A woman holding her little son out on the streets late at night | Source: MidjourneyI didn’t even take off my house slippers or robe: I was in such a hurry. Barry began to stir, crying softly. Tears streamed down my face as I tried to calm him with my sleeve. It was dark and cold, but I kept running, pushing through the fear and the exhaustion.My parents lived in the neighboring district. It wasn’t far, but it felt like an eternity with the weight of my baby in my arms and the panic in my heart. I finally reached their house, banging on the door with my fists and feet, gasping for breath.A scared and upset woman standing outside a house with her little son late at night | Source: Midjourney “Mom! Dad! Please, open up!” I shouted, my voice cracking.The door swung open, and my mother stood there, eyes wide with shock. “Candice? What on earth?” “Please, let me in. I… I can’t go back,” I managed to say, my voice trembling. They ushered me inside, and my father took Barry from my arms, cooing softly to calm him down. My mother wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and led me to the couch. “Tell us what happened,” she urged gently.A concerned and worried older woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “It’s Martin. It’s… it’s everything. I can’t take it anymore.” My mother’s eyes softened with concern. “What do you mean, honey? Did he hurt you?” “No, not physically,” I admitted, shaking my head. “But emotionally… he’s been obsessed with his projects. He spends hours in the basement every night, and I’m left alone with Barry. I thought maybe he was just stressed or needed an outlet, but tonight I found out the truth.”A silhouette of a man standing in a dark room | Source: Pexels My father furrowed his brow. “What truth?” I hesitated, feeling a lump in my throat. “He’s been drawing and painting her, Dad. Dakota. My childhood friend — or should I say, Martin’s ex-girlfriend.” Something shook inside me as the words came out of my mouth. “But isn’t she dead?” my father asked, curious as to how Martin could still be obsessed with his deceased lover.A shocked and worried man sitting next to his daughter late at night | Source: Midjourney “Yes, she died five years ago. But when I went down into the basement, the walls told me a completely different story. They are covered with her face. It’s like she’s still alive,” I paused, running short of breath. “And what’s worse is that Martin’s mom has been supporting him throughout, enabling him. I feel like a stranger in my own home.” My mother gasped. “Oh, Candice. I can’t believe Linda would do that. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”An older woman is shocked while sitting on the couch late at night | Source: Midjourney “I walked into the basement tonight because he forgot to lock the door,” I continued, my voice breaking. “And there she was, staring at me from every corner. I felt sick. All these months, I’ve been competing with a ghost.” My father’s jaw clenched. “That’s not right. You and Barry deserve better than this.” “I know,” I whispered, tears welling up again. “And it’s not just that. Martin’s been distant, cold. He barely talks to me, and when he does, it’s like he’s looking through me. Also, I discovered something even more disturbing.”A distraught woman sitting on the couch covering her face with her hands | Source: Midjourney My parents exchanged worried glances. “What is it?” my mother asked gently. “I overheard Martin talking to his mom in the kitchen. He was saying how he wished I had been the one who died instead of Dakota. He said he married me because I looked a bit like her and that Barry was the only reason he hadn’t left me yet. Linda agreed with him, saying that if I couldn’t understand his grief, then I was the problem. Hearing that broke something inside me. I knew I couldn’t stay with someone who wished me dead.”A grayscale photo of a young woman posing near paintings on a wall | Source: Pexels My mother pulled me into a hug. “You’re doing the right thing, sweetheart. We’ll help you. You’re not alone in this.” With their support, I began to feel a flicker of hope. They encouraged me to take legal action to protect myself and my son. The next day, we contacted a lawyer and started the process of filing for divorce and securing custody. Days turned into weeks, and Martin tried to reach out to me multiple times. Each call, each message, was a painful reminder of the life I was leaving behind. But I knew I couldn’t go back.A man in a black crew neck t-shirt looking at his phone | Source: Unsplash His mother also tried to contact me, begging me to understand Martin’s grief and come back. “Candice, please,” she pleaded on the phone one evening. “You know he’s been through so much. He needs you.” “I’m sorry, Linda,” I replied, my voice firm. “I can’t do this anymore. He needs help, and I can’t be the one to give it to him. I have to think about our son.”A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney The days ahead were challenging, but I found strength in my parents and my love for my child. Each step forward was a step away from the shadows of my past, toward a brighter, more hopeful future. But even as I tried to rebuild my life, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the battle was far from over. There were still so many uncertainties and so many fears. And I knew that Martin and Linda weren’t going to let go without a fight.A woman sitting outside looking at the trees | Source: Unsplash Then, one night, everything changed. I was woken by the sound of glass breaking. My