A Nagging Feeling
Jolene Stevens had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right with her son. Each time she tried to ask, Zac brushed her off, leaving her more frustrated. She could see the unease in his eyes, and she knew something at school wasn’t as it should be. Then one day, everything clicked.
When she caught a familiar scent on his hands, a realization hit her. Without hesitation, she grabbed her keys and headed to his school.
Withdrawn
That morning, Jolene woke up after another sleepless night, her thoughts consumed by her young son, Zac. Lately, Zac had been distant and withdrawn, refusing to share what was troubling him. Her worry had been growing with each passing day.
Jolene had been searching for a solution, but she didn’t yet know that by the end of this day, she would finally uncover the truth.
A Few Hours Of Sleep
Monday morning began like so many others recently—with Jolene running on just a few hours of sleep. Exhausted but determined, she pushed through. She made Zac his favorite breakfast, hoping it might lift his spirits.
When he finally appeared, she noticed the same sadness in his eyes. Her heart broke as she tried, yet again, to help him open up, unaware of the storm brewing in her son’s life.
Another Empty Plate
As expected, Zac left the breakfast table without touching his food, leaving Jolene feeling helpless and sick to her stomach.
She grabbed her car keys and headed out, Zac trailing silently behind her. Dropping him off at school filled her with dread. Something felt terribly wrong, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
An Empty House
With tears in her eyes, Jolene watched Zac walk through the school gates before driving back to an empty house.
Her husband had already left for work, leaving her alone with her spiraling thoughts. The silence in the house was deafening as she replayed everything in her mind, wondering why Zac wouldn’t confide in her.
Shake The Urge
By early afternoon, Jolene couldn’t shake the urge to check on Zac. She arrived at the school just after lunch, her eyes scanning the grounds for him. Relief washed over her when she saw his familiar light hair, but her heart sank when she noticed the pained expression on his face.
During the ride home, Zac sat silently, his bloodshot eyes and trembling hands revealing the weight of whatever he was hiding. Jolene had reached her breaking point.
Confronting Him
As they drove home, Jolene decided it was time to confront Zac. She needed to understand what he was going through so she could help him. Her gentle approach quickly shifted when she noticed a strange, unpleasant smell in the air.
Looking down at her son’s trembling hands, she realized the moment of truth had arrived—and she wasn’t prepared for what she was about to learn.
A Wife And Mother
Growing up in Seattle, Jolene Stevens had always envisioned herself as a wife and mother, leading a happy, fulfilling life. As an only child, she was showered with love and dreamed of providing the same for her own children someday.
A self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, Jolene often wondered who her soulmate would be—until she met him at just 17.
He Was Special
Jolene was still in high school when she met Dylan, and from the moment they met, she knew he was special. She spent years imagining their future together.
When Dylan proposed in their early twenties, it felt like a dream come true. Although they were young, they shared an undeniable connection and knew their love was meant to last.
Everything She Hoped For
Dylan was everything Jolene had hoped for—handsome, funny, and endlessly supportive. Jolene often caught herself smiling at him, convinced he would be an amazing husband and father.
A dedicated businessman, Dylan promised that one day, Jolene could fulfill her dream of being a stay-at-home mom, building the life she had always wanted.
He Proposed
The pair tied the knot less than a year after Dylan proposed, and they immediately began looking for a home where they could start their lives together. The pair had lived in the city for a few years, but now that they were married, Jolene wanted a place where they could settle down together and start a family.
They began looking at nearby suburbs. They searched for weeks, but eventually, they found the perfect place to start a family.
A Quiet Neighborhood
As soon as the pair stepped foot into the beautiful house, they instantly knew they had found the right place for them. The house was situated in a quiet neighborhood, just two miles from one of Seattle's best schools.
Jolene and Dylan glanced knowingly at each other. They had found the place they were meant to be. “We’ll take it,” Dylan said.
The Planned It Out
The week they moved into their new home was one of the most exciting weeks of their lives. That week, they planned everything out. They decided on a bedroom for themselves and then chose another bedroom to use as a nursery. They were beside themselves with excitement.
The first few months in their new home felt rather strange and stressful, but eventually, they settled in. But they had no idea what awaited them.
Wonderful News
They had been in their new home for only six months when their doctor gave them wonderful news. Finally, Jolene was pregnant and expecting a little baby boy. The pair couldn’t be more excited for what was to come.
They spent months preparing for their son's arrival. They painted the nursery walls blue and built a crib. Before long, they were ready.
Nine Months
Those nine months were the longest months of Jolene’s life, but the day she went into labor, she knew that it was all worth it. They welcomed little baby Zac into the world just after midnight, and as soon as they held him in their arms, their hearts swelled with love.
For so many years, Jolene wondered what it would be like to be a mother. She expected it to be wonderful, but she had no idea what would happen just five years later.
Stay-At-Home Mom
The years flew by in the blink of an eye, but Jolene enjoyed every moment of being a stay-at-home mother. While Dylan was off at work every single day, Jolene stayed home, taking care of their son and giving him everything he needed.
