I can’t get what happened out of my mind. Even now, my hands tremble, and tears are on the verge of spilling. As soon as I sensed that something was off, a wave of dread washed over me. What I found was beyond anything I could have ever imagined—something that turned everything I believed about my family on its head.
I’m Rochelle, a single mom juggling a busy career as an ER nurse while raising my eight-year-old son, Milo. The hospital schedules can be really tough, and I frequently depend on Nicole, our nanny, to assist during those long hours after school. Milo and I have always had a special bond, filled with inside jokes and late-night ice cream adventures. He’s a kind-hearted child, thoughtful and reserved, always putting others before himself.
I just couldn’t overlook the changes. It began quietly a few weeks back. Milo wouldn’t rush to greet me at the door when I got home. Instead, he would be slumped over at the kitchen table, looking tired and lost in thought. The light in his eyes appeared to fade, and whenever I inquired about what was bothering him, he merely shrugged and offered a lackluster, “I’m fine, Mom.” However, it was obvious that he wasn’t.
Each day, his shoulders seemed to droop a little more, and occasionally he would flinch when I tried to tuck the hair away from his eyes, as if he were trapped in a maze of burdensome thoughts. I thought there could be an issue at school—perhaps a bully or a difficult exam. Yet, he kept insisting that everything was just fine. I understood my son. There was something not quite right.
I walked over to Nicole, who had been looking after Milo since the beginning of the year. She had always been so warm and reassuring, a recent college graduate who took pride in tutoring Milo and lending a hand with chores. “Have you seen how Milo has been acting lately?” One evening, I casually asked her.
She tilted her head slightly and gave a playful shrug. “He looks a little worn out, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary, Rochelle.” Perhaps he’s feeling a bit grumpy because I’m cutting back on screen time.