We were just trying to cheer him up.

It’d been a rough couple of weeks—new town, new school, new everything. He hadn’t said much since the move. So when we passed the community block party and saw the line of motorcycles and flashing lights, I figured—why not? Maybe something would finally make him smile.

Officer Bellamy was warm, patient, the kind of guy you hope your kid meets first in a new neighborhood. When he lifted Jordan onto the bike, I actually saw my son crack a grin. First time in days.

They chatted a little—well, the officer did. Jordan mostly nodded or kept his eyes on the handlebars.

Then, suddenly, Jordan leaned in close to Officer Bellamy, his voice barely above a whisper. I couldn’t make out the words, but I saw the officer’s expression shift. His face went from friendly and open to something much more guarded, a shadow crossing his features. He blinked once, then twice, before stepping back from the motorcycle. The moment felt heavier than it should have been for such a small interaction.

“Jordan, what did you say?” I asked, walking up to the bike, my voice filled with concern.

Officer Bellamy gave me a tight smile but didn’t respond immediately. He bent down to Jordan’s level, speaking softly to him for a moment. “Everything okay, buddy?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Jordan nodded, but there was a strange look in his eyes, something I hadn’t seen before. I felt a wave of unease wash over me. My son had always been an open book, quick to share his thoughts and feelings. But lately, he’d been holding everything in. I didn’t know if it was just the stress of the move or something deeper.

The officer straightened up and turned to me. His smile seemed forced now, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“He’s a good kid,” Officer Bellamy said, glancing at Jordan before meeting my gaze. “You’ve got a good one here.”

“Thank you,” I replied, but the words didn’t feel right. There was something in his tone, something between the lines, that made my heart skip. What was it that Jordan had said to make him react like that?

We said our goodbyes, and as we walked away, Jordan seemed to sink into himself again, his earlier smile completely gone. I tried to engage him on the walk home, asking him if he had fun with the motorcycles or if he liked meeting the officer. But Jordan remained silent, his face drawn in a way that unsettled me even more than his earlier silence.

That night, after he’d gone to bed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I kept replaying the moment at the motorcycle, the way Officer Bellamy had reacted. It didn’t make sense. There was no reason for him to suddenly act so distant after a simple conversation with my son.

I tried to push it out of my mind, telling myself I was being paranoid. After all, Jordan had been through a lot with the move, and maybe I was overthinking things. But then, at around midnight, my phone buzzed. It was a text from a number I didn’t recognize.

“Call me when you can. It’s about Jordan.”

I froze. My heart skipped. Without thinking, I tapped on the number and called back.

The voice on the other end was calm, but there was an edge to it that immediately put me on alert.

“This is Officer Bellamy,” he said. “I’m sorry to call you so late, but I think we need to talk.”

My stomach dropped. “What’s going on? Is Jordan okay?”

“He’s fine, physically. But I need to explain something to you.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before he continued.

“Earlier today, when he was on the motorcycle… he said something to me. Something that hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting.” His voice wavered, like he wasn’t sure how to proceed.

I felt my hands tremble as I gripped the phone tighter. “What did he say?”

“He asked me—” He paused again, and I could hear the hesitation in his voice. “He asked me if I knew what it felt like to be afraid all the time. To never feel safe.”

I was speechless. Fear. Safe? Jordan had never shown any signs of being afraid. He’d always been a happy, confident kid—until the move, anyway.

“He said that to you?” I finally managed to whisper. “But why would he say that? He’s not afraid.”

“That’s just it, ma’am,” Officer Bellamy replied softly. “I don’t think he meant it as just a passing comment. He said it in a way that made me believe he wasn’t just talking about the usual fears kids have. There was something deeper there.”

The weight of his words settled on me like a ton of bricks. I knew that Jordan had struggled with the move, but could it be this serious? Could he really be afraid all the time?

“I’m sorry to alarm you,” Officer Bellamy added quickly. “But I thought it was important that you knew. Maybe he’s been dealing with something you don’t know about. I don’t want to make assumptions, but I thought you should be aware.”

I thanked him and hung up, my mind racing. What was going on with Jordan? And why hadn’t he ever said anything to me?

The next day, I sat down with Jordan, my heart heavy with concern. I tried to be gentle, asking him about his day, about school, about anything that might have been bothering him. At first, he was quiet, as he had been for weeks. But then, slowly, he started to open up.

“I don’t like it here,” he said softly, his eyes downcast. “I miss my old friends. I miss my room. I miss… everything.”

I nodded, trying to hold back the tears. “I know it’s hard, sweetie. I know you miss everything about home. But we’re going to make this new place our home too. I promise.”

“But it’s not just that,” Jordan continued, his voice barely above a whisper. “There’s something about this town. It feels… wrong.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean? What feels wrong?”

He hesitated for a long time before speaking again. “When we first got here, I started seeing things. People… looking at me. Watching me. When I’m alone outside, I feel like someone’s always right behind me. I can hear them, but when I turn around, no one’s there.”

I felt my throat tighten. “Jordan, you’ve got to tell me these things. You can’t keep them inside.”

His eyes welled up with tears. “I don’t want to scare you, Mom. But I can’t stop feeling like I’m being followed. And when I was on the motorcycle yesterday, I told Officer Bellamy… I just wanted him to know how I feel. Maybe he’d understand.”

Tears welled in my own eyes as I pulled him into my arms. My heart ached for him. No child should feel like that—no child should be afraid in their own home.

We had a long conversation that afternoon. I assured him we’d figure it out, and that nothing would ever harm him as long as I was around. We would get to the bottom of this feeling, and we’d be okay.

That evening, I did some digging of my own. I found out something I wasn’t prepared for. The town we had moved to had a dark history. There had been several reports of people disappearing over the years—people who had mysteriously vanished without a trace. There were rumors, whispers in the community, but nothing concrete. Yet something told me that Jordan’s unease wasn’t just a result of the move. He had sensed something deeper, something that had been hidden in this town for years.

As I pieced together the information, I realized that there was a reason Jordan had felt that way. And I made a decision—I would protect him, no matter what. We’d get the help we needed, even if it meant confronting the truth about this town’s hidden past.

The next morning, I took Jordan to a therapist. I wanted him to have someone to talk to, someone who could help him process everything he’d been feeling. It wasn’t easy, but over time, I saw him start to relax. Slowly, the fear started to fade as he learned to trust again.

As for Officer Bellamy, he checked in with us regularly, always offering his support, his kindness. He wasn’t just a cop—he was a real, genuine person who cared. And that made all the difference in the world.

Through it all, I learned that sometimes, the things we think we can’t explain—our fears, our doubts—are often the very things that lead us to the answers we need. And in the end, it’s the love and support of those around us that helps us find our way through the dark.

If you’ve ever experienced something like this, or if you’re struggling with fear or doubt, remember this: you’re not alone. Talk to someone you trust, seek the help you need, and never be afraid to ask for support. It can make all the difference.

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