Zac was the apple of Jolene and Dylan’s eyes. Their lives were perfect, but that all changed when Zac was just five years old.
Kindergarten
In the blink of an eye, little Zac was five years old and preparing for his first year of kindergarten. This made Jolene extremely emotional. She couldn’t believe that her little boy had grown up so fast. She knew that soon, she would spend her mornings without him by her side.
Although she was excited to have some free time, she hated the thought of having him away for so many hours a day.
It Was Time
Jolene and Dylan had heard many good things about the school just two miles from their home, and together, they decided to enroll Zac. In the weeks before Zac’s first day of kindergarten, he was extremely excited. He couldn’t wait to meet his teachers and make new friends.
Although Jolene was sad about it, she was excited for the next stage of his life to start. If only she had known what was coming.
The First Day
The first day of kindergarten started on a Monday morning. Little Zac awoke early that morning, eager to eat his breakfast and go to school. Dylan had decided to take the day off of work and accompany his wife and son to school. The family enjoyed a nice breakfast before heading off to school.
They sat together in Dylan’s car. Zac, in the backseat, smiled beamingly. He had no idea what was coming.
He Loved Her
Jolene and Dylan spent the morning with their son and his teacher, Mrs. Smith. She seemed friendly and optimistic. Zac seemed to love her. By the time the parents left, Zac was already playing with a few new friends he’d made. But Jolene was an emotional mess.
She couldn’t believe he had grown up so fast. That was the first day Jolene had spent by herself in five years, but her mind was on Zac the entire time.
He Was Excited
The first week seemed to pass smoothly. The little boy was optimistic and happy with his new school. He couldn’t stop talking about his new friends and teachers. Jolene was over the moon to see her son so excited. She was excited for what was to come. But soon enough, the second week rolled around.
But to Jolene’s surprise, her son was less optimistic when she picked him up from school that Monday morning.
The Opposite
That afternoon, when Zac stepped into his mother’s car, she expected to hear all kinds of stories about his day, but she received the opposite. Zac sat quietly in the back of the car, staring out the window. Jolene didn’t think much of it at first, but she should have.
“How was school, honey? Did you have fun with your friends?” She asked with a wide smile. But Zac did not meet her optimism as he simply nodded his head.
Caught Off Guard
“Yes, Mommy,” He said in a monotone voice. This caught Jolene off guard, but she wasn’t too concerned about his lack of energy. She assumed he was tired after spending his first weekend at home. She was certain that he would be back to normal after some rest.
That afternoon, she prepared him a sandwich, which he ate rather slowly before disappearing into his bedroom. Jolene never suspected that something was seriously wrong.
Are You Okay?
But when the same thing happened the next day, she grew slightly worried about her son’s sudden lack of energy. “Are you okay, honey?” She asked, sipping around the dining room table with her son. But he barely met her gaze.
He just nodded and bit into his sandwich. But Jolene didn’t want to get too freaked out. She was certain that there was a reasonable explanation for his sudden change in behavior.
Worrying
But as the week flew by, she noticed something rather worrying about her son. With each passing day, his mood seemed to worsen. She couldn’t understand why. Whenever she would ask him about it, he would claim that he was just tired, but she was starting to wonder if that was the truth.
The once cheery and loud boy was suddenly a shelf of his former self. But how could she have known that it would only get worse?
Something Is Wrong
Jolene watched in silence, and his son slowly but surely changed as the days turned into weeks. But one night, she decided to speak to her husband about it. “I just feel like something is wrong. Since the second week of school, he just hasn’t been himself,” She vented to her husband.
But he didn’t seem worried in the slightest as she opened up about the boy’s strange behavior. They had no idea what was really going on.
Adapting
“Honey, he’s fine. He’s a little boy and this is his first month of school, ever. He’s just taking some time to adjust,” Dylan shrugged. “Maybe he’s struggling to adapt to his new sleeping schedule, or maybe he’s just not used to being away from you for so long.”
“Just give it some time. You’ll see. He will come around,” Her husband assured her. And although she still felt weird about it, she understood where he was coming from.
Something New
Jolene thought about what her husband had said. He was probably right, she thought. Their son was just adapting to something new. That night, as she drifted off to sleep, she kept reminding herself that everything would be fine. She kept telling herself that Zac just needed some time.
Before long, she was fast asleep. But she never could have guessed what would happen to her son the following week.
A Different Mindset
Jolene went into that week with a different mindset. She had convinced herself that her son would be fine once he’d learned to adapt to his new life. That Monday morning, she set the table and ate with her small family. But when she went to pick her son up from school that afternoon, something was different.
Zac’s eyes were bloodshot as he sat in the back of his mother’s car. She noticed it the second he got in. But what had happened?
Repeatedly
That afternoon, she repeatedly asked her son what was wrong, but now he was refusing to say anything. He would simply shrug his shoulders and stare at the floor. When she offered him his usual afternoon sandwich, he refused to eat it.
But Jolene grew extremely anxious that evening when he refused to eat the dinner she had made him. Something was seriously wrong with her son.
