The case moved faster than anyone expected. The evidence was undeniable—videos, toxicology reports, the hired cameraman’s testimony. Everything pointed in one direction.

My mother didn’t deny it anymore.

But she didn’t break either.

At the trial, she stood straight, composed, even elegant—like she always had. When the judge asked if she had anything to say, she didn’t look at the court.

She looked at me.

“I didn’t lose my son,” she said calmly. “You gave yourself away.”

I thought it was just another manipulation.

Until the verdict came.

Guilty.

Attempted poisoning. Psychological abuse. Fabrication of evidence.

She was sentenced.

And just like that—she was gone.

Life was supposed to get better after that.

And in some ways, it did.

Mariana slowly healed. The fear in her eyes faded. Mateo laughed more, slept peacefully. The house felt… lighter.

But something inside me didn’t.

It started small.

Mariana began locking doors at night—twice, sometimes three times.

She checked Mateo constantly, even when he wasn’t crying.

If he made the slightest sound, she would rush to him like something terrible was about to happen.

“It’s normal,” the therapist said. “After trauma, the mind protects itself.”

I wanted to believe that.

I really did.

Then one night, I woke up at 3 a.m.

The house was silent.

Too silent.

Mateo’s baby monitor—off.

My chest tightened.

I got up, walked toward his room… and stopped halfway.

A faint light came from the kitchen.

And a voice.

Mariana’s voice.

Soft. Gentle.

Whispering.

“It’s okay… he won’t take you away from me.”

I stepped closer, my heart pounding.

And then I saw her.

Standing in the kitchen.

Holding Mateo.

Rocking him slowly.

On the counter—

a glass of water.

And beside it…

a small, crushed pill.

My blood turned cold.

“Mariana?” I said carefully.