I dropped my husband off at the airport, thinking it was just another business trip. But just as I was about to leave, my six-year-old son squeezed my hand tight and whispered, “Mom, don’t go back home. This morning, I heard Dad planning something very bad against us.
Please, this time believe me.”
I believed him, and we hid.
And what I saw next made me panic. But before I continue, make sure you are already subscribed to the channel Elderly Stories and write in the comments where you are watching this video from.
We love knowing how far our stories are reaching. The fluorescent lights of Chicago O’Hare International Airport hurt my eyes that Thursday night.
I was tired.
That kind of tired that comes from inside. You know, it is not just sleepiness. It is an exhaustion of the soul that I had been dragging around for months without really understanding why.
My husband, Richard, was by my side with that perfect smile he always wore in public.
Impeccable gray suit, leather briefcase in hand, expensive cologne that I myself had given him for his last birthday. To the eyes of anyone in that terminal, we were the ideal couple.
He, the successful executive. Me, the dedicated wife, dropping him off at the airport before an important business trip.
If they only knew.
By my side, with his sweaty little hand holding mine tight, was Matthew, my six-year-old son, my whole world. He was too still that night, quieter than usual. And mind you, Matthew was always an observant child, one of those who prefers to watch rather than participate.
But that night there was something different in his eyes, a fear I could not name.
“This meeting in New York is crucial, honey,” Richard said, pulling me in for a calculated hug. Everything about him was calculated.
Only I did not know it yet. “Three days at most, and I will be back.
You take care of everything here, right?”
Take care of everything, as if my life was just that, holding everything together while he built his empire.
But I smiled. I smiled like I always smiled, because that was what was expected of me. “Of course, we will be fine,” I replied, feeling Matthew squeeze my hand even harder.
Richard crouched down in front of our son.
He put both hands on his shoulders in that way he always did when he wanted to look like the perfect father. “And you, champ, take care of Mommy for me.”
Matthew did not answer.
He just nodded, his eyes fixed on his father’s face. That look was as if he were memorizing every detail, every feature, as if he were seeing Richard for the last time.
I should have noticed.
I should have sensed that something was wrong right there. But we never notice the signs when they come from those we love, right? We think we know the person, that after eight years of marriage nothing can surprise us.
How naive I was.
Richard kissed Matthew’s forehead, then mine. “I love you guys.
See you soon.”
And then he turned around. He took his carry-on and walked toward the gate.
Matthew and I stayed there, standing in the middle of that crowd of goodbyes and reunions, watching him disappear.
When I finally could not see Richard anymore, I took a deep breath. “Come on, son. Let’s go home.”
My voice came out tired.
I just wanted to get home, take off these uncomfortable heels I had put on to look more presentable, and maybe watch something on TV until sleep came.
We started walking down the long airport corridor, our steps echoing on the floor. Matthew was even quieter now, and I could feel the tension in his small body through the hand holding mine.
“Everything okay, sweetie? You are very quiet today.”
He did not answer immediately.
We kept walking, passing closed shops, flight schedule screens, people rushing with suitcases.
It was only when we got near the exit, when the automatic glass doors were already in sight, that he stopped. He stopped so abruptly that I almost tripped. “Matthew, what is wrong?”
It was then that he looked at me.
And God, that look, I will never forget it.
It was pure terror, that kind of fear a six-year-old boy should not even know. “Mom,” he whispered, his voice trembling.
“We cannot go back home.”
My heart did a strange jump in my chest. I crouched down in front of him, holding his two little arms.
“What do you mean, son?
Of course, we are going home. It is late. You need to sleep.”
“No.”
His voice came out louder, desperate.
Some people turned their heads to look at us.
He swallowed hard and continued, now in an urgent whisper. “Mom, please.
We cannot go back. Believe me this time.
Please.
This time.”
Those two words hurt me, because it was true. Weeks ago, Matthew had told me he saw a strange car parked in front of our house. The same car.
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