A Strange Look
That week, she hardly heard a word out of her son. He was always just sitting around with this strange look in his eyes. He refused to have a single bite of food, and his eyes were always red, wide, and watery. Jolene felt like she was going to be sick.
“Something is wrong with him. Something is going on, and he’s not telling us, Dylan,” she told her husband one night, and tears streamed down her face.
A Conversation
This time, Dylan could no longer sit around and pretend that everything was fine. He noticed the change in his son, and he knew this was far worse than he’d originally thought. “I think something is happening at school. I keep asking him about it, but he won’t tell me. What if he’s being bullied?” She cried.
Dylan held his wife close, his eyes filled with sadness. “I will call the school tomorrow, and I will speak to his principal about this,” He promised.
Calling The Principal
The following day, Jolene was an anxious mess. Her son was off to school, but she couldn’t help but feel like she should’ve kept him home. Dylan spoke to the principal, but the man swore high and low that their son was not being bullied. Dylan didn’t trust him, however.
“I can assure you, Mr. Stevens,” The principal said, “All of the kids in your son’s class are well-behaved and wonderful. No one is bullying your son.”
He Refused
But this did not put Dylan and Jolene’s minds at ease. As usual, when their son came home from school, he still refused to eat or sleep. That weekend, Jolene did everything in her power to get him out of his shell. They went to the zoo and watched a movie, but he still said nothing, not even cracking a smile.
By the time that weekend came to an end, Jolene was in a state of anxiety. She feared what the week ahead would bring.
Monday Morning Monday Morning
On Monday morning, Jolene woke up exhausted. She had spent all night in bed, wide awake, thinking about her young son. Something was happening to her son, but he refused to tell his mother the truth. With each passing day, she grew more anxious.
Although she had been trying to figure things out for weeks, she had no idea that she would have all the answers by the end of the day.
The Same Story
It started like any other Monday morning in recent weeks. Jolene awoke exhausted after only two hours of sleep. Nevertheless, she did what she had to do. She made her bed before going to the kitchen. In hopes that he would finally eat something, she prepared Zac's favorite breakfast.
Just after 7 a.m., the boy emerged from his bedroom, his eyes filled with sadness. Her heart sank.
A Bad Feeling
She sat opposite her son, hoping he would eat something, but he never did. He simply got up from the table and reached for his school bag. After begging him to eat for so long, she gave up. Wordlessly, she grabbed her car keys and left the house with her young son.
It was unsettling to think about dropping him off at school. It was impossible for her not to feel as if something horrible would happen.
Was He Okay?
Before driving home, Jolene watched her son approach the school gates with tears in her eyes. Her husband had already left for work by the time she got home. She was alone in that large, empty house, wondering how it all had gone wrong. She wished her son would tell her the truth.
As the hours passed, Jolene felt more and more on edge. She wondered what was going on at school. Was her son okay?
Picking Him Up
By 1pm, Jolene was itching to get in her car and drive to his school. She arrived outside the large gates just after 1 p.m. She let out a sigh of relief when she spotted her son’s head of light hair. But that was when she noticed the look on his face.
He sat quietly in the back of the car on their ride home. His face was pained, and his eyes were bloodshot. Jolene had had enough.
The Smell
While driving home, she knew it was time to confront him. Before she could help, she had to understand what was going on. That day, Jolene confronted her son gently, but as she stood in front of the young boy, she noticed a terrible smell in the air.
She glanced down at her son, and suddenly, she noticed the way his hands were trembling. She was about to learn the devastating truth.
She Was Stern
“Honey,” she stared into his eyes sternly. Finally, he looked up at his mother with tears in his eyes. “You need to tell Mommy the truth.” She expected no response, but to her surprise, her son finally said something that would change her life forever.
Tears fell from the boy's eyes as he decided to finally tell his mother the truth about his new school. “It was Mrs. Smith,” He cried.
The Truth
Jolene stared with tear-filled eyes as her son told her the horrendous story. All along, his seemingly kind teacher wasn’t all that kind. “She was mad that we didn’t understand the homework, and she made us clean the toilets with our hands,” he cried to his mother.
Jolene felt like she was going to be sick as her son finally told her the truth. Mrs. Smith had been doing terrine things to them for weeks.
She Could Hardly Speak
That day, Jolene could hardly speak from how angry she was. She scooped her son up into her arms and drove to his school, ready to confront his teachers. She couldn’t believe what her son had told her, but she knew he would never lie about something like that.
She was going to make sure his teacher paid for what she had done to her students. Jolene went straight to the principal’s office.
Calling 911
Jolene wondered if the principal would even believe her, but thankfully, some of the other children had told their parents about the incident, too. The principal couldn’t believe his eyes when the concerned parents showed up at his office and shared the disturbing details.
The principal called the police immediately, and they quickly took action against the terrible woman. Needless to say, she was fired on the spot.
Improvement
When Jolene told her son that the terrible woman had been taken care of, she finally saw some relief behind his eyes. That night, he finally ate an entire meal. It took some time, but Jolene and Dylan watched their son slowly transform into the lovely child he once was.
His new teacher was an angel and she treated each student like they were her own. In the end, everything turned out for the best.