My mother-in-law Cynthia moved in, and soon after, my daughter Lisa began acting oddly. She was no longer her cheerful self, and it worried me deeply. One night, I saw her sleepwalking through the house, clutching her teddy bear. I quietly followed her, and what I discovered that night shocked me, leading to a bigger mystery I needed to solve.
We were a happy family, living together in peace. Our days were filled with laughter, playful moments with our daughter, Lisa, and cozy family dinners.
Tony worked as a financial analyst, always dreaming of starting his own business, while I balanced my career and took care of our home.
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One evening, Tony came home with exciting news.
“Amelie, I found partners, and I can finally start my own business, just like I’ve always dreamed!” he announced, grinning from ear to ear.
“That’s amazing, Tony!” I hugged him, feeling proud. “You’ve worked so hard for this.”
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“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he said, looking a bit hesitant.
“With our new jobs, we’ll be even busier. Mom has been complaining about her health and suggested moving in with us. She wants to help with taking care of Lisa.”
I frowned.
“Tony, you know how Cynthia feels about our marriage. She never really accepted me.”
“I know, but she insisted,” Tony replied. “And we really could use the help right now.”
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I sighed, unsure.
“Alright, but only because we need the help. And of course, she wants to move in now that things are looking up for us.”
***
A few days later, Cynthia moved in. She entered the house with a big smile, her hands held in front of her, carrying a gift for Lisa.
“Hello, Lisa! Look what Grandma brought you,” she said, handing Lisa a fluffy teddy bear.
“Thank you, Grandma!” Lisa hugged the bear tightly, her eyes sparkling with joy.
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Tony looked at me, hoping I would make an effort. “Thanks, Cynthia. I’m sure Lisa will love it,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Amelie, I know we’ve had our differences,” Cynthia began. “But I want to make this work for Tony and Lisa.”
“I hope so,” I replied cautiously.
***
Days turned into weeks, and I noticed changes in Lisa. She became cranky and sleepy during the day. She wasn’t her usual cheerful self, and it worried me.
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“Lisa, honey, why are you so tired?” I asked one afternoon as she rubbed her eyes.
“I don’t know, Mommy. I just feel sleepy,” she replied, yawning.
That night, as I checked on her, I saw her walking around. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be in a daze.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Lisa, sweetie, what are you doing?” I whispered, gently taking her by the hand.
She didn’t respond, just continued clutching the teddy bear. I carefully guided her back to bed and tucked her in, feeling a knot of worry in my stomach.
The next morning, over breakfast, I decided to bring it up with Tony.
“Tony, I saw Lisa sleepwalking last night,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “She was wandering around with that teddy bear your mom gave her.”
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Tony looked surprised. “Really? That’s strange.”
Before he could say more, Cynthia, walking nearby, chimed in.
“Oh, that’s perfectly normal. Tony used to sleepwalk as a child too. There’s nothing to worry about,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
“Are you sure?” I asked, looking at her thoughtfully.
“Absolutely. It’s just a phase,” Cynthia insisted, her tone final.
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I nodded, but the worry didn’t leave me. Later that morning, as Tony was getting ready for work, he suddenly frowned and checked his wallet.
“Amelie, have you seen some money I left in my wallet? It’s missing,” he said, looking puzzled.
“No, I haven’t touched your wallet,” I replied honestly.
Tony sighed. “Maybe I misplaced it. It’s probably just somewhere around.”
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I decided to get my purse to give my husband some money. But I was surprised to find a much larger sum than I had yesterday.
“Tony, look at this. Is this the amount you were missing?” I said, showing him the money.
Tony peered into the purse and nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly how I tied and stored the amount in my wallet yesterday. That’s strange. Maybe you took it by mistake?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m sure I didn’t. It’s really odd.”
How did it get there?
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Tony shrugged, trying to brush it off. “Let’s not worry about it.”
But I couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling. Something was definitely wrong, and I needed to figure out what was happening. That night, I couldn’t sleep, thinking about Lisa and the strange occurrences.
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***
The next few days, I kept a closer eye on Lisa. She was still cranky and tired during the day, and I noticed she clung to the teddy bear more than usual.
I decided to follow her if she sleepwalked again, to see if I could find any answers.
