. O que encontrei dentro dela destruiu minha vida inteira.

Os gatos têm suas rotinas, seus pequenos rituais, e o favorito de Luna era se enrolar na janela para assistir à neve cair. Mas naquela noite, ela não estava em lugar nenhum. Felix cochilava em uma cadeira como se fosse o dono do lugar, sua pata cobrindo os olhos, felizmente inconsciente.

Um gato dormindo | Fonte: Pexels

Um gato dormindo | Fonte: Pexels

Sentei-me na poltrona, tomando uísque, deixando o calor do fogo e o brilho suave das luzes de Natal me embalarem em uma reflexão silenciosa. Judith estava viajando a negócios novamente. Outra viagem de última hora. Outra noite silenciosa sem ela.

Eu nunca gostei de ficar sozinha na semana de Natal, mas ela me convenceu de que era importante para sua carreira e que compensaríamos na véspera de Natal.

Eu já tinha ouvido tudo isso antes. Ainda assim, eu a deixei ir. Eu sempre deixei.

Um homem numa poltrona | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem numa poltrona | Fonte: Midjourney

Eu estava prestes a encher meu copo novamente quando ouvi um barulho vindo do andar de cima.

No começo, eu ignorei. Esta casa fazia barulhos. Ela rangia, gemia e, às vezes, as saídas de ar do aquecedor chacoalhavam como ossos velhos. Mas não era isso. Era… uma voz, abafada como se estivesse atrás de algo grosso.

Coloquei o copo na mesa lentamente, meu coração já batendo forte como um tambor de alerta.

Um homem olhando para cima | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem olhando para cima | Fonte: Midjourney

Felix não se mexeu. Peguei o atiçador da lareira, testando seu peso na minha mão enquanto me movia para as escadas. Meus dedos se curvaram firmemente em volta do ferro frio.

Subindo as escadas, o som ficou mais claro. Um choro suave e rítmico. O som me puxou para o nosso quarto. Estava vindo do armário.

“Luna?”, sussurrei, cutucando a porta com o pé. Nenhuma resposta. A voz continuou, repetindo a cada poucos segundos como uma gravação em loop. Meu aperto no atiçador aumentou.

Uma porta | Fonte: Pexels

Uma porta | Fonte: Pexels

Eu abri a porta com força.

Luna disparou como uma bala, seu pelo cinza eriçado como se tivesse visto um fantasma. Ela correu entre minhas pernas e disparou pelo corredor. Soltei um suspiro trêmulo, peito apertado de alívio. Claro. Ela deve ter ficado presa. Gatos se metem em tudo.

Mas aquela voz não parou.

Um homem preocupado | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem preocupado | Fonte: Midjourney

Estava vindo do canto, da velha mala vermelha de Judith. Luna deve ter derrubado.

Eu congelei.

“Prometa-me que nunca vai abrir”, ela disse uma vez, anos atrás. “São apenas coisas pessoais. Nada com que você se importaria.”

Eu prometi, como um tolo. Estávamos casados ​​há um ano naquela época. Eu confiava nela.

A voz ecoou novamente. Duas sílabas, repetidamente. “Mamãe.”

Uma mala em um armário | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mala em um armário | Fonte: Midjourney

Caí de joelhos. Minha respiração ficou curta e superficial. Disse a mim mesma que era um brinquedo. Uma daquelas bonecas ativadas por som. Mas Judith não guardava brinquedos. Ela não gostava de crianças. Nunca as quis.

Judith ficaria tão brava se eu quebrasse minha promessa a ela, mas eu não podia simplesmente deixar a mala dela com aquela voz de criança tocando de algum lugar dentro dela. Eu tinha que saber o que estava acontecendo.

O zíper da mala prendeu na metade, me forçando a puxá-lo com mais força.

Um zíper | Fonte: Midjourney

Um zíper | Fonte: Midjourney

O som de dentes de metal se abrindo era alto na sala silenciosa. Eu tirei a tampa. Um gravador digital estava em cima. Seu pequeno alto-falante estalava.

“Mamãe.”

A palavra me atingiu com mais força dessa vez. Sob o gravador, havia roupas de bebê cuidadosamente embaladas e pilhas de fotos, organizadas cuidadosamente como uma coleção de memórias que ela havia escondido. Eu as espalhei pela mesa de cabeceira.

