The Second Cry

In a quiet suburban home, a couple finally got their newborn to sleep.

The baby monitor sat on the nightstand, the soft static a comforting background. Around midnight,

the father heard the first cry. He reached for the monitor. The baby’s wail

was normal, but then… a second cry answered. Exactly the same. He froze.

The monitor was on the nightstand. Nothing else made a sound. He told himself

it was a glitch. Maybe fatigue. Minutes later, the cries returned. Louder.

Closer. Now, they weren’t just coming from the monitor—they seemed

to fill the room. The mother rushed in. “It’s okay, baby,” she whispered.