That night, it happened again. I saw Lisa get up from her bed, holding the teddy bear tightly in her arms. This time, her eyes were wide open, but she didn’t seem to notice me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
She walked out of her room and down the hallway. I quietly followed her, making sure not to wake her. My heart pounded as I watched her small figure move through the dimly lit house.
This time, she went straight to Cynthia’s room. I paused outside the door, straining to hear. I heard Cynthia’s voice, low and insistent.
“Go to your parents’ room… Take the money from the safe, Lisa. Remember, it’s our little secret.”
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My blood ran cold. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I stood frozen for a moment, then hurried back to my room to wake Tony.
“Tony, wake up! You have to see this,” I whispered urgently, shaking him awake.
Tony groggily opened his eyes. “What’s going on, Amelie?”
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“It’s Lisa. She’s in your mom’s room. I heard Cynthia giving her instructions to take money from the safe,” I said, my voice trembling.
Tony sat up, looking frustrated. “Amelie, you’re overreacting. Mom wouldn’t do that.”
“Please, Tony, just come and see,” I begged.
Reluctantly, he got out of bed and followed me to Cynthia’s room. We quietly opened the door and saw both Cynthia and Lisa seemingly asleep. Tony sighed in exasperation.
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“See, they’re both asleep. You’re making a big deal out of nothing,” he said, rubbing his temples.
“No, Tony, I know what I heard,” I insisted.
Frustrated, Tony stomped over to the safe.
“I’ll prove to you that this is all a misunderstanding. The money should be right here. I was going to invest it in my project tomorrow.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Then Tony’s face went pale.
“What? No, this has to be a joke. The money was here this morning!” he shouted, his voice filled with anger.
“Tony, it’s not a joke. Your mother is responsible for this,” I said firmly.
The commotion woke everyone up. Cynthia came into the room, looking defensive.
“What’s all this noise about?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Tony turned to her, fury in his eyes. “Mom, did you ask Lisa to steal money from the safe?”
Cynthia’s eyes widened, and she started to deny it. “Of course not! How could you even think that?”
Just then, Lisa started to cry, scared and confused by the shouting. I knelt down and gently took her hand.
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“Lisa, sweetie, can you tell us what happened? It’s important.”
Lisa sniffled and nodded. She walked over to my purse and pointed.
Tony looked inside my purse and found the missing money. His face contorted with rage and disbelief.
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“Amelie, how could you? Were you trying to frame my mother?”
“No, Tony! I didn’t know the money was there! It was your mother’s doing!” I protested.
But Tony was too angry to listen.
“This is too much. I can’t deal with this right now. Amelie, I think it’s best if you stay somewhere else for a while. Mom will watch over Lisa.”
“Tony, please, you have to believe me. I’m not the one at fault here!” I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.
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Cynthia stood behind Tony, a look of satisfaction hidden in her eyes.
“It’s for the best, Amelie. We need some time to sort this out.”
My heart was breaking, but I knew I had to find a way to prove the truth and protect my family.
***
In the morning, Tony left for work while I started packing my things. My heart was heavy with sadness and frustration.
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As I gathered my belongings, I went into Lisa’s room and noticed her sitting on the bed, talking to the teddy bear.
“Lisa, sweetie, who are you talking to?” I asked gently, trying not to startle her.
She looked up at me with big, innocent eyes.
“The teddy bear, Mommy. But it doesn’t want to talk anymore.”
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I frowned, feeling a knot of worry. “What do you mean, it doesn’t want to talk anymore?”
Lisa hugged the bear tightly.
“It used to talk to me before bedtime. Grandma said it was our little secret.”
My heart sank. This was worse than I had imagined.
“Lisa, can I borrow the teddy bear for a bit? I need to wash it,” I said, trying to sound casual.
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She hesitated, then answered, “Okay, Mommy. Just be careful with him.”
I didn’t leave the house. I was waiting for the evening to put everything in its place. I had a hunch about what was happening and who was behind it all.
***
That evening, while preparing dinner, Cynthia entered the kitchen. She stood there with her arms crossed, looking smug.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Why haven’t you left yet, Amelie? Tony doesn’t want a thief in his house.”
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “I have some unfinished business, Cynthia. Everything will be resolved when Tony returns.”
Cynthia’s eyes narrowed. “What are you planning?”
