The morning sun cast a golden glow over the quiet neighborhood, its rays filtering through the living room windows. Ethan lay on the couch, arms crossed behind his head, staring at the ceiling. Though the light suggested peace, his mind was anything but calm.
The events of the previous night replayed in his head like a haunting melody he couldn’t escape. Was it Tania I saw near the school? The silhouette had been fleeting, but something about the posture, the way the figure moved-it gnawed at him.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his brow furrowed. “It couldn’t have been my imagination,” he muttered to himself. He glanced at the security camera footage he had reviewed earlier that morning. Nothing concrete, just a shadow slipping away into the darkness. It wasn’t enough to confirm his suspicions, but it was enough to unsettle him.
As he reached for his phone to replay the footage again, a soft touch on his shoulder made him jump.
“Ethan?” Ella’s gentle voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
He turned to find her standing behind him, her hair tousled from sleep, her eyes still heavy with slumber. She wore a slight frown of concern, sensing the tension radiating from him.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice softer now. He leaned forward to kiss her forehead, a gesture that had become second nature over the past few weeks.
“Good morning,” she replied, her tone laced with curiosity. “What were you thinking about?”
Ethan hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. He didn’t want to alarm her, especially since she was already on edge about the children’s growing unease. Finally, he forced a smile and shook his head. “Nothing important. Just… work stuff.”
Ella raised an eyebrow, unconvinced but choosing not to press him further. “Alright,” she said, though her tone suggested she didn’t believe him. She gave his arm a light squeeze and headed to the kitchen to start breakfast.
The sound of soft footsteps echoed down the hallway as the twins, Leo and Liam, padded into the living room, rubbing their sleepy eyes. Grace followed closely behind, clutching a stuffed rabbit to her chest.
“Morning, Daddy,” Liam mumbled, climbing onto the couch beside Ethan.
“Good morning, buddy,” Ethan replied, ruffling his son’s hair. “Did you sleep well?”
Liam nodded but glanced at his brother, who was unusually quiet. Leo seemed preoccupied, his small hands fidgeting with the hem of his pajama shirt.
“What’s on your mind, Leo?” Ethan asked, his voice gentle.
Leo hesitated, exchanging a look with Liam before speaking. “I… I felt like someone was watching us again last night.”
Grace’s eyes widened, and she hugged her rabbit tighter. “Me too,” she whispered.
Ethan’s chest tightened. He forced himself to remain calm, though his mind was racing. “You’re safe here,” he assured them, pulling all three children into a protective embrace. “I promise. No one’s going to hurt you.”
Ella reappeared with a tray of juice and toast, her expression shifting as she caught the tension in the room. “What’s going on?” she asked, setting the tray on the coffee table.
Ethan exchanged a glance with her but decided against sharing the children’s fears just yet. “Just a little morning chatter,” he said, his smile tight.
Ella knelt in front of the kids, her motherly instincts kicking in. “You know you can tell us anything, right?” she said, brushing a strand of hair from Leo’s face.
The boys nodded, but their unease lingered.
Later that morning, while Ella and the children were occupied with breakfast, Ethan slipped out to the porch with his laptop. He needed to take another look at the security footage, even if it meant seeing that frustrating shadow again.
As he rewound the video, he noticed something he had missed earlier-a faint movement near the edge of the frame. It wasn’t much, just the flutter of a jacket or perhaps a scarf, but it was enough to send a chill down his spine.
“Damn it,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. The figure disappeared just as quickly as it appeared, leaving no trace.
He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring no one was watching him. Ella didn’t need more stress, and the kids didn’t need their fears validated. But the shadow loomed large in his mind, a silent threat he couldn’t ignore.
As the day wore on, Ella couldn’t shake the feeling that something was bothering Ethan. He was distant, distracted, his usual attentiveness replaced by an almost obsessive need to check his phone and laptop.
That evening, after the kids were tucked into bed, Ella found Ethan standing by the living room window, staring out into the darkness.
“Alright, spill,” she said, crossing her arms.
Ethan turned to her, startled. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been acting strange all day,” Ella said, stepping closer. “I know when something’s on your mind, Ethan. Don’t lie to me.”
He sighed, running a hand over his face. “I didn’t want to worry you,” he admitted.
Ella’s heart sank. “Worry me about what?”
Ethan hesitated, then gestured for her to sit on the couch. Once they were both seated, he explained what he had seen-or thought he had seen-near the school. He told her about the shadow in the footage and the faint movement he had spotted earlier.
“I think it might be Tania,” he said finally, his voice low.
Ella’s breath hitched. “Tania?”
“I can’t be sure,” Ethan said quickly, taking her hand. “It was dark, and the footage isn’t clear. But… I have this feeling, Ella. Like she’s watching us.”
Ella’s mind raced. The children’s unease, the strange sense of being watched-it all felt too connected to dismiss.
“What do we do?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“We stay vigilant,” Ethan said firmly. “I’ll stay here as long as it takes. I’m not letting her-or anyone-get close to you or the kids.”
The weight of Ethan’s words settled over them like a heavy blanket. Ella leaned into his shoulder, drawing comfort from his presence. For all the fear swirling around them, she felt safer knowing he was by her side.
“We’ll get through this,” she said softly, though her voice carried a resolve that surprised even her.
Ethan nodded, wrapping an arm around her. “We will.”
But as the day went by, both of them couldn’t shake the feeling that the shadow still lingered, just out of reach.