The Woman at the Door

Amara stood frozen as the knocking came again.

Three slow knocks.

Daniel's face had turned pale. The confident man who always seemed to have an answer for everything was now staring at the door as if death itself stood behind it.

"Daniel, who is there?" I whispered.

He didn't answer.

The knocking came again.

"Open the door, Daniel. I know you're inside."

My heart began to race. I recognised the voice. It was a woman's voice, soft but firm.

Daniel grabbed my wrist.

"Amara, listen to me. Whatever happens, don't believe anything she tells you."

Before I could ask another question, he rushed towards the door.

"Daniel, wait!"

He ignored me.

The moment he opened it, a woman dressed in a black gown stepped inside. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyes were fixed on Daniel.

Then she looked at me.

A strange smile appeared on her face.

"So," she said, "this is the woman you replaced me with."

I felt my stomach tighten.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The woman slowly turned towards Daniel.

"Tell your wife who I am."

Daniel said nothing.

She laughed bitterly.

"My name is Elena. I am the woman he married before you."

I looked at Daniel, waiting for him to deny it.

Instead, he lowered his head.

Elena moved closer to me.

"But that's not the worst part, Amara."

My hands began to shake.

"What could be worse than discovering my husband had another wife?"

Elena leaned towards me and whispered:

"Ask him what happened to our son."

I turned to Daniel.

His eyes were filled with fear.

Then Elena pulled a folded photograph from her handbag and placed it in my palm.

It was a picture of a little boy.

And the boy looked exactly like Daniel.

To be continued...