“The Midnight Caretaker”

Kendall’s heart pounded as she lay frozen in bed, ears straining to make sense of the hushed murmurs coming from Michael’s room. She clutched the blanket, her breath shallow.

*Who’s in there?*

Slowly, she sat up, her pulse quickening. The house was dark except for the faint glow of the nightlight in Michael’s room. The soft, rhythmic creak of the rocking chair sent a chill down her spine.

Someone was **in there** with her baby.

Swallowing her fear, Kendall slid out of bed, creeping toward the door. She pressed herself against the wall, inching forward until she could see into the room.

And then—she saw **her.**

A woman sat in the rocking chair, cradling Michael in her arms. She hummed a lullaby, one that sounded strangely familiar, like a song from a distant memory.

Kendall’s breath caught in her throat. The woman was dressed in an old-fashioned nightgown, her silver hair twisted into a loose bun. She rocked Michael gently, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

The moment Kendall gasped, the woman turned her head. Their eyes met.

Kendall’s knees nearly buckled.

It was her **grandmother.**

Her **dead** grandmother.

“Shh, sweetheart,” the woman whispered. “You need your rest.”

Kendall’s voice trembled. “Grandma?”

A warm, gentle smile spread across the woman’s face. “You were so tired, my darling. I had to help.”

Tears welled in Kendall’s eyes. Her grandmother had passed years ago, yet here she was—tending to Michael as if she had never left.

Kendall took a shaky step forward. “You’ve been feeding him? Changing him?”

Her grandmother nodded. “Only when you needed me to. But you’re stronger now. You’ll be okay.”

Kendall wiped at her tears, a deep sense of comfort settling over her. She stepped closer, reaching out—only for her grandmother’s form to begin fading like mist in the morning light.

“Wait!” Kendall whispered, but her grandmother simply smiled one last time.

“Take care of him, sweetheart. And take care of **yourself.**”

And with that, she was gone.

Kendall looked down at Michael, still peacefully sleeping in his crib, unaware of the love that had watched over him from beyond.

That night, for the first time since Michael was born, Kendall slept deeply—knowing she was never truly alone.