I told myself the system was meant to protect the twins and give me peace of mind. I did not inform Olivia or Diana because I convinced myself secrecy was necessary.
For two weeks I ignored the recordings.
Then one stormy night thunder rolled across the bay and woke me with a pressure in my chest that made breathing difficult. I reached for my tablet and opened the security application without really knowing why.
The nursery camera appeared in soft gray night vision.
Olivia sat on the floor between the two cribs while holding Miles against her chest wrapped in a blanket. She gently swayed and hummed a melody that drifted through the microphone like a memory.
My heart jolted because I recognized the tune instantly.
It was Elise’s private song.
No recording existed and no written sheet music survived because Elise had created it only for the twins.
Olivia whispered softly, “You are safe, little heart, because your mother sang this song for you before the world changed.”
My eyes burned as I watched, yet the scene shifted to something far worse.
The nursery door opened and Diana stepped inside holding a small glass dropper and a baby bottle.