“You’ll see,” I replied, turning back to the stove.
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When Tony came home, I was ready.
“Tony, I need to show you something,” I said, holding the teddy bear.
He looked weary. “What is it now, Amelie?”
“Please, just trust me,” I urged.
I brought out the teddy bear and carefully opened it, revealing a small talking device inside.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Tony, Lisa wasn’t sleepwalking. She was being manipulated by this device. Cynthia has been using it to give her instructions.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Cynthia shouted, her face turning red. “You’re making this up!”
“Let’s check Cynthia’s room for the other half of the device,” I suggested, keeping my voice steady.
Cynthia backed away, her eyes wide with fear. “No, you can’t go in there!”
Tony, now suspicious, insisted, “Mom, we need to see.”
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I pressed the button on the bear’s device and spoke into it. At that moment, we heard my voice echoing from Cynthia’s room.
Tony rushed in and found the other device hidden under Cynthia’s pillow.
Lisa, hearing the commotion, peeked into the room. “Grandma, are we playing a new game since our secret is out?”
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Tony looked puzzled. “Mom, how did you use the bear to control her?”
Cynthia sighed, wiping her tears. “I put a walkie-talkie inside the teddy bear and another one under my pillow. When Lisa would start sleepwalking, I would whisper instructions to her through the bear. I would tell her to come to my room, and we would play a game. She would take money from your wallet and put it in her mom’s purse, and then back again.”
“Mom, why? Why would you do this?” Tony exclaimed.
In tears, Cynthia finally broke down.
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“At first, it was just to see if it would work. Then it became a way for me to feel in control, to have a role in the family. I didn’t realize how much it would hurt everyone.”
Tony, filled with anger and disappointment, shook his head.
“Mom, this is wrong. You can’t use Lisa like that. If you want to be part of this family, you have to stop these manipulations and respect our lives.”
Realizing her mistakes, Cynthia nodded, her face wet with tears.
“I’m sorry, Tony,” Cynthia said, her voice trembling with emotion.
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“I just wanted to feel needed. I promise I’ll do better. I’ll only visit on weekends and spend time with Lisa occasionally.”
Tony looked at me. “Amelie, what do you think?” he asked softly.
I took a deep breath, trying to hold back my tears.
“Cynthia, we all make mistakes. But if you truly want to be part of this family, you need to accept us and respect our boundaries. I think it would be good for Lisa to spend time with her grandmother.”
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Cynthia nodded, wiping her tears.
“I understand. I’ll respect your family’s peace and unity.”
I smiled faintly, looking at my sleepy daughter and feeling a glimmer of hope.
“Let’s take it one step at a time and work together to create a loving environment for Lisa.”
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Cynthia reached out and took my hand.
“Thank you, Amelie. I promise I’ll make it right.”
The truth was finally out, and now we could begin the process of rebuilding our trust and unity. It wouldn’t be easy, but with love and understanding, we could overcome this challenge together.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Six-year-old Ethan had recently lost his mother, leaving a deep void in his heart. In his grief, he started writing letters to her, pouring out his feelings on paper. One day, while wandering the streets, he stumbled upon an old, rusty mailbox at an abandoned house. He decided to slip one of his letters inside, never expecting anyone to see it. To his astonishment, the very next day, he found a mysterious reply waiting for him.
A Blind Elderly Woman Asked Me to Walk Her Home — The Next Day, Her Sons Showed Up on My Doorstep with the Police
It started as an ordinary morning—a quiet goodbye to my father at the cemetery. But by the next day, I found myself sitting in a police station, accused of a crime I didn’t commit. All because of my kind gesture toward an elderly blind woman.
Grief has a peculiar way of dulling time. Days stretch into weeks, and yet, every memory feels as sharp as a blade. It had been six months since I lost my father, and though life went on, the pain lingered. I found solace in visiting his grave every week, sharing with him the things I could no longer say in life.
Woman wearing a black dress at a gravesite | Source: Pexels
That morning, the air was crisp, a gentle breeze rustling through the cemetery’s towering oaks. I stood by his grave, holding a bouquet of white lilies, his favorite.
“Goodbye, Dad,” I whispered, brushing away a tear.
As I turned to leave, I noticed a frail figure standing a few rows away near a freshly dug grave. An elderly blind woman, dressed in a simple black dress, clutched a white cane. Her dark glasses hid her eyes, but the slump in her shoulders spoke volumes.
