Gone Without a Trace
Sophia burst into the villa, her heart pounding as her eyes darted around the room. Gripping her phone tightly, she found no messages, no calls—only silence. His bags were still neatly packed in the dresser, his toothbrush and toiletries still in the bathroom, yet her husband was nowhere to be found. Collapsing to the floor, Sophia wept, imagining every terrible possibility.
Could he have drowned? Was he injured, lying helpless in a hospital somewhere? Sophia's mind spiraled with fear. But the truth awaiting her wasn’t about loss—it was a betrayal that would shatter her world.
Turbulent Beginnings
The airplane was packed to capacity, the crowded cabin thick with heat and chatter. Sophia glanced at her husband, John, seated beside her, her heart fluttering with newlywed bliss. “Did you pack everything?” she teased.
John chuckled, taking her hand and kissing it gently. “I hope so—or I guess I’ll just have to improvise.” Sophia smirked, “Let’s hope you remembered deodorant!” she joked, earning a playful flick on the nose. For now, the butterflies in her stomach drowned out any sense of foreboding.
Unwelcome Guest
“This is going to be amazing!” Sophia’s mother, Louise, gushed, grinning at the couple as they boarded the plane. Dressed in white to match her daughter, Louise was brimming with excitement. “Mom, you need to find your seat; we’re about to take off,” Sophia said, smiling warmly as her mother headed toward the back of the plane.
Sophia’s smile faltered when John dropped her hand, his voice tense. “I still can’t believe you invited your mom on our honeymoon,” he said, his frustration barely concealed. Sophia’s heart sank, knowing this wasn’t the last she’d hear of it.
A Bond Like No Other
Since childhood, Sophia and her mother, Louise, had been inseparable. They were more than just family—they were best friends who shared everything. After Sophia’s father passed away, their bond grew even stronger.
When Sophia met John, her parents were thrilled, knowing she’d found someone who made her happy. But with Louise now alone, Sophia couldn’t imagine leaving her mother behind, even if it was her honeymoon. It was a decision that would soon test the limits of her marriage.
A Difficult Choice
Bringing her mother on the honeymoon was an unconventional decision, but Sophia felt it was the right thing to do. Louise had been struggling since her husband’s death, and Sophia couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her behind for two weeks.
Though it strained her relationship with John, he begrudgingly agreed, understanding the circumstances. Little did either of them know how much this choice would alter the course of their lives—and their marriage.
Silent Resentment
“It's just weird, Sophia,” John muttered, scooting away from her as if physical distance might help his frustration. Sophia sighed, choosing not to argue. They’d had this fight enough times already.
The tension lingered throughout the flight to Hawaii, with John barely speaking to her except to offer food or drinks. Sophia hoped the beautiful destination would help diffuse his irritation, but her heart sank as his cold demeanor persisted, even as they collected their luggage.
Widening Gap
From the moment they arrived at the villa, John’s frustration was palpable. He distanced himself, sitting in the front of the taxi while Sophia and her mom shared the back seat, standing to the side during check-in while Louise hovered at Sophia’s side.
Sophia couldn’t ignore the growing wedge between her and John. What had seemed like a small compromise now loomed as a major rift, one that her mother’s constant presence only deepened.
Crossing the Line
When they arrived at their suite, Sophia’s mother mistakenly assumed she’d be sharing the room with them. “I didn’t want to be alone,” Louise said, her voice tinged with disappointment when Sophia gently corrected her.
John’s exasperated laugh echoed through the room as he shook his head. “Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath. Sophia managed to redirect her mother to her own room, but the damage was already done.
Overwhelmed
The tension between Sophia and John worsened as the days passed. Louise’s constant presence turned what should have been a romantic getaway into a stressful ordeal. She insisted on joining every activity, even waiting outside during the couple's massage and pulling up a chair during their private dinner.
Sophia’s heart broke as she watched John grow colder, his frustration directed squarely at her. She regretted her decision but felt trapped, unable to undo what had already been set in motion.
Falling Apart
By the fourth day, Sophia was in tears, the weight of her decision unbearable. “I’m sorry, John. I didn’t mean for things to be this way,” she sobbed, hoping for some acknowledgment of her pain.
But John barely looked up, flipping through TV channels as if she wasn’t there. Sophia hadn’t expected instant forgiveness, but the cold silence crushed her, leaving her wondering if their marriage could survive this rocky start.
