At her husband’s funeral, Alice was overcome with grief. As she stood near the casket, surrounded by mourners, she noticed something unusual. There was a folded note tucked between the lining and the wooden frame. Curiosity mingled with sadness as Alice retrieved the note. With trembling hands, she unfolded it and read its contents… Alice froze. Was she reading this right? “It’s not what it seems,” was written on the note in capital letters. Did someone put this here? Tears welled up in her eyes. She knew no one this cruel who would do this to her. Many thoughts raced through her head; was this a joke? And if it was real, what did it mean? She looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching her, but no one did. She slipped the note into her pocket and walked to a quiet church bench. She had to think about her next move. She grabbed the note again and tried to recognize the handwriting, but it seemed to be written by someone who used their non-dominant hand to write it. Then she suddenly had an idea. There was one more person she knew who had horrible handwriting, but the thought of him doing this to her was very hard to believe… But who wrote the note? Why would someone place such a note in the coffin? And what really happened to Alice’s husband? Following the ceremony, Alice approached Micheal’s father and shared the details of the perplexing note that read, “It’s not what it seems!” He denied any involvement and suggested it might be a prank from a stranger. However, Alice had a hunch that her father-in-law was concealing something, so she persisted in her questioning. Alice insisted on getting answers and it became evident that Micheal’s father had knowledge about the note. After numerous attempts, he finally relented and said, “Alright, I wasn’t supposed to reveal this yet, as per Micheal’s wishes. But let’s talk about it at home instead of here.” Alice was taken aback and overwhelmed with inquiries. After the funeral, Alice hastily got into her car and drove to her father-in-law’s house, desperate for answers about the note. As she drove, a multitude of questions swirled in her mind. She even entertained the improbable thought that perhaps Micheal was still alive. However, she quickly dismissed it as an unlikely possibility. Numerous questions raced through Alice’s mind. Who could have placed the note in the coffin? What was the true cause of Micheal’s death? And why did his father possess additional information about the note? She obsessively replayed the events of the accident in her head, hoping to find any clues or answers hidden within those memories. The day of the accident began like any other. Micheal and Alice woke up next to each other, with no indication of what was to come. Micheal headed to the garage for his usual workout, while Alice tended to their newborn son Ethan, preparing his meal. Everything seemed normal and routine, unaware of the tragedy that awaited them. They quickly got ready and sat down for breakfast. It appeared to be a regular morning meal, but Alice couldn’t help but notice something off about Micheal’s behavior afterward. There was an unusual tension in the air, a hint of unease that made her wonder what might be bothering him. Micheal mentioned having a busy work schedule and a late business call at 9 pm. Alice found it odd because such late hours, especially on a Friday night, were uncommon. It raised questions in her mind about the nature of this call and why it required his attention during non-standard hours. As Alice’s day progressed, she noticed that Micheal didn’t send her a message as he usually did. Concerned, she decided to call him to update him on Ethan’s well-being. She wanted to reassure him about their newborn son’s progress, especially since he had been unwell for the past few days. Micheal’s reaction seemed indifferent, which annoyed Alice. She initially attributed it to work-related stress, assuming that something must be going on in his professional life. However, his apparent lack of concern left Alice feeling unsettled and wondering if there was more to the situation than she realized. At 8:30 pm, Micheal unexpectedly called Alice, but she was occupied and couldn’t answer the phone. Surprisingly, Micheal persisted and called her four more times, which was unusual for him. This raised further concerns and intensified her curiosity about his behavior. Just 10 minutes before 9 pm, Alice discovered multiple missed calls from Micheal. Concerned, she immediately returned his call, however, to her surprise, there was no response from him. The unanswered calls only deepened her sense of unease and heightened her desire to uncover the truth. Three hours later, Alice received a devastating call from the police informing her that her husband, Micheal, had been involved in a fatal car accident. The accident had occurred in a remote location, and his car had overturned at high speed. The news struck Alice with shock and grief, leaving her overwhelmed by the sudden loss of her beloved husband. Overwhelmed by despair, Alice felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath. Her phone slipped from her hand, crashing to the ground, as the reality of her husband’s death sank in. Thankfully, her mother was by her side, picking up the phone and continuing the conversation with the police on her behalf. Alice’s mother, Patricia, shared in her sadness and disbelief over Micheal’s tragic fate. She couldn’t comprehend how this could happen to someone as composed and cautious as him. However, little did they know that soon, the pieces of the puzzle would start to come together, shedding light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. Patricia rushed to Alice’s side, providing comfort and solace in the face of her devastating