Senior visually impaired woman | Source: Midjourney
“Excuse me, ma’am,” I said softly, approaching her. “Do you need help?”
She turned her head in my direction, her lips curling into a faint smile. “Oh, thank you, dear. I’d appreciate it if you could walk me home. My sons were supposed to pick me up, but I think they’ve forgotten.”
I felt a pang of anger on her behalf. Who abandons their blind mother at a cemetery? “Of course,” I said. “I’d be happy to help.”
As we walked down the quiet streets, she introduced herself as Kira. Her husband, Samuel, had passed away just days before.
Senior woman and a young woman at a gravesite | Source: Midjourney
“He was my world,” she said, her voice trembling. “We were married for forty-two years. Losing him…” She trailed off, her words swallowed by the weight of her grief.
I squeezed her arm gently. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“They didn’t even wait with me at the cemetery,” she continued bitterly. “My sons, Ethan and Mark. They said they’d come back in half an hour, but I waited two hours. Samuel always said they’d be the death of me, but I didn’t want to believe him.”
Senior woman and a young woman at a gravesite | Source: Midjourney
Her words hinted at a deeper rift, but I didn’t press.
We reached her modest home, a charming brick house surrounded by a garden of roses. “Would you like to come in for tea?” she asked.
I hesitated, but her hopeful smile made me relent. Inside, the house was warm and inviting, with faded photographs adorning the walls. One caught my eye—a younger Kira and a man I assumed was Samuel, their hands intertwined, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Young couple standing near the Eiffel tower | Source: Midjourney
“Samuel installed cameras all over the house,” Kira said as she brewed the tea. “He didn’t trust the boys. “They’re more interested in what’s mine than in me,’ he used to say.”
Her words lingered with me as I left an hour later, promising to check in on her soon. Little did I know, that simple act of kindness would turn my life upside down.
The next morning, I was jolted awake by a pounding on my front door. My heart raced as I stumbled out of bed, still half-asleep.
“Open up!” a male voice shouted.
Woman seated in her bed | Source: Midjourney
I swung the door open to find two men glaring at me, flanked by a police officer. One of the men about 35, broad-shouldered and furious, pointed at me. “That’s her! She was in our mother’s house yesterday!”
“Good morning, ma’am,” the officer said calmly. “Are you, by any chance, acquainted with a woman named Kira?”
“Yes,” I stammered, my mind reeling. “I walked her home from the cemetery yesterday.”
The younger of the two men about 25, his face red with anger, took a step toward me. “And then what? You decided to rob her blind?”
“What?” I gasped. “I would never—”
Woman explaining herself following an accusation | Source: Midjourney
“Don’t play innocent,” the older man snapped. “Mom told us you were in her house. She said you stayed for tea. Who else would’ve taken the money and jewelry?”
My stomach dropped. “This has to be a mistake. I didn’t take anything!”
The officer raised a hand to silence the commotion. “Ma’am, I’m going to need you to come with us to clear this up.”
I felt a chill run down my spine as I grabbed my coat, my mind racing. How had this gone so wrong?
At the station, Kira was already there, sitting in a corner with her cane resting against her knee. Her face lit up when she saw me.
Senior blind woman at a police station | Source: Midjourney
“Thank goodness,” she said, reaching out for my hand. “I told them you didn’t do it.”
“Then why am I here?” I asked, glancing nervously at the officer.
“Because my sons are fools,” she said sharply, turning toward Ethan and Mark, who stood stiffly by the door. “And because they’re greedy.”
“Mom, don’t,” Ethan warned, but she waved him off.
“They accused her of stealing, but I know better,” Kira continued, her voice steady. “Samuel installed cameras in the house, remember? Officer, I told you to check the recordings.”
The officer raised an eyebrow. “Cameras?”
Curious male police officer | Source: Midjourney
Kira nodded. “In the living room, the hallway, and the kitchen. Samuel didn’t trust anyone—not even them.”
Ethan’s face turned pale. “Mom, you don’t have to do this.”
“Oh, I think I do,” Kira shot back. “I’m tired of covering for you boys.”
Suspense hung in the air as the officer dispatched a team to retrieve the recordings. We waited in tense silence, the only sound the ticking of a clock on the wall.
