That day, I had just returned home from a business trip and was enjoying a rare day off. I spent it handling house chores, grateful to finally be home.
Then, my 10-year-old son arrived from school. He barely acknowledged me, quickly said “hi,” and went straight to his room. It hurt a bit. Didn’t he care that I was home again?
But shortly afterward, I overheard something that made my heart skip a beat.
While tidying near his room, I caught his voice on the phone—warm and enthusiastic, completely unlike his earlier greeting.
“Hi, Mom! School was great today. I’ll tell you all about my grades tomorrow! I’m coming to see you instead of going to school, okay? See you tomorrow!”
I felt the air escape my lungs.
Who was he speaking to?
I decided not to mention it to my husband or confront my son. I needed to find out myself. So, the next morning, I secretly followed him after he left for “school.”
What I saw was something I wasn’t prepared for.
He walked past his school, turned onto the next street, and stopped in front of a house I didn’t recognize.
He knocked.
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