In her mind

Sara was an architect, a wife, and a wonderful mother. Her husband, Michael, worked as a lawyer at a well-known law firm. They lived in Malibu in a luxurious two-story house with a pool, a sauna, and a household staff. During their studies and engagement, they had traveled extensively across Europe and Asia. Their little daughter, Lili, was born two years after their wedding and became their whole world—especially for Sara. The young mother had not worked for six months, devoting herself entirely to the home and her child. They had everything anyone could dream of. They were a happy family—until everything changed. Over the past few months, their lives had become unrecognizable.

On a Friday evening, Sara prepared a delicious dinner, put Lili to bed early, and sent the staff home. She wanted to dedicate the evening to spending time with Michael. Their relationship had grown strained lately. For months, her husband had been coming home late, sometimes after she was already asleep. When Michael finally came home, Sara, as always, kissed him on the cheek.

“How was work, honey?” she asked, taking the chicken out of the oven.

“Fine,” he replied in a tired voice. He sat at the table and watched his wife.

“I’m glad. You know what kind of day we had with Lili? We went shopping and to the park. She napped for two hours, and then we played in the garden,” she said with excitement. Michael looked at her with a dull, sad gaze.

“Yes, I know. The neighbors called me and said they saw you in the park. You need to stop going there,” he said firmly.

“Why? Lili likes spending time there.”

“Enough!” the man shouted, slamming his hand on the table.

“What are you doing? Stop, you’ll wake the baby!” the woman snapped. Michael simply turned and walked to the bedroom, slamming the door. Sara didn’t understand her husband’s behavior. Lately, he had been acting like this more and more often. She ate dinner alone, sipping red wine, wondering where the problem lay. What had happened to their perfect marriage? Her once cheerful, loving, and romantic husband had become a lifeless stranger. Sara had other worries, too. Family and neighbors had turned away from her. Her world had changed overnight. She thought it must be jealousy. Her little daughter was beautiful, healthy, and precious—anyone would want such a treasure.

The next day, Sara fed Lili, dressed her nicely, and went to the park again. The place was a paradise for children. Sara noticed her neighbor, Laura, sitting on a bench. She sat down next to her and peeked into her stroller. Their babies were only a month apart in age. Laura’s son was squirming in his stroller.

“Time flies, doesn’t it, Laura?” Sara said, gently rocking the stroller.

“Sara, you shouldn’t be here,” Laura said quietly, glancing around nervously.

“Have you all lost your minds? Michael told me the same thing yesterday. What is wrong with you all? Lili and I love this place, and we’ll keep coming here, right, Lili?” Sara smiled, looking at her baby. Laura looked at her with pity.

“I have to go. The baby’s hungry,” Laura said and left. Sara thought Laura was just jealous. Surely, she wished she had a beautiful little girl like Sara’s. The clouds darkened. Afraid of the rain, Sara decided to go home. On the way, she stopped at the bakery to buy Michael’s favorite cake. She still hoped to improve their relationship. In line, an elderly lady turned to her and smiled into the stroller.

“Yes, Lili is six months old,” Sara said proudly. The older woman gave her a strange look and turned away without a word. Sara just shrugged, thinking old people were odd.

At home, Sara cooked a vegetable soup for Lili. She never let the cooks prepare meals for her daughter. The staff weren’t allowed to clean her room, touch her things, or wash her clothes. Sara did everything herself. The cook, the maids, and the gardener all respected her, but their eyes always held pity and sadness whenever they spoke to her.

While Sara was cooking, one of the maids arrived.

“How was your day, Mrs. White?” the maid asked.

“Good. Lili and I went to the park and shopping,” Sara replied, stirring the soup. “When you go upstairs, be quiet, okay? Lili just fell asleep,” she added gently. The maid nodded silently and left.

The rest of the day, Sara washed and ironed Lili’s clothes, rocked her, and played with her. She waited impatiently for Michael to come home, still hoping to fix their relationship. After dinner, Sara hugged him.

“I miss you,” she whispered in his ear. “Lili’s already asleep,” she added.

The young couple hadn’t been intimate since the baby was born. Michael gently pushed her away and headed for the bedroom. Sara didn’t even notice the lipstick stains on his shirt or the scent of another woman’s perfume.

“Tomorrow we’re going to the doctor,” Michael said firmly.

“What? Are you sick?” Sara asked, alarmed.

“Not me. You,” he replied.

“I feel fine! What are you talking about? You’re the one who should see a doctor!”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You don’t spend time with us! You leave in the morning, come home at night—we’re not like a normal family!” Sara raised her voice.

“Because we are not a normal family!” Michael shouted.

“How can you say that? I know a baby changes everything, but it’s up to us how we handle it!” Sara said, tears in her eyes. Michael just glanced at her and left, knowing there was no point in arguing. He walked into the nursery. It was beautiful—pink and white—with shelves full of photos and expensive toys. He approached the wooden crib.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Sara whispered behind him. Michael picked up the baby.

