My husband refused to let me open the car trunk for days, and when I finally discovered what he was hiding, I was stunned.

Why the secrecy over something so small? By the time Saturday arrived and the trunk was still off limits, curiosity had shifted into a quiet, steady worry. Celia told herself that marriage had rough patches, misunderstandings, moments where people acted strangely.

Still, she couldn’t shake the nagging ache under her ribs, the persistent whisper: Something isn’t right. That night, after Adam drifted off beside her, his breathing slow and heavy, Celia lay awake staring at the ceiling. The thought kept looping through her mind until it became impossible to ignore.

Eventually, she slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and padded down the hallway. The house was dark and still. She took the keys from the hook, wrapped her sweater tighter around her, and headed for the garage.

Each step echoed with a mix of fear and determination. Her heart wasn’t pounding, but it wasn’t calm either. It beat steadily — alert, cautious, ready.Continue reading…