I pressed down on the mattress.
I ran my palm slowly across the center of the mattress, and it felt normal. But then, beneath the padding, I felt something solid and rectangular.
I flipped the mattress over.
At first glance, everything looked fine. Then I noticed faint stitching near the middle, small seams that didn’t match the factory pattern. The thread was slightly darker, as if someone had resewn it by hand.
A chill crept up my spine.
At first glance, everything looked fine.
“Caleb, did you cut this?”
His eyes widened. “No! I swear, Mom.”
I believed him.
My fingers trembled as I traced the seam. It had been done intentionally.
“Go watch TV,” I told him.
“Why?”
“Just go. Please.”
“No! I swear, Mom.”
Once he left, I grabbed a pair of scissors.
I hesitated for a second.
Part of me didn’t want to know. But if I did nothing, the mysterious object would remain there.
I cut through the stitching. When I reached inside the mattress, my hand brushed against cold metal. I pulled out a small metal box. I carried the box to the bedroom I once shared with Daniel and shut the door.
For a long moment, I just sat on the edge of the bed holding it.
I pulled out a small metal box.
Finally finding the courage, I opened it. Inside were several documents, two keys I’d never seen before, and a folded envelope with my name written in Daniel’s handwriting.
I stared at it for a full minute before opening it with trembling hands.