loss. They both lamented the fact that Ethan would grow up without his father, recognizing the immense sorrow that this reality brought. It was a heart-wrenching realization, adding to the already profound pain they were experiencing. In the following days, Patricia and Micheal’s father took charge of the funeral arrangements, relieving Alice of the burden so she could focus on her grief. Together, they meticulously planned and organized a meaningful and memorable funeral to honor Micheal’s life. However, their efforts were overshadowed when Alice discovered a letter hidden within the casket, unraveling a mystery that deepened her anguish. Alice approached her father-in-law, hoping he could shed light on the perplexing situation. She couldn’t comprehend how a mysterious letter ended up in the casket. Determined to unravel the truth, Alice expressed her urgent need to understand the origin and meaning behind the enigmatic message. She was resolute in getting to the bottom of this puzzling mystery. When Alice arrived at Thomas’ house, her father-in-law, he greeted her with a sense of seriousness. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Thomas advised Alice to take a seat and prepared a glass of water for her. His words hinted that what he was about to reveal might be shocking, further heightening Alice’s anticipation and anxiety. Alice, overwhelmed by her emotions, forcefully declined Thomas’ offer and demanded immediate answers. Startled by her aggression, Thomas took a step back, surprised at this unfamiliar side of Alice. However, he empathized with her intense grief and understood her need for answers at that moment. Thomas admitted that he didn’t have all the details about the note in the casket, but he revealed that Micheal had been going through some difficulties in the weeks leading up to the accident. He confided in Thomas, seeking his help. A few days before the accident, they had a conversation where Micheal tearfully expressed that he couldn’t fix the problem anymore. Alice was eager to know what he was referring to. Thomas explained that Micheal didn’t provide many details about the matter itself, claiming that revealing everything could put everyone in danger. Alice was stunned to learn this. She couldn’t fathom how she had missed any signs of trouble at home. However, one thing was clear to her: she had to uncover the nature of the problems Micheal had been facing. Alice pressed Thomas for more information, but he admitted that he didn’t know much more. Realizing she wouldn’t find the answers she sought, Alice chose to go home and resume her search the following day. It had been an emotionally draining day for her, and she needed time to process everything that had unfolded. Tears streamed down Alice’s face as she drove home, her heart heavy with grief and self-doubt. She couldn’t understand how she had missed the signs of Michael’s struggles. She berated herself, feeling like a failure as a wife, convinced that she hadn’t been there for him when he needed her the most. The weight of guilt consumed her. Upon arriving home, Alice’s exhaustion overwhelmed her. She knew she needed rest to gather her strength for the journey ahead. Without delay, she retreated to her bed, hoping to find solace in sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day, and she would continue her quest for answers with renewed determination. The clock ticked past 4 am, and sleep eluded Alice. Her mind raced with thoughts and unanswered questions, denying her the rest she desperately needed. In the midst of her contemplation, her gaze fell upon Micheal’s phone, still and silent on the bedside table. A glimmer of hope flickered within her—perhaps there was something on it that could shed light on the mysteries surrounding Micheal’s fate. To her astonishment, the code she entered didn’t unlock Micheal’s phone. Confusion washed over Alice as she tried again, certain that she hadn’t made a mistake. She recalled attempting to access the phone a few weeks prior and wondered if Micheal had changed the code during that time. It seemed likely, given the circumstances he was facing. Alice frantically attempted various combinations of codes, hoping to unlock Micheal’s phone and uncover the answers she desperately sought. However, all her efforts were in vain as none of the codes worked. Realizing the importance of accessing the phone for clues, she felt a sense of urgency and determination to find another way to unravel the mystery surrounding Micheal’s troubles. Eventually, Alice made the decision to seek assistance from a local store that could help her resolve the issue with Micheal’s phone. Recognizing the late hour, she realized it was best to wait until morning to visit the store. It was already 5 am, so she returned to her bed and thankfully managed to fall asleep this time, finding solace in the possibility of finding answers soon. Upon waking up, Alice realized that she had slept longer than usual. It was already 10 am, and normally her son Ethan would have already woken her up. Concerned, she hurried to check on him, making sure he was safe and well. Upon entering Ethan’s room, Alice was relieved to see that everything was as it should be. Ethan was peacefully lying in his bed, fast asleep. Alice gently woke him up, knowing they needed to get ready to visit the phone store that could help fix the code on Michael’s phone. Alice gathered her belongings, including the car keys, and they set off for the local phone shop. She was determined to get the code issue resolved and uncover any answers that lay within Michael’s phone. With hope in her heart, she drove to the store, ready to seek the assistance she needed. Upon reaching the local phone shop, Alice approached an employee and explained her