A Suitcase of Questions
Tommy was easy to distract. We spent the evening playing games and reading stories. But as the night fell, unease curled around me.
Jane’s behavior lingered in my thoughts. And when Tommy spilled juice on himself at dinner, I went to his suitcase to grab fresh clothes—
And that’s when I noticed something strange.
At first, everything seemed normal. Pajamas, t-shirts, socks. But then—
A winter coat. Thick sweaters. Rain boots.
Then, spring clothes. A lighter jacket.
My pulse quickened.
Why would Jane pack for multiple seasons if she was only leaving for two weeks?
Digging deeper, I found Tommy’s inhaler, allergy medicine, cough syrup—things Jane would never forget.
Then, at the very bottom, a plain white envelope.
My name, written in Jane’s handwriting.
I opened it with trembling hands.
Inside was cash. More than Jane had ever carried in her life.
My breath caught.
Jane wasn’t planning on coming back soon.
Maybe not at all.
A Call in the Dark
I grabbed my phone and called her.
Straight to voicemail.
I left a message, keeping my voice calm.
“Jane, it’s Mom. Call me as soon as you get this. Please.”
By morning, she still hadn’t called back.
I reached out to her work. Her friends. Even her old college roommate.
No one had seen or heard from her.
It was as if she had disappeared.
Days passed. Then a week.
I did my best to keep things normal for Tommy, but the uncertainty weighed on me.
Every time he asked when his mommy was coming back, I forced a smile and said:
“Soon, sweetheart. She’ll be back soon.”
But deep down, I wasn’t sure.
Then, after weeks of silence, my phone rang.
Jane’s name flashed across the screen.
My heart pounded as I answered.
“Jane? Where are you? Are you okay?”
A pause. Then, her tired voice:
“Mom, I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry for what? Jane, what’s going on? Where are you?”
She hesitated. “I’m fine, but I can’t tell you where I am. It’s complicated.”
“Jane, you’re scaring me.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m safe. I’ll be back soon.”
“I don’t believe you.”
She sighed. “Mom, please. Trust me.”
Then, her tone softened. “Can I talk to Tommy?”
I hesitated but handed him the phone.
She spoke to him softly, told him she loved him.
Then—before I could ask another question—
The call ended.
And when I tried calling back—
Her phone was off.
The Unspoken Truth
I sat there, staring at the suitcase.
I had always wondered about Jane’s past, about things she never talked about.
She had always been private. Always avoided questions about certain parts of her life.
And suddenly, everything made sense.
She wasn’t just leaving for work.
She was protecting Tommy.
A Family Built on Secrets
Weeks passed before Jane finally returned.
She looked exhausted. But relieved.
Tommy ran into her arms, his laughter filling the house. And for a moment, everything felt right again.
But as she picked up the suitcase, her hands trembled slightly.
“Mom,” she said softly, “I can never tell you how much this means to me.”
Then, she hesitated.
“But I still can’t explain everything.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Just promise me you’ll stay safe, Jane. That’s all I ask.”
She nodded. “I promise.”
But as I watched her drive away with Tommy, a chill crept down my spine.
Because I knew—deep in my heart—
That was a promise she might not be able to keep.