Again, he carefully lifts her hand, pressing her finger against the phone’s sensor. The phone unlocks, bathing the room in a harsh, blue light. Hank quickly adjusts the brightness, but not before the light falls on Natalie’s face.
She squints, turning away from the brightness. Hank’s heart skips a beat. He checks again, but she seems to be still asleep.
Relieved, Hank opens the messages on the phone. The first thing he notices is a contact named “Rabbit.” The messages seem innocent, almost childlike in their tone. Hank feels confused.
Natalie never mentioned having relatives, let alone children. The name “Rabbit” sounds like a nickname a child would have. Hank scrolls further and finds a conversation with an unknown number.
The messages are about meetings – where and when they will happen, and assurances that Natalie will be there. Hank’s mind races as he connects the dots. These meetings correspond to the days Natalie came home late.
His heart sinks as he pieces together the puzzle. Driven by a growing sense of dread, Hank decides to check Natalie’s financial transactions. He finds records of payments that make no sense – money spent on children’s toys, visits to a pediatrician, and bills from a children’s hospital.
The amounts are substantial. Hank is baffled. The thought that Natalie might have another family sends a chill down his spine.
He struggles to reconcile this idea with the woman he knows and loves. The Natalie he knows is caring, devoted, and transparent. But these discoveries paint a different picture filled with secrets and lies.
Natalie, still groggy from sleep, turns towards Hank. She notices the faint glow of the phone screen in his hand. “Hank, why aren’t you sleeping?” Her voice is soft and filled with concern.
Caught off guard, Hank quickly turns off the phone. He tries to sound calm and composed. “I’m going to bed, honey,” he says.
His voice is gentle, but he feels a storm of emotions inside. Hank leans over to hug Natalie. The hug is careful and measured.
He wants to appear normal, but his mind is racing. He places the phone back on the table, ensuring it’s exactly where Natalie left it. The night passes slowly, with Hank trapped in his thoughts.
He’s torn between confronting Natalie and searching for more evidence. The idea of her leading a double life is almost too much to bear. He feels lost, unsure of what to do next.
The following day, Hank wakes up with a heavy heart. The first rays of sunlight filter through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the bedroom. Natalie is still asleep, her face calm and serene.
Hank watches her for a moment, his mind filled with conflicting emotions. The doubts from last night still linger, overshadowing the usual peace of the morning. Quietly, Hank gets out of bed, careful not to wake Natalie.
He gets dressed, each movement mechanical, his thoughts elsewhere. He’s made a decision he never thought he’d have to make. Today, he will follow Natalie.
After a quick breakfast, Hank grabs his keys and heads out. The morning air is crisp, starkly contrasting the turmoil inside him. He gets into his car, a simple sedan that blends in easily on the streets.
He starts the engine and drives toward the school where Natalie works. Hank tries to convince himself he’s doing the right thing as he drives. He needs answers, and this seems like the only way to get them.
The familiar streets pass by in a blur, his focus solely on the task ahead. Hank reaches the school and parks his car a short distance away. He keeps a low profile, slouching in his seat and wearing a baseball cap.
From here, he has a clear view of the school entrance. His heart beats faster each minute, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. After what feels like an eternity, the school bell rings, signaling the end of the day.
Parents and children start to flood out of the building, a sea of activity and noise. Hank scans the crowd, searching for Natalie. Finally, he sees her.
She steps out of the school, her teacher’s bag slung over her shoulder. She looks the same as always, but to Hank, everything feels different now. Natalie walks to a car parked nearby.
His grip tightens on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. He watches as she gets into the car and drives off. Without hesitation, Hank starts his engine and follows.
He keeps a safe distance, making sure not to draw attention. The car moves through the city streets, turning left and right. Hank watches as Natalie’s car pulls into the modest neighborhood, its worn-out houses and unkempt yards contrasting with the neat, suburban area they call home.
His heart is pounding, a mix of apprehension and dread churning in his stomach. The car stops in front of a small, somewhat run-down house. It’s a simple structure with a tiny front yard, paint peeling off in places.
Natalie steps out of the car, looking around cautiously before heading towards the house. Hank waits a few moments before getting out of his vehicle, ensuring he’s not seen. He walks slowly, keeping his distance, his eyes fixed on Natalie as she disappears inside the house.
Hank approaches the fence surrounding the property. He finds a spot where he can peer through the window without being seen. He sees Natalie in a cozy, dimly-lit living room through the window.
She’s not alone. A man, someone Hank has never seen before, is there with her. They seem to be talking, their conversation appearing friendly, even intimate.
Then, to Hank’s shock, Natalie leaned forward and kissed the man on the cheek. It’s a gesture that seems affectionate and familiar. Hank’s heart sinks.
He feels a mix of anger, sadness, and betrayal. He tries to see more, to understand what’s happening, but Natalie draws the curtains closed, blocking his view. Hank is left standing there, his mind a whirlwind of emotions.
Overwhelmed by confusion and desperation, Hank decides to take a closer look. He cautiously climbs over the fence, making sure not to make any noise. Once in the yard, he quickly ducks into a cluster of bushes, hoping to stay hidden.
His heart beats rapidly, echoing in his ears as he peers through the leaves. Hank sees Natalie re-emerging from the house from his hiding spot, but she’s not alone. A little girl in a wheelchair accompanies her.
The girl is laughing, clearly enjoying Natalie’s company. Lost in his thoughts, Hank doesn’t notice a giant dog approaching until he hears its heavy breathing. Startled, Hank turns around and finds himself face-to-face with the dog.
It’s a big, muscular animal, its eyes fixed on Hank with curiosity and alertness. Hank knows he should stay still, but his instinct takes over. He whispers softly, trying to calm the dog, “It’s okay, buddy.
I’m not going to hurt you.” But his unfamiliar presence in the yard makes the dog uneasy, and it starts barking loudly. The barking draws Natalie’s attention. She looks around, trying to locate the source of the disturbance.
Hank realizes he needs to get out of there fast. He runs for it, bursting out of the bushes frantically. The dog, now fully alert, chases after Hank.
Natalie hears the commotion and turns towards the bushes. She yells out, “I’m calling the police!” but she doesn’t get a good look at Hank’s face. Hank runs towards the fence, the dog close behind.
He can hear Natalie’s voice fading behind him as he scrambles over the fence in a panic. In the process, the dog grabs a piece of his pants, tearing them. Once back on the other side of the fence, Hank catches his breath, his heart still racing.
He looks down at his torn pants, a tangible reminder of his life’s bizarre and frightening turn. He feels a mix of fear, confusion, and a growing sense of dread about what this might mean. Hank quickly returns to his car, trying to process what he just witnessed.
The image of Natalie with the little girl in the wheelchair sticks in his mind. As he drives away, Hank feels a deep sense of unease. The mystery surrounding Natalie’s actions is more complex than he imagined.
He knows he must confront her but fears what he might discover. The drive home is a blur, his mind filled with fear, doubt, and a deep sense of foreboding about the future of his marriage. Hank returns home, his mind still reeling from the day’s events.
As he walks through the front door, the familiar comfort of his home does little to ease his troubled thoughts. He heads straight to the bedroom, wanting to get out of his torn clothes. As he changes, he can’t help but replay the afternoon’s events repeatedly in his head.
The torn fabric of