Fotos | Fonte: Pexels

Fotos | Fonte: Pexels

O ar saiu dos meus pulmões.

Judith, sorrindo, seu rosto pressionado perto da bochecha de um menino. Ele tinha os olhos dela. Havia outra criança, mais velha, sorrindo com dentes da frente faltando. Judith de mãos dadas com as duas crianças, brincando na praia. Seus braços ao redor delas em frente a uma árvore de Natal que eu nunca tinha visto antes.

“O que…” Minha voz era quase um sussurro.

Um homem confuso | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem confuso | Fonte: Midjourney

Virei mais rápido. Mais sorrisos em festas de aniversário e durante viagens a parques temáticos. Notei uma pasta na mala. Dentro dela, havia cópias de duas certidões de nascimento. Minhas mãos tremiam enquanto eu as lia.

Judith estava listada como a mãe, mas meu nome não estava neles. Em vez disso, o pai estava listado como um cara chamado Marcus.

Olhei para os nomes, sentindo minha mente se desalojar da realidade como um dente solto. Judith tinha filhos. Não um. Dois. E quem diabos era Marcus?

Um homem chocado | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem chocado | Fonte: Midjourney

O sangue em meus ouvidos latejava como tambores de guerra.

Sentei-me à mesa da cozinha com meu laptop, Felix agora no meu colo, seu calor me aterrando enquanto Luna andava de um lado para o outro perto da porta. Digitei o nome completo de Marcus na barra de pesquisa.

Os resultados vieram rápido.

Cliquei no primeiro link — um perfil público de mídia social. A foto do banner me atingiu como um soco no peito.

Uma pessoa usando um laptop | Fonte: Pexels

Uma pessoa usando um laptop | Fonte: Pexels

Judith. Seu braço estava pendurado em volta de um homem com um menino nos ombros e uma garotinha agarrada ao seu lado. Todos pareciam tão… felizes.

“Dia da família com meu amor ❤️”, dizia a legenda.

Rolei para baixo para ver posts mais antigos. Havia esse homem, Marcus, e Judith com uma barriga de aluguel, a barriga de grávida emoldurada como se fosse algo sagrado. A legenda dizia: “Não poderíamos ter feito isso sem ela. Obrigada por nos tornar uma família.”

Uma mulher grávida | Fonte: Pexels

Uma mulher grávida | Fonte: Pexels

Minhas mãos se fecharam em punhos. Judith estava vivendo uma vida dupla… todo o nosso casamento era uma mentira, mas por quê? Eu não conseguia entender. Eu achava que éramos felizes.

Eu me afundei no meu assento, minha mente girando enquanto eu lutava para aceitar o segredo que eu tinha descoberto. Então me ocorreu: dinheiro.

Judith sempre gostou de coisas boas, e eu a mimei. Eu era um homem rico e feliz em gastar dinheiro com minha linda e charmosa esposa. Eu nunca questionei seus gastos absurdos porque não importava para mim. Eu teria dado a ela a lua para mantê-la feliz.

Não mais.

Um homem sombrio | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem sombrio | Fonte: Midjourney

Dois dias depois, Judith chegou em casa com um grande sorriso.

“Sentiu minha falta, querido?”, ela perguntou, jogando a mala perto da porta.

“Sempre.” Beijei sua bochecha e sorri.

Naquela noite, comemos bife à luz de velas. Servi-lhe vinho e vi seus olhos se enrugarem de satisfação enquanto ela me dizia que eu deveria recebê-la em casa assim toda vez que ela fosse embora.

Uma mulher sorrindo | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher sorrindo | Fonte: Midjourney

Eu apenas sorri. Eu já estava dez passos à frente. Eu tinha passado os últimos dois dias planejando e manobrando. Eu tinha cancelado os cartões de crédito dela, tirado todo o dinheiro das nossas contas bancárias conjuntas e telefonado para um advogado para iniciar os procedimentos de divórcio.

Eu até contratei um investigador particular para reunir mais evidências de sua vida dupla. Judith simplesmente não sabia de nada disso ainda.

Estava nevando de novo quando ela chegou do trabalho no dia seguinte. Ela subiu na varanda, ainda batendo no telefone, mal olhando para a porta antes de girar a maçaneta. Ela não se moveu.

