The Woman at the Door Was Supposed to Be Dead

The Woman at the Door Was Supposed to Be Dead Nadia knew her mother was dead. She had watched them lower the coffin into the ground. So when someone knocked on the door that evening and whispered, “Nadia… open the door. It’s Mum,” every hair on her body stood up.She couldn't move. Across the room, Marcus—the brother she had trusted all her life—had gone completely pale.The knocking came again. Three slow knocks.Knock.Knock.Knock. "Don't open it," Marcus whispered.Nadia stared at him."Why?"He didn't answer. "Marcus, why is someone pretending to be our mother?"His eyes filled with tears. "Because she's not pretending."Nadia's heart slammed against her chest.She stepped toward the door. Marcus grabbed her wrist."Please.""Let me go." "You don't understand what is happening.""Then explain it!"Silence.Outside, the woman spoke again. "Nadia, darling… you deserve to know the truth."That voice.That unmistakable voice. It was her mother.Nadia pulled away from Marcus.She reached for the door handle. Then she noticed something beneath the door.A photograph had been pushed inside.She picked it up. Her hands began trembling.It showed her mother holding a newborn baby.But Nadia had never seen the photograph before. On the back, written in her mother's handwriting, were the words: "The child in this picture is not Nadia."Nadia looked at Marcus. "What is this?"Marcus closed his eyes. "That's why Mum had to disappear."Nadia stared at him."Disappear?" "You were never supposed to find out."Her breathing became shallow."Find out what?" Marcus finally looked at her."The woman outside isn't the person you think she is." Another knock.Then the voice outside changed.It became colder.More desperate. "Marcus, if you don't tell her now, I will."Marcus stepped backward.Nadia's eyes widened."You know her."Marcus said nothing."Who is she?" He looked toward the door.Then he whispered:"Your mother died six months ago."Nadia swallowed."I know." Marcus shook his head."No." He pointed toward the photograph."She died twenty-four years ago."Nadia stared at him, completely confused."What are you talking about?"Marcus's voice broke. "The woman who raised you wasn't your mother."The knocking stopped. For a few seconds, the house became completely silent.Then the woman outside whispered something that made Nadia's blood run cold. "Nadia… ask Marcus where he found you."Marcus suddenly ran toward the back door.Nadia chased him."Marcus!" He stopped.Slowly, he turned around.And for the first time in her life, Nadia saw fear in her brother's eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an old hospital bracelet.There was a name written on it.Not Nadia. Another name.Then Marcus whispered:"Your real name is on this bracelet."Before Nadia could read it, the lights went out.And somewhere upstairs, a baby began crying.

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