situation, requesting assistance in cracking the code. However, the employee hesitated due to privacy policies and expressed his inability to help. Alice felt frustrated by the setback and tried to provide more details, hoping it would sway the employee’s decision. Alice elaborated further on her circumstances, and the employee empathized with her. However, he said that he couldn’t assist her at the store due to privacy constraints. Yet, understanding Alice’s story, he offered to help her solve the problem at his own house. Alice felt a sense of relief knowing that there was a possibility to access Michael’s phone. It meant she could uncover the truth about what had been happening to him before the tragic accident. Patiently, she waited until 5pm when the employee would finish work and be available to assist her. In the meantime, Alice made the decision to take Ethan to her parents’ house. She felt it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to be present while she searched for answers, as there might be unsettling revelations. She wanted to shield Ethan from any potentially distressing information. With Ethan safely with her parents, Alice could focus solely on uncovering the truth. Upon arriving at her parents’ house, Alice was enveloped in warm hugs. They asked how she was doing, but Alice felt a sense of detachment. Her mind was consumed with uncovering the truth, and she couldn’t fully engage in the grieving process. Deep down, she held a glimmer of hope that somehow her husband would return, but she understood the unlikely reality of the situation. Alice assured her parents that she was coping as best she could given the circumstances. They shared a comforting lunch together, sipped coffee, and passed the time patiently until 5pm arrived. At exactly 5 pm, Alice wasted no time and swiftly got into her car to drive to the address of the man who could assist with unlocking Micheal’s phone. As Alice drove towards the man’s house, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease about the neighborhood he lived in. It had an eerie atmosphere that made her slightly frightened, unlike anything she had experienced before. However, her determination to uncover the truth and unlock Micheal’s phone pushed her forward, overcoming her apprehension. Upon reaching the address, Alice parked her car and anxiously walked up to the front door. She swiftly pressed the doorbell, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves. The sound of footsteps approached from inside, and before long, the door swung open, revealing the person who would help her unlock Micheal’s phone. However, instead of encountering the phone shop employee, Alice was startled to see a different person standing before her. She instinctively took a few steps back, feeling a surge of fear. But her apprehension quickly subsided when she heard a reassuring voice saying, “It’s okay, it’s just a housemate. Come in.” Feeling relieved, Alice entered the apartment, grateful for the clarification. In the living room, the Photoshop worker introduced himself as Rick and requested the phone. He assured Alice that it would only take around 30 minutes to fix. As she waited, Alice struck up a conversation with Rick’s housemate, engaging in friendly small talk to pass the time. Alice found herself engaged in a pleasant conversation with Rick’s housemate, unexpectedly opening up about her situation. She couldn’t quite explain it, but there was a comforting connection with him. After approximately 30 minutes, Rick returned and delivered the news that he had successfully fixed the phone. Rick informed Alice that he had changed the code to 0000, allowing her access to the phone whenever she desired. However, he expressed his curiosity and suggested opening Michael’s conversations together to discover what they might reveal. Despite Rick’s interest, Alice politely declined, explaining that she preferred to explore the contents of the phone in the privacy of her own home. However, Alice expressed her discomfort with the idea of Rick and his housemate being aware of Michael’s personal secrets. While acknowledging that their intentions may be innocent, she apologized to Rick and politely declined his offer, explaining that she would prefer to explore the contents of the phone in the privacy of her own home, where she could process the information on her own terms. Understanding Alice’s concerns, Rick reassured her that he respected her decision and agreed to let her handle the phone on her own. Alice felt relieved that Rick was understanding and didn’t insist on being involved further. As a gesture of gratitude for his assistance, she gave Rick $300 for fixing the phone. Rick appreciated the generous amount, as it exceeded his usual compensation for such services. Alice drove back home with a mix of excitement and curiosity, causing her to speed along the way. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of what she might find on Micheal’s phone. Perhaps this would finally provide the answers she had been desperately seeking. Once Alice arrived home, she settled on the couch, her nerves tingling with anticipation. She entered the code ‘0000’ into Micheal’s phone, hoping it would grant her access to the answers she sought. The phone unlocked, and Alice took a deep breath, ready to delve into the secrets it held. Initially, Alice pondered where to begin her search. Deciding to start with his photos, she opened the gallery, scanning through the images in hopes of finding something unusual or out of place. Her eyes fixated on each picture, searching for any clue that could shed light on the mysterious events surrounding Micheal’s death. After an hour of scrolling through Micheal’s photos without any significant discoveries, Alice shifted