Inside, milk, some vegetables, bread, cheese, a few apples. Not much, just enough. On the counter, there was a jar with some coins and a few dollar bills in it. Nathan picked it up and counted. $43. That was all the money they had. Nathan put the jar down carefully, feeling sick to his stomach. He walked upstairs.
The steps creaked with each footstep just like he remembered. The first bedroom, his old bedroom, was now Lucas’s room. There was a small bed with a blue blanket. More drawings taped to the walls. A few toys organized neatly on a shelf. Everything was old but clean, cared for. On the small desk, there were school papers.
Nathan picked one up. Lucas Martinez, grade three. Math test score 95%. Excellent work. Martinez. That was Evelyn’s last name from before they got married. Lucas didn’t have Nathan’s last name. He didn’t even know Nathan existed. Nathan put the paper down and walked to the next room. The door was half open. He pushed it gently. This was Evelyn’s room.
The bed was small, the blanket thin. There was a dresser with a cracked mirror. On top of the dresser, Nathan saw a picture frame. He walked closer. It was a photo of Lucas as a baby. He was wrapped in a blue blanket. Sleeping peacefully. He looked so tiny, so perfect. Next to the picture was a small notebook.
The cover said, “Important papers in Evelyn’s handwriting.” Nathan knew he shouldn’t look. This was private. This was wrong. But his hands moved anyway. He opened the notebook. Inside were medical bills, lots of them. Emergency room visit, $850. Doctor appointment, $120. Medicine for Lucas, $67. Page after page after page. Some were marked paid in red pen.
Others said payment plan or still owed. Nathan’s eyes started to burn with tears. While he was living in his expensive apartment, eating fancy food, wearing suits that cost thousands of dollars, Evelyn was here, struggling, working hard, raising their son alone, barely getting by. He flipped to the back of the notebook. There was an envelope, old and yellowed.
Nathan’s hands shook as he pulled out the paper inside. It was a birth certificate. Name: Lucas James Martinez. Date of birth, October 15th, 2017. Mother Evelyn Martinez. Father unknown. Unknown. Nathan sat down on the bed holding the paper. His whole body felt heavy like someone had filled him with rocks. He did the math in his head. October 2017. That was 8 months after Evelyn died.
She had been pregnant when she disappeared. Pregnant with his child and he never knew why. Nathan whispered to the empty room, “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you run?” But the room had no answers. Nathan heard a sound downstairs. The front door opening. His heart jumped into his throat.
Lucas, go wash your hands before snack time. Evelyn’s voice called out. Nathan stood up quickly, his mind racing. He shouldn’t be here. This was breaking into her house. Her private space, but his feet wouldn’t move. Mom, can I have the cookies with chocolate chips? Lucas’s voice asked. Just to. We need to save some for tomorrow. Nathan heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Small, fast footsteps.
Lucas was coming upstairs. Nathan looked around quickly. He couldn’t let the boy find him like this. It would scare him. He stepped quietly into the hallway just as Lucas reached the top of the stairs. They saw each other at the same time. Lucas froze. His green eyes, Nathan’s eyes, went wide with fear. Ammo. Lucas screamed. Amum, he’s here. The man from yesterday is in our house.
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