When Daniel, Sarah, and their son, Derril, moved to a new city, it took time to adjust. Everything felt different—the streets, the people, even the air smelled unfamiliar. But one great thing about the move was that Derril’s new school focused on soccer, his favorite sport.
Derril, who was seven, couldn’t stop talking about it.
“I can’t wait to play on a real team, Dad!” he said excitedly as they unpacked boxes in his room.
His father, Daniel, smiled. “I’m glad you’re happy, buddy. We wanted this to be good for you, too, not just for Mom’s job.”
Sarah had landed a promising new job, which was why they moved in the first place.
“We need this, Daniel,” she had told him before the move. “A fresh start. A better future. Living there had become…stale.”
“I agree,” Daniel had responded. “And Derril deserves a better life.”
At first, things seemed great. Daniel worked from home as a cybersecurity specialist, which meant he didn’t have to change jobs. Sarah threw herself into her new work. And Derril? He was in heaven, playing soccer every day after school.
But then things started to change.
Derril became quiet. His usual excitement about soccer faded. He came home looking distracted, sometimes even sad. At first, Daniel and Sarah thought it was just part of adjusting to a new school.
“Maybe he’s still getting used to things,” Daniel suggested one morning as he made breakfast.
Sarah sighed. “Maybe. But something feels…off. When I ask him about his day, he barely talks to me.”
Days passed, and the change in their son became more noticeable. Then one afternoon, Daniel walked into Derril’s room and found him crying.
“Derril?” Daniel rushed over, sitting beside him on the bed. “What’s wrong? Talk to me, son.”
Tears ran down Derril’s cheeks as he looked up at his father. He took a shaky breath before saying, “I don’t want Mr. Sanders to be my father!”
Daniel felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs. Mr. Sanders? Derril’s soccer coach? Why would Derril even say that?
“Why would he be your father?” Daniel asked, keeping his voice calm.
Derril wiped his nose with his sleeve. “Yesterday, after practice, Mom came to pick me up. And I saw Mr. Sanders hugging her! She didn’t push him away, Dad.”
A cold feeling settled in Daniel’s stomach.
Sarah had been distant lately. He thought it was just stress from work. But now? Now he wasn’t so sure.
The next day, Daniel finished work early. He drove to the soccer field and parked at a distance, just out of sight. He needed to see for himself what was going on.
Practice ended, and Sarah arrived to pick up Derril. Daniel watched closely as Mr. Sanders approached her. They spoke for a moment, and then—just as Derril had said—Mr. Sanders placed a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. He leaned in, speaking softly.
Sarah smiled but took a small step back. Then she looked around, as if sensing something.
Daniel clenched his fists.
That night, he couldn’t stay silent any longer. As they sat at the dinner table, he looked Sarah straight in the eye and asked, “What’s going on with you and Mr. Sanders?”
Sarah froze, her fork hovering over her plate. Then she took a deep breath. “There’s nothing going on, Daniel,” she said firmly. “I swear. He’s just…been helping me.”
“Helping you how?” Daniel pressed. “Derril thinks he’s trying to replace me. What’s really going on?”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “What? No! It’s not like that at all!” She reached for his hand. “Daniel, I should have told you earlier, but I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Tell me now,” Daniel said, his voice hard.
Sarah exhaled. “There’s a man. He’s dangerous. And he’s been watching me.”
Daniel’s blood ran cold. “Who?”
“Mr. Sanders recognized him,” Sarah explained. “He knew him from his past—a past he’s not proud of. And this man…he has a history of stalking and violence. Mr. Sanders noticed him lurking near the soccer field, watching me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Daniel asked, his hands shaking.
“I didn’t want to scare you,” Sarah admitted. “And Mr. Sanders thought if we acted normal, we wouldn’t raise suspicion.”
“We need to talk to him,” Daniel said. “I need to hear this from him.”
Sarah agreed. The next day, they met with Mr. Sanders, who confirmed everything.
“I have a friend who’s a detective,” he said. “The problem is, the police can’t do anything unless he makes a move.”
That night, Daniel and Sarah sat in the living room, trying to figure out their next steps. Then suddenly, Derril ran into the room, his face pale with fear.
“There’s someone outside my window!” he cried.
Daniel grabbed the baseball bat from the hallway and rushed to his son’s room. Sure enough, a shadowy figure stood near a tree outside.
“Call the police,” Daniel ordered Sarah.
Minutes later, flashing blue and red lights filled the street. Officers surrounded the house and quickly arrested the man—exactly the one Mr. Sanders had warned them about.
The next day, Mr. Sanders visited with a box of pastries. “I’m sorry for all the trouble,” he said.
Derril happily munched on a donut while Daniel studied Mr. Sanders.
“You said you knew this man?” Daniel asked.
Mr. Sanders nodded. “Yeah. I ran with a bad crowd when I was younger. But I got out before it was too late.”
Daniel wasn’t sure what to think. He was grateful to Mr. Sanders, but something still didn’t sit right.
That night, as he lay in bed, he couldn’t shake the feeling that their family wasn’t safe—not in this town, and not around Mr. Sanders.
Maybe it was time to move again.
