I had been away for four days when my flight arrived earlier than expected. I decided to surprise my eight-year-old son, Caleb, but the moment he opened the door, his smile disappeared. He hugged me tightly before whispering, “Mom, please don’t go into my room.” When I asked why, he said he had promised someone he wouldn’t let anyone inside. His aunt Megan had been watching him, but she was nowhere in the house. Her car was still outside. Then I noticed light beneath Caleb’s bedroom door. I heard whispering, followed by something heavy scraping across the floor. Caleb grabbed my sleeve.

“Mom… they said you’d be angry if you found out.”