MOTHER OF THE NIGHTMARE

My husband, Liam, and I had just collapsed onto the bed in our beautiful honeymoon suite. The whirlwind of our wedding day had finally ended, and now it was just **us.**

The soft glow of candlelight, the faint scent of roses—everything was **perfect.**

Until…

**BANG!**

The door **slammed open.**

A figure rushed in, wild-eyed and panting.

**”STOP! STOP RIGHT NOW!”**

I gasped, clutching the sheets to my chest. Liam shot up in bed, his face twisting in shock.

There, standing in the doorway of our honeymoon suite, was **his mother.**

**His actual, full-grown, fifty-seven-year-old mother.**

Dressed in **a floral nightgown.**

**Barefoot.**

**Breathless.**

### **A Moment of Pure Horror**

For a second, I thought I was dreaming.

Liam groaned, rubbing his temples. “Mom? What the hell—”

She stormed into the room, **ignoring my existence entirely.** She marched straight to Liam’s side of the bed, gripping his wrist with both hands.

**“You can’t do this, Liam! You just CAN’T!”**

I blinked. Was I hallucinating?

“Can’t do what?” Liam snapped, trying to pull away.

She was shaking—actually **shaking.** And then, she **lowered her voice to a dramatic whisper.**

**”I had a dream, Liam. A vision. And it was a WARNING!”**

### **The Prophecy of Doom**

My jaw nearly unhinged. **A vision? A warning?**

Liam groaned again. “Mom, you don’t believe in that psychic nonsense.”

Her grip tightened. “I do NOW!”

I stared at her, still half-covered in blankets, my patience dissolving by the second. “Maureen, it’s **our wedding night.** Whatever this is, it can WAIT.”

“No, it CAN’T,” she hissed. Then she turned back to Liam, **her eyes huge.**

“In my dream, Liam… you and her—” she jabbed a finger at me “—consummated your marriage. And then…**you DIED!**”

Silence.

The only sound was the distant hum of traffic outside our hotel window.

And then, I **burst out laughing.**

I **couldn’t help it.** It was just **so insane.**

“Mom, I swear to God,” Liam said through gritted teeth. “If you don’t leave RIGHT NOW—”

“But Liam!” she shrieked, eyes full of panic. “It was so **real.** Right after, you fell **to the floor**—lifeless!”

She turned to me, pointing a trembling finger. **“And YOU just sat there, smiling. Like a BLACK WIDOW!”**

### **The Exorcism of Maureen**

I **choked.** “Are you suggesting that if Liam and I… you know… he’s going to **DIE?**”

She **nodded. Gravely.**

Liam exhaled **so hard I thought he’d pass out.** “Mom, get out.”

“No! I won’t let you risk it! Not tonight!” She turned to me with **full-on, mother-in-law fury.**

**“Rachel, if you truly love my son, you will NOT touch him tonight!”**

I was **done.**

“Maureen,” I said sweetly, swinging my legs over the bed. “If you don’t leave, I will personally **carry you out of this hotel and throw you into the nearest dumpster.**”

Her mouth opened in outrage, but before she could protest, Liam **leapt out of bed** and grabbed her by the arm.

He **dragged her toward the door.**

She **kicked.** She **screamed.** She **clawed at the walls.**

But Liam was **stronger.**

**SLAM!**

The door shut.

### **Aftermath**

Liam **locked it. Twice.** Then he turned to me, utterly exhausted.

“She’s insane,” he muttered.

I sighed. “Yeah, but at least now we have a fun honeymoon story.”

He groaned, rubbing his face. “I can’t believe this.”

I smirked. “So… you still wanna risk it?”

Liam **snorted.** “If I go out tonight, at least I’ll die happy.”

We **both** burst out laughing.

And then?

We did exactly what his mother feared.

And guess what?

**Liam survived.**