{"id":15062,"date":"2026-05-05T08:08:55","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T07:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=15062"},"modified":"2026-05-05T08:08:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T07:08:57","slug":"my-4-year-old-son-said-his-father-came-to-read-him-stories-every-night-but-his-father-had-passed-away-so-i-set-up-a-camera-in-his-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=15062","title":{"rendered":"My 4-Year-Old Son Said His Father Came to Read Him Stories Every Night \u2013 But His Father Had Passed Away, So I Set Up a Camera in His Room"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"658\" height=\"833\" src=\"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-41.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-41.png 658w, https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-41-237x300.png 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 658px) 100vw, 658px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After my husband died, my four-year-old started acting like bedtime hadn\u2019t changed at all. That\u2019s when I decided to find out what was really happening in his room at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A month ago, my world shattered when my husband, Daniel, died in a car accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even after the funeral, I kept expecting to hear his truck pull into the driveway. I would pause in the kitchen and listen for his footsteps, the creak of the door, and the way he always called out, \u201cI\u2019m home!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the house remained quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My world shattered when my husband, Daniel, died in a car accident.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Daniel had always handled bedtime with our four-year-old son, Mason. It was their thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every single night, Daniel would grab one of Mason\u2019s storybooks, pull out some ridiculous costume from the old dress-up box, and act out the story as if he were on a stage. Sometimes he was a knight, sometimes a pirate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One time, my husband wrapped himself in a blanket, saying he was a dragon who\u2019d caught a cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mason laughed so hard that night that he nearly fell off the bed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was their thing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes I\u2019d join them, and the three of us would dress up as fairy-tale characters and act out scenes. I once wore a cardboard crown while Daniel pretended to rescue us from a wicked witch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mason absolutely adored fairy tales, and Daniel loved seeing that look of wonder on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But after Daniel died, the costumes stayed in the closet. I couldn\u2019t bring myself to touch them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bedtime became the hardest part of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I couldn\u2019t bring myself to touch them.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few days ago, things started to feel strange. That morning, I tried to wake Mason for daycare, but he buried his face in the pillow and started crying, saying he didn\u2019t want to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I sat beside him and rubbed his back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSweetheart, why don\u2019t you want to go?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He rubbed his little eyes and said, \u201cIt\u2019s just that Daddy read me a story last night. I went to bed late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few days ago, things started to feel strange.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My hand froze on his shoulder. \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mason sniffed. \u201cDaddy came and read me a story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children react to grief in different ways. I had read that somewhere during one of those late nights when I couldn\u2019t sleep. So I forced a smile and nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">***<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning, things got worse. Mason was eating cereal at the kitchen table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he looked up at me and said, \u201cMommy, Daddy, and I finished reading the dinosaur book yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My heart started pounding against my ribs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDaddy came and read me a story.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I crouched beside him and tried to keep my voice calm. \u201cSweetheart, Daddy couldn\u2019t have finished the book with you\u2026 He passed away\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mason frowned as if I had just said something silly. \u201cMommy, but Daddy is alive, and he read me a story yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The way he said it sent a cold shiver down my spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He wasn\u2019t pretending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He believed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMommy, but Daddy is alive.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That afternoon, I kept thinking about what he\u2019d said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Was he dreaming? Imagining things? Or was losing his father simply too much for his little mind to process?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By evening, I had made a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I dug through the hall closet until I found our old baby monitor camera from when Mason was a newborn. It still worked. I placed it on a shelf in his bedroom where it could see the bed and the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>I found our old baby monitor camera.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That same evening, I tucked Mason into bed. He hugged his stuffed dinosaur. I kissed his forehead and turned off the light. Then I went to my bedroom and opened the baby monitor on my phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For hours, I stared at the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mason rolled around a little and then drifted off to sleep, and that was it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I finally gave up and fell asleep for maybe two hours before my son had to wake up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For hours, I stared at the screen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">***<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning, I asked him casually while pouring juice. \u201cSo\u2026 did Daddy come read to you again last night?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mason shook his head. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He didn\u2019t seem upset about it either. Just matter-of-fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I felt both relieved and confused.&nbsp;<em>Maybe it really had been his imagination.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, I decided to leave the camera running for a few more days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just to be sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid Daddy come read to you again last night?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">***<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two nights later, I sat in my bedroom watching the screen again. The house was silent, and my eyelids kept drooping. I told myself I would watch for another five minutes before going to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s when something happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At exactly 1:14 a.m., Mason sat up in bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My heart jumped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He looked toward the window, smiled, and then waved at someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I leaned closer to the screen, suddenly wide awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s when something happened.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mason climbed out of bed, ran to the window, and pushed the curtain aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he started talking to someone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My stomach dropped.&nbsp;<em>\u201cOh, my God!