No Sign
Only a day was left of their horror honeymoon, and John still hadn’t spoken to her, looked at her, or even fought with her. She would take anything at this stage but complete and utter silence. If only she’d known just how devastating that wish would be. On the morning of their departure, Sophia and Louise left to find them some breakfast while John packed the last of his things.
The morning was bright and beautiful, and even though her marriage felt like it was in shambles, Sophia actually felt hopeful. But when she returned to the villa and saw her husband's unpacked suitcase with no other sign of him, Sophia knew something was wrong. The unmade bed, the blaring TV, and the clothes still strewn about made her nervous.
Disappear
Sophia raced to the front desk of their lodge, her heart racing. She could only imagine how she looked to the woman at the front desk, a beauty with wildly curly hair. “Have you seen my husband? John Hudson, unit 24? He’s tall with brown hair.” The woman glanced around and even asked her peers, but no one had seen any sign of him. She asked the housekeepers, janitors, the lifeguards, and even the people who keep the pools.
No one had seen any sign of her husband, and no one knew if he was okay. Deciding not to panic just yet, Sophia decided to wait in the waiting area of the lobby to see if he returned. Hours passed, and Sophia kept herself busy with some reading, but he still didn’t show up. Louise had even taken to doing another sweep of the enormous lodge but came back empty-handed.
Departure
They still had a few hours until their flight, but Sophia was starting to get anxious. He still hadn’t shown up and the minutes were ticking by until they had to board their flight. Her mom had left to do the last of her packing, but even when she still stayed, she saw no sign of the dark hair she so loved. Suddenly, the Lodge manager approached her, a solemn look on his face that made her stomach plummet.
“Mrs. Hudson?” he asked tentatively and adjusted the tie around his throat. When she nodded, he scratched the back of the neck nervously. “We received some information regarding your husband,” he started, stepping back when Sophia abruptly stood. “There have been reports of a private aircraft leaving the island—some of the workers say they saw a man that resembles your husband aboard it.”
Aboard
Sophia’s heart lurched into her throat, “What do you mean? Is my husband on some random plane?” The man swallowed and composed himself a moment, “I do not want to alarm you, ma’am, but the aircraft is also used for emergency situations.” “What does that mean?” she asked again, her breakfast threatening to spill itself on the floor.
“Has something happened to my husband?” The man was silent as if unable to voice his thoughts. “It can’t be,” Sophia cried, and before the man could say anything, she ran. Her heart beat out of her chest with worry for her husband, and her eyes blurred with tears. Where was he? Was this some misunderstanding, and was he waiting at the villa for her?
Desperate Search
Sophia burst through the villa doors, her heart racing as she scanned the room. She checked her phone, still devoid of messages, searched the empty villa for her husband, and collapsed to the wooden floor. She’d tried to call him a thousand times with no answer. His bags were still left unpacked in the dresser, his toothbrush and toiletries were still in the bathroom—and even though all of his things were still here, there was no sign of John.
Sophia sobbed, her mind filling with treacherous thoughts of what could have happened to him. Did he drown? Did he somehow get injured and was somewhere in a hospital with no way of letting her know? Did something happen to him? Sophia had no idea what could have happened, and her heart shattered. Little did she know just how broken it could get, not of loss, but of betrayal.
Facing Reality
As hours passed with no sign of John, Sophia's worst fears began to take shape. She struggled to come to terms with the possibility that he may be in danger or worse. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on her, threatening to suffocate her with its crushing force. She sat on the floor of the villa, their flight having come and gone, and wondered what the next step was.
She’d contacted all the hospitals in the area with no luck, or she supposed, exactly that luck. And John still hadn’t contacted her. It was only three weeks after John had gone missing when Louise finally managed to get Sophia to go home. John was never found, and any trace of where he might have gone had been completely wiped away or gone undiscovered.
Any Sign
Six months after the disappearance of her husband, Sophia was still searching for any sign or clue of what might have happened to him. Louise, the wonderful mother that she was, had moved in permanently to help her and make sure she was supported. She was still in constant contact with the Lodge and the authorities in Hawaii that were actively searching for her husband.
And while she felt it might be optimistic, Sophia refused to believe that he was gone. They had even started a campaign called “Bring John Home” that funded the search that was held in his name, to make sure he was recovered if something had happened, but nothing came from that either.
