Hidden for Two Decades

My mom refused to let anyone enter the basement for twenty years. She claimed it was

just old storage and mold issues. When she went to the hospital last month,

I finally went down there. Behind boxes and furniture, I found a completely

furnished apartment with a bed, kitchen, and photos covering every wall.

Photos of me, my siblings, our graduations, birthdays, everything.

Then I saw him. A man who looked exactly like my dad, except dad died

when I was five. He was alive, living in our basement this entire time. Mom had faked his

death after he witnessed a murder committed by a police officer. They threatened to kill our whole