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I could barely breathe when I realized who Mason was talking to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I shot out of bed and ran down the hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My heart pounded so loudly that it drowned out everything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he started talking to someone!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Daniel had always kept a baseball bat under our bed after someone tried to break into a house down the street a few years ago. Without thinking, I grabbed it before leaving my room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As I reached Mason\u2019s door, I heard, \u201cDaddy, are you going to read the dragon story tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I pushed the door open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A man was standing beside Mason\u2019s bed. He looked&nbsp;<em>exactly<\/em>&nbsp;like Daniel!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a second, my brain refused to process what I was seeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A man was standing beside Mason\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man wore one of Daniel\u2019s fairy-tale costumes, the old knight outfit. And he was holding one of Mason\u2019s storybooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My hands tightened around the baseball bat. \u201cWhat are you doing in my son\u2019s room!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man\u2019s eyes widened, and he immediately raised both hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPlease don\u2019t swing that thing,\u201d he said quickly. \u201cI can explain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I was already stepping between him and Mason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPlease don\u2019t swing that thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My voice came out sharp and shaking. \u201cStay away from him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Behind me, Mason looked confused. \u201cMommy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I didn\u2019t take my eyes off the stranger. \u201cMason, sweetheart, stay right there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then I pointed the bat straight at the man. \u201cYou\u2019re coming with me. Right now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOkay\u2026 okay.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I backed toward the door, keeping the bat raised. \u201cMove!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStay away from him!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man stepped into the hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My heart was still racing, and my mind kept repeating the same terrifying thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man had Daniel\u2019s face, but my husband was dead. And I was about to find out who that stranger really was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I marched him toward the living room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Behind us, I heard Mason whisper again,\u201dMommy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s okay!\u201d I called back without turning around. \u201cStay in your room!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The man had Daniel\u2019s face, but my husband was dead.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He hesitated for a moment, then said softly, \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I waited until we reached the living room before I finally spoke again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStop right there.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man stopped. He looked so much like Daniel that it hurt. Not just similar. Identical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I tightened my grip on the bat. \u201cYou\u2019ve got five seconds to explain why you were sneaking into my son\u2019s room dressed like my dead husband.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He kept his hands raised. \u201cI wasn\u2019t trying to scare anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019ve got five seconds to explain.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, you weren\u2019t? Because breaking into a child\u2019s bedroom in the middle of the night feels pretty terrifying to me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know. And I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He hesitated for a moment. \u201cMy name is Derrick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The name meant nothing to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m Daniel\u2019s twin brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My first reaction was anger. Daniel had never mentioned a brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I stepped closer, raising the bat again. \u201cThat\u2019s impossible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He nodded slowly. \u201cI figured you\u2019d say that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without making any sudden movements, he reached slowly into his back pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m just grabbing my wallet.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pulled out a worn leather wallet and slid a driver\u2019s license across the coffee table toward me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s impossible!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I picked it up and scanned the card. He had Daniel\u2019s last name and the same date of birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The room spun for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I dropped onto the couch, still gripping the bat. \u201cDaniel never told me he had a twin brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick gave a sad, half-smile. \u201cThat\u2019s because he thought it was better if you didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My voice hardened again. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He let out a slow breath. \u201cBecause I spent the past 20 years in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I picked it up and scanned the card.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen we were teenagers, Daniel and I weren\u2019t exactly angels,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe got into trouble a lot. Stupid stuff mostly. Skipping school, pulling pranks, stealing snacks from gas stations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat happened next?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen one night we found a black plastic bag stuffed under a car. Inside were tens of thousands of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo you took it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe got into trouble a lot. Stupid stuff mostly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe were stupid kids. We thought we\u2019d just hit the jackpot. But the money was stolen from a bank,\u201d Derrick continued. \u201cSome of the bills had tracking devices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I could already see where that was going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He rubbed his hands together slowly. \u201cThe police tracked the money. Right to us. Daniel and I were walking down the street that night when a squad car pulled up. I was carrying the bag.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI told Daniel to run. I stayed and took the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSome of the bills had tracking devices.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He shrugged slightly. \u201cI was the one holding the bag. It made sense. And Daniel got away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The room remained quiet for a long moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, I asked, \u201cDid you tell the police about Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid you tell the police about Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause he was my brother. We were adopted. We didn\u2019t have parents who could hire lawyers or help us out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo you went to prison alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah. But Daniel came to see me once,\u201d Derrick continued. \u201cI told him to forget about me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn\u2019t want his life ruined because of my mistakes. But he didn\u2019t listen, not exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded envelope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI kept every letter he sent me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe didn\u2019t have parents who could hire lawyers or help us out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My heart skipped. \u201cHe wrote to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll the time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick unfolded the paper and held it carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDaniel told me everything. Like how he met you. His nervousness before your first date, your wedding, and when he became&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/amomama.com\/507622-i-saved-a-boy-who-fell-through-the-ice.html\">a father<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I felt tears sting my eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe wrote to you?