That night, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong, so I ventured into the attic where Ben kept Irene’s belongings. Amongst the old photos and letters, I discovered a hidden door that I had never noticed before. Behind it was a narrow room, and inside was a woman who looked eerily similar to Irene. “You must be Emily, Ben’s sister,” I stammered. She nodded and softly apologized, revealing that she had been staying there since Irene’s passing. She couldn’t bring herself to leave, and she found solace in telling Lucas stories about his mother. I was in shock, and then anger consumed me. Lucas believed that Emily was his real mother. That night, Ben finally confessed the truth – Emily had been struggling with her mental health since Irene’s death, and he had been keeping her hidden from me out of fear of losing me. But this secrecy had come at a cost – Lucas was living in a world of reality and fantasy.
To confirm Emily’s movements, we installed a camera outside her room. The footage showed her creeping into the hallway late at night, kneeling to speak to Lucas at his bedroom door. It broke my heart to see her whispering to him, knowing that she was not his real mother.
The next day, Ben sat down with Lucas and explained the truth – his Aunt Emily was unwell, and his mother was not coming back. Lucas struggled to understand, clinging onto the comforting lie that Emily had fed him. It was heart-wrenching to see him cry.
We sought professional help for Emily and worked on rebuilding trust with Lucas. It wasn’t easy, but gradually, our home became a place where we could all heal and grow, rather than a shrine to the past. It was a long and difficult journey, but in the end, we were able to create a new chapter for our family, filled with love and understanding.