Suspicious
Since her mother had moved in, things had gotten significantly easier. Louise cooked and cleaned and made sure things were done while Sophia called around everyday for any sign of her beloved, whilst working full time. Sophia felt out-of-sorts in a way as if her life had completely stopped that day, and she was completely on auto-pilot. Her job, something she’d enjoyed, felt more like a chore and something that took away from the time she could be spending looking for her missing husband.
But with Louise with her, it all felt the slightest bit better. “I need to tell you something, sweetie,” her mother suddenly said, interrupting the hyper-focus she’d been nursing for the past two hours. Louise looked nervous, her eyes flicking back and forth and her hands fidgeting in her lap where she sat at the kitchen table.
Announcement
Sophia shoved her papers away and turned, a wisp of blonde hair falling into her eyes as she did. “What’s up, mom? Is everything okay?” Her mother swallowed, preparing herself for whatever it was that she was about to say. It made Sophia nervous to see her mother so on edge, and she wondered what could be the matter.
It was the first time her mother had ever looked so nervous to tell her anything, and even if she’d had all the time in the world to prepare, nothing could have stopped the shock from displaying on her face when her mom finally revealed what it was. “Well, I don’t know how to say this, but…” her mom trailed off, the chair making a scraping noise on the tile as she stood. Sophia frowned but remained silent as her mother gathered the courage. “I’m pregnant.”
Older Sibling
Sophia was stunned to silence for several moments as her thoughts tried to align themselves. When? How? Okay, she knew how, but with whom? Her father had passed away a while ago, but she hadn’t even known that her mother was seeing someone in the first place. “Wow, mom. That’s great!” Sophie said, her enthusiasm the slightest bit fake.
“I didn’t even know you were dating again.” Louise’s smile stretched the length of her withered but beautiful face. “Well, I didn’t really plan on it. But it just…happened.” They exchanged a brief hug; Sophia was still not sure if she was happy for her mother or not. It felt surreal that she was pregnant before Sophia was, and even more so, considering she was about to be a big sister at the age of twenty-six.
Averted Gaze
“Well, when do I get to meet the father?” she asked her mother, trying her best to keep her eyes from flicking to her mother’s stomach. She couldn’t help but feel slightly annoyed by the timing of it all. She had enough to worry about. But Louise was so excited and happy that Sophia couldn’t help but share her elation.
“Oh, maybe sometimes,” her mother waved the question off, eyes averted and shoulders immediately tense. Alarm bells rang in her mind at the behavior, suspicions rising. “Is it someone I know?” Sophia asked, wondering if she’d possibly got something on with one of her male friends. But her mother just waved her hand again, shaking her head as she left the room. Sophia frowned, slightly concerned at the very peculiar behavior.
Out of Character
For the next few weeks, Sophia carefully watched her mother, unsettled by her increasingly strange behavior. She supposed she’d been so preoccupied with John’s disappearance that she hadn’t noticed her mother’s strange comings and goings. Her nightly visits and sudden “workout classes” were much more peculiar than they had been before she became aware of her mother’s suspicious behavior.
Every night, at the same time, she would get a text from someone, excuse herself to go to some workout class and leave for a few hours. Louise would return in the middle of the night silently and creep to her room so as not to disturb Sophia. However, her routine had become far too easy to follow. Additionally, Sophia noticed that her mother no longer left her phone unlocked and lying around as she’d always had. It now had a passcode and was always face down with collapsed notifications that could not be accessed without the code.
Suspicious
Louise’s sneakiness started to fuel Sophia’s suspicions, making them grow from small but noticeable changes to an all-out thought that her mother was actively busy with something she should not be involved in. Her mother had turned into someone Sophia could hardly recognize, from supportive and stable to secretive and sneaky. From open and honest to intentionally dishonest and suspicious.
She had gone from a mother helping her daughter through a tough time to using it as a distraction to sneak about like some vigilante. She couldn’t even remember the last time her mother had asked her if she was okay. Sophia, having had enough of her mother’s dishonesty, decided it was time for action. If her mother wouldn’t tell her what was going on and was trying to hide something, then she would make sure to figure it out herself.
Like Mother Like Daughter
Feigning sleep, Sophia waited for the tell-tale creak of the wooden stairs to let her know her mother was sneaking out again. The slight whisper of material on the carpet in the hall alerted her first, making her heart beat with excitement. She threw the covers from her body and tip-toed to the door, waiting two more seconds before she turned the knob and opened the door.