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick smiled slightly. \u201cHe also told me about the bedtime stories. Daniel also mentioned the costumes, the exaggerated comical voices, and the way Mason would laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, God.\u201d My grip on the bat slowly loosened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe said it was the best part of his day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then I asked the question that had been sitting in my chest since the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you knew all this\u2026 Why didn\u2019t you come to the funeral?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His expression darkened. \u201cI got released two weeks after Daniel died. It was too late by the time I got out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe also told me about the bedtime stories.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, I asked quietly, \u201cSo why sneak into my son\u2019s room?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick looked toward the hallway. \u201cWhen I visited the cemetery once, I saw you and Mason. The boy looked lost. So I came here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou could have knocked on the door.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d Derrick sighed. \u201cI didn\u2019t think it through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I folded my arms. \u201cSo you pretended to be Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo why sneak into my son\u2019s room?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt first, I just wanted to read him a story,\u201d Derrick said. \u201cThen Mason called me Daddy. And I didn\u2019t know how to correct him without confusing him even more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo you kept coming.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He nodded. \u201cMason leaves the window open a little each night. He chooses the story I need to read, and even picks out which costume I should wear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite everything, a small laugh escaped me. That sounded&nbsp;<em>exactly<\/em>&nbsp;like Mason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen Mason called me Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then I set the baseball bat on the coffee table. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have done it this way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou scared me half to death.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m really sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I studied his face again. The resemblance to Daniel was painful. But the expression was gentler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re not trying to hurt him,\u201d I said slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resemblance to Daniel was painful.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou were trying to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I stood up and walked to the front door. Then I opened it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick looked confused. \u201cYou\u2019re kicking me out?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He nodded sadly and started walking toward the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But before he stepped outside, I spoke again. \u201cCome back tomorrow. During the day. So you can meet Mason properly. As his uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re kicking me out?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick\u2019s eyes widened. For the first time that night, he smiled. \u201cI\u2019d like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As he stepped outside, I looked down the hallway toward Mason\u2019s room. There were things about Daniel\u2019s life that I\u2019d never known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But that night, I realized something important. Even after he was gone, Daniel had left behind a connection. Not just memories. Family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And maybe, Mason wouldn\u2019t have to grow up without hearing bedtime stories after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even after he was gone, Daniel had left behind a connection.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amomama.com\/512656-my-4-year-old-son-says-his-father-comes.html?utm_campaign=574_1398977&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook_page_nostalgia&amp;utm_term=page_nostalgia&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawRTH29leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPclRWU0pRZGtFQnlzcW9Hc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrd8WVwQPbWwMCszlxzqxY77vOdudQU4-UP224H2-zl0lPbKtv0UDx_0Z5pL_aem_IkZIcRUTkvkzEqWwhv790Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"mailto:?subject=%5BShared%20post%5Dfrom:amomama.com%20My%204-Year-Old%20Son%20Said%20His%20Father%20Came%20to%20Read%20Him%20Stories%20Every%20Night%20%E2%80%93%20But%20His%20Father%20Had%20Passed%20Away,%20So%20I%20Set%20Up%20a%20Camera%20in%20His%20Room&amp;body=My%204-Year-Old%20Son%20Said%20His%20Father%20Came%20to%20Read%20Him%20Stories%20Every%20Night%20%E2%80%93%20But%20His%20Father%20Had%20Passed%20Away,%20So%20I%20Set%20Up%20a%20Camera%20in%20His%20Room.%20Read%20more:%20https:\/\/amomama.com\/512656-my-4-year-old-son-says-his-father-comes.html?utm_source=email%26utm_medium=share%26utm_campaign=social-share-article\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;title=My%204-Year-Old%20Son%20Said%20His%20Father%20Came%20to%20Read%20Him%20Stories%20Every%20Night%20%E2%80%93%20But%20His%20Father%20Had%20Passed%20Away%2C%20So%20I%20Set%20Up%20a%20Camera%20in%20His%20Room&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Famomama.com%2F512656-my-4-year-old-son-says-his-father-comes.html%3Futm_campaign%3D574_1398977%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook_page_nostalgia%26utm_term%3Dpage_nostalgia%26fbclid%3DIwY2xjawRTH29leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPclRWU0pRZGtFQnlzcW9Hc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrd8WVwQPbWwMCszlxzqxY77vOdudQU4-UP224H2-zl0lPbKtv0UDx_0Z5pL_aem_IkZIcRUTkvkzEqWwhv790Q&amp;t=1776697389979&amp;utm_campaign=tools&amp;utm_medium=article-share&amp;utm_source=amomama.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.x.com\/share?title=My%204-Year-Old%20Son%20Said%20His%20Father%20Came%20to%20Read%20Him%20Stories%20Every%20Night%20%E2%80%93%20But%20His%20Father%20Had%20Passed%20Away,%20So%20I%20Set%20Up%20a%20Camera%20in%20His%20Room&amp;via=amomama_usa&amp;url=https:\/\/amomama.com\/512656-my-4-year-old-son-says-his-father-comes.html?utm_source=twitter%26utm_medium=social%26utm_campaign=social-share-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/amomama.com\/512656-my-4-year-old-son-says-his-father-comes.html?utm_source=facebook.com&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=social-share-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AdvertisementThis story is a work of fiction inspired by real events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Related posts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>After my husband died, my four-year-old started acting like bedtime hadn\u2019t changed at all. That\u2019s when I decided to find out what was really happening <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=15062\" title=\"My 4-Year-Old Son Said His Father Came to Read Him Stories Every Night \u2013 But His Father Had Passed Away, So I Set Up a Camera in His Room\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":15063,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15062"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15062\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15064,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15062\/revisions\/15064"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}