For seven long years, Jason and his mother, Linda, had only communicated through video calls. Jason had moved abroad for work shortly after his college graduation, and due to distance and his busy schedule, visits were not an option. Their conversations were regular, but always limited to the digital screen between them. Linda, always smiling on video, seemed to be doing well. She’d tell Jason about her life, her gardening, her daily routines, and the friends she had in town. But there was something in her eyes that Jason could never quite place.
After seven years, Jason finally managed to schedule a trip back home. He was excited to reconnect with his mother, who he had missed dearly. However, when he arrived at their childhood home, he was stunned. The house, which had always been vibrant and welcoming, was eerily quiet and seemed deserted. The front door, usually adorned with flowers and welcome mats, was now broken and covered in overgrown weeds. As Jason stepped inside, a strange emptiness surrounded him.
The house, once filled with his mother’s warmth, was now bare and cold. Furniture was missing, and dust covered the floors where memories of his childhood once lived. Jason’s heart sank as he made his way through the rooms, calling out for his mom. There was no answer.
He called her phone, but there was no response. Panicked, he turned to a neighbor who had known Linda for years. The neighbor revealed that Linda had been struggling with health issues for some time and had moved to a care facility. She hadn’t wanted to worry Jason, so she kept up the facade of normalcy during their video calls. Jason’s world was shattered—what he had seen on the screen had been far from the reality his mother was facing.