An hour later, the officers returned with a laptop. “We’ve reviewed the footage,” one of them said, his tone grim.
Laptop on a brown background | Source: Midjourney
The room fell silent as the video played. There I was, helping Kira to the couch and disappearing into the kitchen to make tea. I left shortly after, waving goodbye at the door.
“See?” I said, relief washing over me. “I didn’t take anything!”
But the video wasn’t over. Moments after I left, Ethan and Mark appeared in the frame, rummaging through drawers and cabinets. They emptied jewelry boxes and pocketed cash from an envelope hidden in a cookie jar.
“You idiots,” Kira muttered under her breath.
Disappointed senior blind woman | Source: Midjourney
The officer stopped the video and turned to the brothers. “Care to explain?”
Ethan stammered, “We… we were looking for paperwork!”
“For paperwork in a jewelry box?” the officer replied, unimpressed.
Mark buried his face in his hands. “It wasn’t supposed to go like this.”
“No,” Kira said, her voice icy. “It wasn’t. You’ve betrayed me and your father’s memory.”
The brothers were arrested on the spot, and charged with theft and filing a false report. I sat next to Kira, stunned by the turn of events.
Brothers under police custody | Source: Midjourney
“I’m so sorry, dear,” she said, gripping my hand. “They’ve always been like this, taking and taking. Samuel tried to warn me, but I didn’t want to believe it.”
“What will happen to them?” I asked.
“That’s up to the court,” the officer replied. “But their accusations against you won’t help their case.”
I was free to go, but the experience left a bitter taste in my mouth. As I walked Kira back home that evening, she confided more about her family.
Women taking a walk | Source: Midjourney
“Samuel adored them when they were younger,” she said. “But as they grew older, they changed. They became greedy, always asking for money, never giving back.”
“Why didn’t you cut them off?” I asked gently.
She sighed. “A mother’s love is complicated. Even when they hurt you, you keep hoping they’ll change.”
Women taking a walk | Source: Midjourney
In the weeks that followed the harrowing ordeal, I found myself drawn to Kira’s home more often than I expected. Our initial bond, forged in the unlikeliest of circumstances, deepened with each visit. Her house, once a place where tension lingered in the shadows, began to feel like a haven.
“I can’t believe how peaceful it is now,” she said one afternoon, sipping her tea by the living room window. Sunlight streamed through the lace curtains, painting patterns on the wooden floor.
“It’s different,” I admitted, setting my own cup down. “But you deserve peace after everything.”
Women having a conversation | Source: Midjourney
She gave a wistful smile, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. “Peace doesn’t come easy, you know. Samuel and I fought so hard to build this life, only to see it threatened by the very people we gave it to.”
Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. Over the weeks, Kira had shared more about her late husband—a man of discipline and integrity who had grown increasingly disillusioned with their sons.
“They never used to be like this,” she said. “But somewhere along the way, they let greed take over. It wasn’t the money, really—it was the entitlement. The belief that everything I have was theirs for the taking.”
Women having a conversation | Source: Midjourney
I hesitated, then asked the question I’d been holding back. “Do you regret not confronting them sooner?”
Kira stared out the window, her dark glasses perched on the edge of her nose. “Regret is tricky. Would it have changed them? Maybe. But a mother’s heart is stubborn. You keep hoping, right up until the end.”
Her voice wavered, and I reached across to squeeze her hand. “You’re stronger than you know, Kira. And Samuel…he knew that, too.”
She nodded, her lips trembling into a faint smile. “Maybe you’re right. And maybe Samuel sent you to me.”
Senior woman and a younger woman having a conversation | Source: Midjourney
Her words echoed the thought I’d been carrying since the day I met her. As I rose to leave, Kira surprised me by pulling me into a gentle embrace.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For being my light in a dark moment.”
“You’ve been mine, too,” I replied softly.
As I walked home under the fading sunlight, I felt lighter, as though a burden I didn’t know I was carrying had lifted. Kira’s parting words stayed with me:
“Sometimes, strangers become family in ways you never expect.”
Woman taking a walk | Source: Midjourney
If you liked this story, you’ll love this one: A rich boy yells at a near-blind woman at a bakery, then his dad overhears everything — Story of the Day.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided as “is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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