When Sophie’s kids said they wished she didn’t exist, their words struck deeper than any pain she’d ever felt. Angry and careless, they didn’t realize the weight of their words. Sophie decided to take their wish seriously, vanishing from their lives without a trace. It was time they learned what life would be like without her.
People often said being a housewife was easy—staying home, relaxing, living off a husband’s hard work. What a misconception.
For Sophie, being a stay-at-home mom was no simple task; it was an unending marathon with no breaks. Her days blurred with cleaning, cooking, soothing tantrums, and managing countless other responsibilities.
Liam, her spirited but headstrong five-year-old, was at an age where every small thing sparked a battle.
Clara, nearing her pre-teen years, was brimming with attitude and unpredictable moods.
And her husband, Nathan? He believed his paycheck excused him from household duties. It was exhausting.
That evening, as usual, they gathered for dinner. Sharing their day was a routine, often filled with unexpected moments.
Sophie looked at Liam, who was poking at his peas. “Liam, how was preschool today?” she asked, forcing a cheerful tone.
He shrugged. “It was fine, but Miss Carter might call you tomorrow.”
That caught her off guard. “Why would she call?” Sophie asked, setting down her fork.
“I wanted to pet a dog outside, but Miss Carter said you shouldn’t touch stray dogs because they might have rab—rab—” Liam frowned, searching for the word.
“Rabies,” Clara cut in, rolling her eyes dramatically.
Liam nodded. “Yeah, rabies.”
“And why would that make her call me?” Sophie pressed.
Liam hesitated, then blurted, “I didn’t like what she said, so I bit her.”
Sophie stared, stunned. “You bit your teacher?” Her voice rose unintentionally.
Liam nodded, unfazed. “She said rabies comes from bites. I wanted to show her.”
“Mom, you raised a wild animal,” Clara muttered, smirking.
“Don’t talk about your brother like that,” Sophie said sharply. She turned to Nathan, who was focused on his food. “Nathan, do you have anything to say?”
He glanced up briefly. “You’re doing great, babe,” he said, giving her hand a quick pat.
Sophie sighed, turning back to Liam. “We’ve been over this, Liam. You can’t bite people. It hurts, and it’s wrong. Use words to express yourself next time.”
Then she faced Clara. “How was your day?”
“Fine,” Clara said, barely glancing up.
“That’s it?” Sophie asked.
“Oh, I’m staying at Mia’s tomorrow, remember?” Clara added casually.
“Yes, I remember,” Sophie said, feeling her energy wane.
The next day started poorly and spiraled. When Sophie checked Liam’s room, expecting it to be tidied as she’d asked, it looked like a storm had hit.
Toys, clothes, and books were scattered everywhere. Her patience frayed, but there was no time to address it.
She had to apologize to Miss Carter for Liam’s bite, which was mortifying.
Then, as she finally sat down to catch her breath, the phone rang. Clara’s school reported that she had skipped classes. Sophie’s frustration boiled over. By the time the kids got home, she was ready for a serious conversation.
“Both of you, stop right there,” Sophie said as Liam and Clara headed to their rooms. Her tone halted them in their tracks.
“What now?” Clara asked, sounding annoyed.
“Let’s start with you, Liam,” Sophie said. “I saw your room. It’s a mess. We agreed if you didn’t keep it clean, I’d take your games. Your console is mine until you show me you can keep it tidy.”
Liam’s eyes widened. “What? No way! That’s not fair!” he shouted, crossing his arms.
Clara smirked. “Good one, Liam,” she said mockingly.
“I wouldn’t laugh, Clara,” Sophie snapped. “Your school called. You skipped class.”
“It was just once!” Clara yelled, her face flushing with anger.
“You’re grounded for a week,” Sophie said firmly. “No sleepover at Mia’s.”
“You can’t do this! I’ve been planning that forever!” Clara screamed, fists clenched.
“Then you shouldn’t have skipped class,” Sophie replied calmly.
“I hate you! I wish you didn’t exist!” Clara shouted, storming to her room and slamming the door.
“Yeah! Me too!” Liam yelled, running to his own room.
Sophie stood there, tears stinging her eyes. Her chest felt heavy, but she swallowed the lump in her throat.
When Nathan got home, she recounted the day. He listened quietly, barely responding.
“Well?” she asked, craving support.