heart raced as I jumped out of bed, rushing to Barry’s room. The cold night air hit my face, and my breath caught in my throat when I saw the window shattered. Martin was standing there, with Linda by his side, their faces illuminated by the moonlight. “You have to come back,” Martin said, his eyes wild and desperate. “We can’t live without you.” Linda stepped forward, her voice pleading, “You don’t understand. He’s lost without you. We need to be a family again.”An older woman standing in a room late at night | Source: Midjourney “Martin, Linda, what are you doing?” I cried, clutching my son tighter. “You can’t just break into my parents’ house!” Just then, my parents burst into the room. My dad, his face red with anger, shouted, “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get out before I call the police!” “We’re not leaving without Candice,” Martin said, his voice shaking with emotion. “She’s my wife. She belongs with me.” “Not anymore,” my mom retorted, her eyes blazing. “You’ve lost her. Now get out!”An angry and determined older woman standing in a room | Source: Midjourney As Martin and Linda lunged toward me, trying to grab my arm, I screamed. My dad grabbed his phone and dialed 911. “Help, we need the police. There’s a break-in and an attempted kidnapping!” Linda’s face twisted with desperation. “Candice, please. For the sake of your son. He needs his father.” Martin’s grip tightened on my arm. “Please, Candice. Just listen to me. We can fix this. I need you.” “Let go of me, Martin! You need help. This isn’t love,” I cried, struggling to free myself.A desperate man wraps his arms around his wife to hold onto her | Source: Midjourney “Not like this,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “You’re scaring him. You’re scaring me.” The sound of sirens grew louder, and moments later, red and blue lights flashed through the broken window. The police stormed in, pulling Martin and Linda away from me. Barry wailed in my arms as I backed into the corner, trying to shield him from the chaos. “Ma’am, are you alright?” an officer asked, gently touching my shoulder. I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. “Yes, we’re okay. Thank you.”A kind police officer | Source: Midjourney Martin and Linda were handcuffed and led out of the house. Martin’s eyes met mine one last time, filled with regret and madness. “I’m sorry, Candice. I just… I love you so much.” The police took them away, and I sank to the floor, holding my son close. My parents wrapped their arms around us, offering their silent support. The nightmare was over, but the damage was done.A distressed woman holding onto her little son | Source: Midjourney The incident was all over the news the next day. “Local Man and His Mother Arrested for Break-In and Attempted Kidnapping,” the headlines screamed. The media frenzy was relentless, destroying any sense of normalcy I had hoped to rebuild. As I sat in the living room, watching the news coverage, my mom put her arm around me. “It’s going to be okay, Candice. We’re here for you.” “I know, Mom. Thank you,” I said, my voice trembling. “But I need to get away from all of this. I need a fresh start.”A woman lost in her thoughts | Source: Midjourney With my parents’ support, I made the difficult decision to move to a new city, far away from the memories and chaos. I changed my name, started a new job, and began building a new life for Barry and myself. It wasn’t easy, but I knew it was the right choice. Therapy became a crucial part of my healing process. My therapist, Dr. Jones, helped me confront the trauma and find strength within myself. “You’ve been through so much, Candice,” she said during one session. “But you’re incredibly strong. You’ve taken the right steps to protect yourself and your son.”A female therapist filling a document | Source: Pexels “Thank you, Dr. Jones,” I replied, feeling a glimmer of hope. “I just want to create a safe and loving environment for him.” “You’re already doing that,” she assured me. “Remember, healing takes time, but you’re on the right path.” Months passed, and the scars began to heal. Barry started to smile more, his laughter filling our small apartment. We found a new rhythm, a new normal. I joined a support group for single mothers, where I met women who had faced similar challenges. Their stories inspired me, and I realized I wasn’t alone.A woman comforts another distressed lady during a support group discussion | Source: Pexels One evening, as I was tucking my son into bed, he looked up at me with his big, innocent eyes. “Mommy, are we safe now?” “Yes, sweetheart,” I said, kissing his forehead. “We’re safe. And we’re going to be okay.” The trauma of that night left deep scars, but it also gave me the strength to start over. I found solace in therapy, discovering a resilience I never knew I had. The ordeal had changed my life in unimaginable ways, but it also brought me closer to my son and my own sense of self.A woman and her son looking at the ceiling at night | Source: Pexels Martin and Linda’s actions had shattered my old life, but from the ruins, I built something stronger. I learned the true meaning of courage and the importance of protecting my family at all costs. My life was forever changed, but I emerged stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever to create a safe and loving environment for my child. As I watched Barry drift off to sleep, I whispered, “We’ve come a long way, my love. And no matter what, we’ll keep moving forward. Together.”A woman putting her son to sleep | Source: Midjourney