When I arrived at the hospital to bring home my wife and newborn twins,

I was met with heartbreak: Suzie was gone, leaving only a cryptic note.

As I juggled caring for the babies and unraveling the truth, I discovered

the dark secrets that tore my family apart. As I drove to the hospital,

the balloons bobbed beside me in the passenger seat. My smile was unstoppable.

Today, I was bringing home my girls! I couldn’t wait to see Suzie’s face

light up when she saw the nursery, the dinner I’d cooked, the photos I’d framed

for the mantle. She deserved joy after nine long months of back pain, morning sickness,

and an endless carousel of my overbearing mother’s opinions. It was the culmination

of every dream I’d had for us. I waved to the nurses at the station as I hurried to Suzie’s room.

But when I pushed through the door, I froze in surprise. My daughters were sleeping in

their bassinets, but Suzie was gone. I thought she might have stepped out for fresh air,

but then I saw the note. I tore it open, my hands trembling. “Goodbye. Take care of them.

Ask your mother WHY she did this to me.” The world blurred as I reread it. And reread it.

The words didn’t shift, didn’t morph into something less terrible. A coldness prickled along my skin,

freezing me in place. What the hell did she mean? Why would she… no. This couldn’t be happening.

Suzie was happy. She’d been happy. Hadn’t she? A nurse carrying a clipboard entered the room.

“Good morning, sir, here’s the discharge —” “Where’s my wife?” I interrupted. The nurse hesitated,

biting her lip. “She checked out this morning. She said you knew.” “She — where did she go?”

I stammered to the nurse, waving the note. “Did she say anything else? Was she upset?”

The nurse frowned. “She seemed fine. Just… quiet. Are you saying you didn’t know?”

I shook my head. “She said nothing… just left me this note.” I left the hospital

in a daze, cradling my daughters, the note crumpled in my fist.