Uma porta da frente | Fonte: Pexels

Uma porta da frente | Fonte: Pexels

Eu assisti pela câmera da campainha enquanto sua cabeça se inclinava. Confusão. Ela pegou suas chaves e colocou uma. Não coube.

Sua respiração ficou embaçada no ar frio. Seus dedos se contraíram enquanto ela me chamava. “Ei, querida, sou eu. Parece que você esqueceu de me contar sobre as fechaduras. Nada demais, mas estou lá fora e está congelando, então me deixe entrar. Obrigada, querida.”

A voz dela era melosa. Ela pensou que ainda estava no controle. Apertei o botão do interfone.

Um homem em uma casa | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem em uma casa | Fonte: Midjourney

“Eu sei de tudo, Judith. Você mentiu para mim por 11 anos. Duas crianças. Outro homem. Tudo às minhas custas.”

Ela piscou rápido. Sua máscara rachou, o ar de controle escapando como vapor de uma chaleira quebrada. Seus lábios se separaram em descrença antes de se curvarem em um rosnado.

“Mas como… você abriu minha mala… você abriu minha mala!” Sua voz ficava mais alta a cada palavra, a descrença dando lugar à raiva. “Como ousa me desobedecer, sua pequena traidora… Eu disse para você nunca abrir! Eu disse que era privado, que era meu! E você—”

Ela respirou fundo.

Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney

Suas mãos agarraram seu casaco como se ela precisasse apertar algo. “Você acha que é tão inteligente agora, não é? Como se você finalmente tivesse descoberto tudo. Oh, por favor.” Ela soltou uma risada oca, afiada e amarga.

Os olhos dela dispararam para a câmera da campainha. O olhar dela não era suplicante — era cortante, afiado com fúria e desprezo. O tom dela mudou então, mais baixo, mais frio, mais perigoso.

“É isso que vai acontecer”, ela disse, o frio em sua voz combinando com a neve caindo ao seu redor.

Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney

“Você vai destrancar essa porta. Agora mesmo. Vai me dizer que sente muito, que cometeu um erro. Vai se humilhar como sempre faz porque é quem você é, Ethan. Vai fazer isso porque sabe, no fundo, que precisa de mim mais do que eu preciso de você.”

“Não, não quero. Pedi o divórcio, Judith. Adeus.”

Judith então ficou furiosa.

Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney

Ela bateu os punhos na porta, quebrou um vaso de cerâmica na varanda e destruiu as cadeiras Adirondack enquanto gritava sobre como eu tinha estragado tudo.

Quando ela finalmente perdeu o fôlego, ela caiu de joelhos no gramado, sua cabeça caiu e ela enterrou o rosto nas mãos. Eu a vi desmoronar, sua raiva se transformando em desespero.

“Lá está ela”, eu disse calmamente, observando através da câmera. “A verdadeira Judith.”

Uma mulher ajoelhada em um gramado da frente | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher ajoelhada em um gramado da frente | Fonte: Midjourney

Passei o Natal sozinho pela primeira vez em 11 anos. Felix cochilava em sua cadeira favorita e Luna estava sentada perto da janela, observando a neve cair. Eu estava sentado perto do fogo, bebendo uísque, deixando o brilho das luzes me envolver.

A velha mala vermelha de Judith estava no canto.

Eu nunca o movi.

Uma mala em um corredor | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mala em um corredor | Fonte: Midjourney

Algumas promessas valem a pena ser quebradas.

Aqui vai outra história: No dia em que enterrei Emily, tudo o que me restava eram nossas fotos e memórias. Mas quando algo escorregou de trás da nossa foto de noivado naquela noite, minhas mãos começaram a tremer. O que descobri me fez questionar se eu realmente conhecia minha esposa. Clique aqui para continuar lendo.

Este trabalho é inspirado em eventos e pessoas reais, mas foi ficcionalizado para fins criativos. Nomes, personagens e detalhes foram alterados para proteger a privacidade e melhorar a narrativa. Qualquer semelhança com pessoas reais, vivas ou mortas, ou eventos reais é mera coincidência e não intencional do autor.

O autor e a editora não fazem nenhuma reivindicação quanto à precisão dos eventos ou à representação dos personagens e não são responsáveis ​​por nenhuma interpretação errônea. Esta história é fornecida “como está”, e quaisquer opiniões expressas são as dos personagens e não refletem as opiniões do autor ou da editora.

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