her focus to his messages. With growing anticipation, she navigated to his message inbox, eager to uncover any conversations or hints that might provide insight into the enigmatic circumstances surrounding his untimely demise. As Alice opened the message section, her eyes were immediately drawn to a chat with Micheal’s boss, positioned prominently at the top of the list. Curiosity and a sense of urgency compelled her to delve into their conversation, hoping to unravel the truth hidden within their exchanges. Alice anxiously examined the chat, her heart pounding with each word she read. The messages revealed a tense and heated argument between Micheal and his boss, filled with cryptic references and veiled threats. Although the exact nature of their disagreement remained unclear to her, it was evident that something deeply troubling had transpired. As Alice continued scrolling through the messages, she stumbled upon references to a significant amount of money. Although she couldn’t determine the specifics, it became clear that finances were at the center of their dispute. Filled with desperation, Alice contemplated reaching out to Micheal’s boss in hopes of uncovering the truth behind what had happened to him before the tragic accident. Alice mustered the courage to call Micheal’s boss, who initially expressed his condolences for her loss. However, as Alice inquired about the conversations between Micheal and him, she sensed that his response was not genuine. There was a lack of surprise in his voice, hinting that he may have been aware of the circumstances surrounding Micheal’s troubles. He responded, “I anticipated your call. It’s probably best if you come to my house so we can discuss this matter in person.” Alice agreed to meet him and drove to his house, her mind filled with questions and a mix of emotions. Once Alice arrived at his house, he welcomed her in and they sat down on the couch. Micheal’s boss looked at her and asked, “So, what do you already know?” Alice took a deep breath and began sharing what she had discovered from Micheal’s phone and the messages she had seen. Alice opened up and shared everything she knew. She mentioned how Micheal’s father had noticed his distress and tears, prompting her to investigate further by checking his phone. She explained that she came across the messages between Micheal and his boss, which had raised her concerns and led her to seek answers. The boss of Micheal took a deep breath and began to reveal the truth to Alice. He explained that Micheal had gotten involved in some illegal activities, which had put him in a dangerous situation. He owed a significant amount of money to dangerous individuals, and they had been pressuring him to pay up. The accident, as it turned out, was not a mere coincidence. It was orchestrated to silence Micheal and eliminate the threat he posed to those involved. The boss explained that Micheal’s desperate attempt to solve his financial troubles led him to borrow money from an illegal organization and make risky investments in cryptocurrency. Unfortunately, these investments turned out to be disastrous, resulting in the loss of all his money. This left Micheal in a vulnerable position, unable to repay his debts and facing serious consequences from the dangerous individuals he had gotten involved with. The boss revealed that shortly after the failed investments, Micheal found himself being threatened by the men from the illegal organization who demanded repayment of the borrowed money. Desperate and unable to come up with the large sum of money required, Micheal turned to his boss for help. However, the boss explained that he was unable to provide such a substantial amount. It was a dire situation that Micheal found himself in, with no apparent way out. The boss reluctantly admitted that Micheal, feeling trapped and with the safety of his family at stake, made the desperate decision to take matters into his own hands. The exact details of what transpired were not revealed, but it seemed that Micheal believed that sacrificing himself was the only way to protect his loved ones from harm. It was a heartbreaking revelation for Alice to comprehend the depth of her husband’s desperation and the extreme measures he felt compelled to take. Alice was struck with a mix of emotions upon learning the truth. She felt a profound sadness and devastation that Micheal had reached such a desperate point in his life. She couldn’t fully comprehend why he had chosen to end his life as a solution, especially knowing the consequences it would have on her and Ethan. The weight of his sacrifice and the implications for their future weighed heavily on her heart, leaving her with a sense of confusion and deep grief. Alice held Ethan close, feeling a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She couldn’t help but feel anger towards Micheal for choosing such a drastic and irreversible action. She understood that the financial burden and stress had taken a toll on him, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there could have been other ways to cope and find solutions. The weight of their lost home and uncertain future loomed over her, but she knew that her priority now was to be there for Ethan and find a way to rebuild their lives. With a heavy heart, Alice made the difficult decision to sell their home and start anew in a different place, far away from the reach of the criminals that had caused so much pain. She wanted to create a safe and secure environment for herself and Ethan, where they could heal and rebuild their lives. In time, Alice found love again and formed a deep bond with a kind and supportive partner. They embraced their future together, leaving the past behind as they grew old, surrounded by love and happiness.