“Maybe you were too tough on them,” he said, shrugging. “They’re just kids.”
“Did you hear what Clara said to me?” Sophie asked, her voice trembling with frustration.
“She didn’t mean it,” Nathan said dismissively.
“I’ve had enough,” Sophie said, her voice icy. “I’ll show them what it’s like without me.”
“What do you mean?” Nathan asked, confused.
“You’ll see,” she said, walking away.
That night, with the house quiet, Sophie began her plan. Nathan, a heavy sleeper, didn’t stir.
She moved silently, collecting everything that was hers—clothes from the closet, photos from the walls, notebooks from the desk.
Even her favorite morning mug went into a box. She left no trace of herself.
With everything packed, she carried it to the attic. The dusty, cramped space became her hideout, with a mattress, a small lamp, and a blanket. Nathan wouldn’t think to look here; he barely acknowledged the attic’s existence.
Before settling in, she set up cameras in the kitchen and living room to watch how they coped without her. This was just the start.
The next morning, Sophie watched the camera feed as they stood in the kitchen, looking lost.
“Where’s Mom?” Liam asked, his voice uncertain.
“I don’t know,” Clara said, scanning the room. “Even her pictures are gone. The ones on the wall, too.”
“Her clothes aren’t in the closet,” Nathan added, scratching his head.
Liam’s eyes grew wide. “Did our wish come true? Did Mom really disappear?”
“Don’t be silly,” Nathan said, shaking his head.
“But she’s gone!” Clara insisted. “Her stuff’s not here. There’s no sign of her.”
Nathan pulled out his phone. “I’ll call her. Probably some joke.” But Sophie had turned her phone off. He stared at the screen, then pocketed it.
“Okay, let’s go,” he said, irritated. “I’ll drop you at school. We’ll figure this out later.”
Clara hesitated. “Can I still go to Mia’s sleepover?”
“Yeah, sure. Just get in the car,” Nathan said impatiently.
“Yes!” Clara cheered, then grinned. “Maybe it’s better this way. Mom was always on my case.”
“That means I can play video games!” Liam shouted, jumping.
Sophie’s chest tightened as she watched. They didn’t miss her; they seemed relieved. They were happy she was gone.
That evening, the camera showed Nathan and Liam on the couch, laughing and playing video games.
A pizza box sat open on the coffee table, grease stains spreading.
Sophie noticed Liam eating a cheesy slice. Her stomach knotted. He was lactose intolerant. Nathan, engrossed in the game, had clearly forgotten.
The next morning confirmed her fears. Liam was curled up on the couch, pale and groaning.
Nathan fumbled for medicine, muttering to himself. He stayed home from work, trying to comfort Liam while cleaning up the mess.
By the third day, chaos reigned. Dishes piled up, laundry sat untouched, and the kids headed to school with only dry cereal.
That evening, Liam sat crying on the couch, overwhelmed. Even Clara, usually detached, looked defeated, her hair a mess as she clutched her empty lunchbox.
“I miss Mom,” Liam said, looking at Nathan. His face was tear-streaked, his lip trembling.
“Me too,” Clara added softly, staring at her hands. “I got my period today and didn’t know what to do. I wanted to call Mom so bad, but I couldn’t. It felt awful.”
Nathan sighed, leaning back. “I think this is because of what you said. You told her you wished she didn’t exist. She’s showing you what that feels like.”
“That’s not true!” Clara said, her voice breaking. Tears spilled over. “I was just mad. I didn’t mean it. I’m so stupid for saying that.”
Liam sniffled. “I want Mom back. I’ll clean my room every day. I won’t bite anyone again. I promise.”
Clara wiped her face. “I’ll stop yelling at her. I’ll listen better. I can’t live without her. I miss her so much,” she sobbed.
Their words shattered Sophie’s resolve. She stepped from the shadows, standing in the doorway. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson,” she said, her voice firm but emotional.
They turned, shocked, then ran into her arms. “Mom! You’re back!” they cried, hugging her tightly.
“It’s so good to see you,” Nathan said, walking over. “These past few days showed me what an incredible job you do. I’ll try to make things easier from now on.”
“Thank you,” Sophie said softly.
“No, thank you, for everything,” Nathan replied.
“Thank you, Mom! We love you so much!” the kids said, holding on tight.