“What are you doing? She’s sleeping. Don’t wake her,” Sara said softly.

The man grabbed the baby by the legs and threw her against the wall. Sara froze, then screamed and cried. She ran to the infant and held her close.

“What are you doing!? Are you insane!? How could you do that!? You’re a monster!” she shouted, clutching the baby.

There was no crying in the room—only in Sara’s mind did the baby scream in pain.

“It’s the same almost every day. I can’t take it anymore. I’m sorry,” Michael said and walked out.

Something broke inside Sara. She wrapped the baby in a blanket and ran to the garage. Tires screeched as she drove to the nearest police station. She burst inside, trembling and crying, the baby in her arms. The officers exchanged weary glances.

“Mrs. White, what are you doing here?” one of the officers asked.

“Help me! My husband attacked my baby! He’s dangerous!” Sara screamed, hugging the bundle.

The officer’s eyes filled with tears.

“Come on, I’ll drive you home,” she said sadly.

At home, Sara locked herself in the nursery with the baby while the officer spoke to Michael. Sara didn’t hear the conversation. She whispered to her daughter:

“I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

The next morning, she woke to knocking.

“Sara, open up, please. Don’t make me break the door,” Michael said calmly.

She opened, smiling as if nothing had happened.

“Look how beautiful she is. I’ll feed her first; she must be hungry,” Sara said, gazing at her “daughter.”

“Come on. We’ll be late for the doctor,” he said impatiently.

Sara fed and dressed the baby, then went downstairs. Michael was waiting. She put Lili in the car and packed the stroller.

“I don’t know why we’re going. I feel fine,” she said.

Michael drove in silence, his empty eyes fixed on the road.

They arrived on time. Michael entered the doctor’s office first, then Sara with the stroller.

“Good morning, Sara. How are you today?” the elderly doctor asked.

“Fine. I don’t understand why we’re here. What’s going on?” she replied.

“After our last conversation—”

“I’ve never been here before,” she interrupted.

“And the medication I prescribed—have you been taking it?”

“No, she spits it out. She won’t take it. She yells at me and won’t listen,” Michael said, his hands trembling, tears in his eyes.

The doctor looked at Sara.

“How’s Lili?” he asked.

Sara smiled and gazed lovingly at the stroller.

“She’s sleeping. She has two little teeth now, eats well, and is trying to sit up. She’s such a sweet baby,” she said.

Michael couldn’t hold it in. He stood, turned away, and cried silently.

“Sara, take Lili and wait in the hall, please,” the doctor said.

Sara shrugged and left. The doctor and Michael spoke privately, planning the next steps. From that day, their lives changed. Michael spent more time with Sara and “Lili.” He came home earlier, cared for his “daughter,” and spent evenings with his wife.

What Sara didn’t realize was that Michael had a plan. He began secretly giving her new medication by crushing it into her meals. He waited patiently, enduring the chaos that consumed their lives. Weeks passed, but Sara didn’t improve.

One afternoon, she went to the park with “Lili” and met Laura again.

“I can’t wait until they’re old enough to run like that,” Sara said, watching children on the playground.

“Stop,” Laura said.

“What? Are you still mad? Haven’t you gotten over your jealousy?”

“Jealous? Of what? Don’t you get it? Your daughter will never run. Your daughter is gone. You haven’t even noticed your husband cheating on you. Stop coming here. Stop acting like this. That’s not a baby—it’s just an old rag doll!” Laura shouted, trying to grab the doll from the stroller.

Sara pushed her, pulled her hair, and slapped her face. Laura’s words triggered a violent outburst. Sara didn’t understand why Laura said such things, but no one was allowed to insult her daughter.

People stared, and finally, someone separated the women and called the police.

When the officers arrived, Sara raged, trying to blame Laura. The officers looked at the doll in the stroller and took Sara to the station. A few hours later, Michael picked her up. Laura ran to him and hugged him.

“Honey, where’s Lili? Where’s Lili?” Sara cried repeatedly.

Michael said nothing. He took her home, promising that everything would be fine.

At home, Sara finally calmed down when she saw “Lili” in the stroller. She kissed and hugged her “daughter,” crying with relief. Michael kissed his wife’s forehead and silently went to the garage.

For Sara, the only thing that mattered was that her “daughter” was near.

A few hours later, the staff found Michael’s body in the garage. He had hanged himself, leaving a note:

"My dear wife,

We had everything—careers, money, love, and our beloved daughter. We were the happiest family in the world. When our Lili was three months old, she got sick and, due to the doctors’ negligence, she died. That day, I lost not only my daughter but also my wife. For weeks you lay on the couch, not eating, not drinking, sinking into a deep depression—until you found an old rag doll in the attic. You went mad. You said it was our daughter. You bathed her, fed her, cuddled her—and I couldn’t bear it any longer.

No doctor, no medicine could help us. I leave you in your imaginary world—a world with no place for me. I will always love you. Now Lili and I will watch over you from above.

Your loving husband."