Clad in her nighties and socks, she shrugged on the jacket on the chair to her left before she followed her mother. It was fairly easy to tail her mother, especially since she drove at the speed of an incapacitated snail. But the amount of turns truly made her dizzy. It was as if her mother were trying to make sure no one was following her, which only added an air of eeriness to the entire operation.
White Fur and Glossy Heels
Staying back a few paces from her mother’s car, Sophia tailed the woman as she made her countless turns. They drove for fifteen minutes right into the heart of the city and pulled into a parking lot in front of a hotel. Sophia frowned as her mom got out of the car, dressed in a white fur coat with panty-hose and black heels—something she’d never thought she’d see her mother in.
Louise had never worn anything like this in her entire life, not from what Sophia could remember, anyway. She hopped over the lip of the sidewalk, and disappeared behind the glass doors held open by a white-gloved doorman. It was truly strange, like some scene from a movie, to see her mother acting this way.
Complete Opposite
It plagues Sophia for days after she’d seen her mother on some random rendezvous. She guessed it was the man who got her pregnant, but what she didn’t know was why her mother didn’t want to introduce them. She’d been waving off Sophia’s questions for weeks now, and she was getting annoyed. Every night, she followed her mother to new locations, dressed in the same fur coat with different heels.
And every night, she returned home with even more questions. It was strange to her, and she was growing suspicious enough to wonder if her mother was involved in something illegal. Sophia couldn’t take this guessing game anymore, wondering why her mother was suddenly the complete opposite of who she had been for the past twenty-six years. It was time for her to act, to catch her mom in the act of her sneakiness.
House Is Yours
“I’m going on this retreat I saw online. It’s supposed to be some kind of support group for people who have lost their loved ones,” she said one morning over breakfast, “You have the house to yourself until Sunday evening cause I can only catch a flight for the afternoon.” Sophia tried to act nonchalant about the “retreat,” hoping her mother didn’t find it suspicious.
Louise just nodded, typing away on her phone as she did, when suddenly her head snapped up. “Why the sudden vacation?” she asked, silver hair falling into her eyes. Sophia shrugged, “I just thought it would be nice. You know, being with people who have been through it…” Louise nodded, her eyes slowly casting down as she mulled it over. Though it was a ruse, Sophia did think she could benefit from something like that. But it was not her priority now; she needed to know why her mother was acting so strange.
Retreat Ruse
When Friday afternoon came, Sophia promptly excused herself with a half-loaded suitcase and some traveling clothes. Assuring her mom she would be okay and would let her know, she booked herself into a hotel down the road and waited. She timed the flight to Colorado perfectly, and sent her mom a text right as she was supposed to be at baggage claim.
Using a recycled picture, she sent her mom a selfie in the exact same clothes she’d had on, in front of an Airport Information Desk. Louise didn’t immediately answer, as Sophia had expected, but sent her two kiss faces later on that evening. The entire plan had worked out wonderfully, and all Sophia had to do now was wait. She didn’t know what she expected to find, but nothing on this earth could have prepared her for the soul-shattering truth.
Rush To The Scene
Just past 9 p.m.Right when her mother always left, Sophia sent her mom a text to say goodnight. It went unread, and when she called, the phone rang until it finally went to voicemail. It was time to see what her mother was hiding. Sophia rushed to her car with knots in her stomach, nauseated by the possibilities of what she might find, and slightly disgusted with herself and her mother that she had to do this in the first place.
The honesty of their relationship was something she’d always valued, but now it was gone, and it felt like Sophia was mourning yet another person she’d known. Her car wasn’t going fast enough, she thought, even though she was only five minutes away from her home. There was a strange car parked in the driveway, the plate unrecognizable, and the windows tinted dark. Sophia felt like she was going to vomit.
Caught In The Act
Sophia took the stairs up to her unit two at a time, her sneakers making a barely perceptible squeaking noise as she rounded the corners. Her heart lurched into her throat at the sight of light shining from underneath the door. Her hands were sweaty, her ears ringing with nerves, and her mouth was dry. This was it; this was the moment.
She supposed it was an obsession she’d adopted to cope, but at that moment, she didn’t care. Her hand shook as she grasped the knob and turned, knowing her mother never locked the door. She burst through the entrance, a gasp flying out of her mouth at the sight. There was her mother, hair ruffled and dressed in nothing but a sheet, standing right next to a man. He drank water from her fridge but froze as she burst through, mouth agape and face filled with horror as he realized. Louise was standing right next to John, Sophia’s missing husband.