Pam looked in disbelief as her husband, James, packed his things from the nightstand into a small wicker basket. Their lives had already changed drastically five years earlier when a car accident had left her paralyzed from the waist down. Since then, James had been her unwavering support. Now, seeing him leave their shared bedroom made her feel like her world was collapsing all over again.
James reassured her with gentle but firm words that his commitment to her hadn’t changed. “I’ll always be here if you need me,” he said, explaining that he simply wanted more freedom while sleeping. Pam, hurt and confused, nodded, though deep down, she was terrified at the thought of sleeping alone. The idea that James didn’t want to be by her side anymore felt like the beginning of something terrible.
As the days passed, Pam’s mind became consumed with insecurities. She couldn’t shake the feeling that James regretted staying with her after the accident. She feared she had become too much of a burden, and this was his way of creating distance.
Things became stranger when Pam began hearing odd noises coming from James’ new bedroom at night. At first, they were faint, barely noticeable—dull thuds and scratching sounds. Pam tried to ignore them, thinking James was simply adjusting to his new space. But over the nights, the noises became more frequent and louder, fueling her growing anxiety.
Her imagination ran wild. Was James hiding something? Was he planning to leave her? Or worse, was someone else involved? Every night, the disturbing sounds tortured her, making her question everything she thought she knew about their relationship.
One day, as she passed James’ room, Pam couldn’t resist the urge to investigate. Summoning her courage, she reached for the door handle, only to find it locked. This discovery shook her to her core: not only was James sleeping in another room, but he was also locking her out. Her suspicions deepened, and she was convinced she had lost him for good.
That evening, Pam confronted James over dinner, voicing her fears and insecurities. She admitted she didn’t want him to feel overwhelmed by her, but his brief response surprised her. He reminded her that he had always been a restless sleeper and never meant to hurt her. Pam struggled to understand how they had grown so distant, but she accepted his explanation, though it didn’t completely ease her concerns.
That night, the noises became unbearable. Desperate, and despite the pain in her body, Pam forced herself into her wheelchair and made the agonizing trip down the hallway. The cold, eerie silence of the house seemed to warn her to turn back, but she couldn’t stop. She needed to know the truth.
When she reached James’ door, she was surprised to find it unlocked this time. She cautiously opened it and called his name. What she saw made her heart race. James stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by tools, paint cans, and half-assembled furniture. The room looked like a workshop. He turned to her, startled, then gave her a sheepish smile. “You weren’t supposed to see this yet,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
