Caitlin often found herself informally supervising her neighbor Stacy’s young son, Nate, providing him some stability while his mom sought time for herself. However, when Nate decorated the hallway walls with doodles during Caitlin’s absence, she was unjustly slapped with a $500 fine. Determined to set things right, Caitlin devised a plan for retribution.
Stacy had become accustomed to letting her young son, Nate, roam the hallway as a play area.
“It’s safe, Caitlin,” she’d assure me. “Plus, it’s their version of outdoor play.”
She would then retreat behind her door, leaving Nate to his devices, often while she entertained guests.
“I just need some downtime,” she confessed to me once in the laundry room. “I’m a grown woman with needs, you know. Being a single mom, you must get it.”
I understood her need for personal space, but I could never imagine letting my own son, Jackson, wander the hallways alone. Despite our general familiarity with the neighbors, the corridors didn’t feel completely secure.
Jackson, slightly older than Nate, seemed concerned about the younger boy, who often loitered alone, clutching his tattered teddy bear.
“Mom,” Jackson would say during his playtime, “maybe we should invite him over.”
Grateful for my son’s compassion, I agreed. It was better to keep both children within sight, ensuring their safety.
Thus, we began having Nate over for snacks, toys, and movies—a simple arrangement that brought him noticeable joy.
“He mentioned he likes playing with others,” Jackson noted one day. “I don’t think his mom spends much time with him.”
And interestingly, Stacy hardly acknowledged this setup. Once she realized Nate was safe with us, she seemed to extend her leisure time even more.
Eventually, it became routine for Nate to knock on our door whenever his mother let him out.
“Hello,” he’d say, teddy in hand. “I’m here to play.”
However, one day, we were away at my parents’ house for my mom’s birthday.
“I hope Nate will be okay,” Jackson expressed concern as we drove.
“Oh, honey,” I responded. “His mom is there. She’s responsible for his safety too.”
Upon our return, we were greeted by hallway walls covered in childish drawings—a colorful chaos of stick figures and squiggles.
“Nate must have had fun,” I remarked, searching for my keys.
“Isn’t he going to be in trouble?” Jackson asked, eyeing the artwork.
On Our Wedding Night, I Took off My Wedding Dress, When My Husband Saw What Was Underneath, He Ran Away in Tears
“No, this can’t be happening!” Greg’s joy turned to horror on our wedding night when I revealed the secret I’d been hiding: a temporary tattoo of his ex, Sarah, and the words he said to her the night before our wedding, “One last taste of freedom before I’m bound to the same body forever.”
The wedding had been flawless, a dream for Greg, but I knew the truth would soon shatter everything. As he unzipped my dress, his excitement vanished, and he collapsed in shock. He begged for forgiveness, but I wasn’t moved. “Sarah made sure I knew everything,” I told him coldly.
Before we could continue, Greg’s parents, Marianne and James, burst into the room. Seeing the tattoo and Greg’s breakdown, Marianne asked if it was true. Unable to speak, Greg’s silence confirmed everything. I revealed his betrayal, leaving Marianne devastated and James furious.
Greg begged for another chance, but I was done. “This marriage is over,” I said, walking out, leaving him to face his ruined world.
Leave a Reply