A mother installs a baby monitor in her baby boy’s room after noticing he seems restless and constantly tired. What she discovers sends chills down her spine.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Everything will be okay. Mommy’s here,” Alicia whispered, cradling her son, Edduin, in her arms. It was the middle of the night, and he had woken up crying, refusing to settle down.

She moved her files and laptop to the table and sat on the couch with him, softly singing a lullaby. It didn’t work immediately, but after ten minutes, he finally quieted down, and Alicia sighed in relief. Gently, she placed him back in his crib, kissed his forehead, and quietly left the room, careful not to wake him. She returned to her desk to continue working.

“How am I going to handle everything like this? I wish you were here, John. I miss you,” she thought, heading into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee.

Almost a Year Ago…

When doctors told Alicia and her husband John that they wouldn’t be able to have children, they decided to travel the world. They saw shows at the Sydney Opera House, visited beautiful beaches in Honolulu, enjoyed the nightlife in Las Vegas, and even visited the fjords in Bergen.

They were about to plan a trip to the Bahamas when Alicia found out she was pregnant. The couple was ecstatic, and they returned to their hometown in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to celebrate with friends and neighbors.

Alicia and John were both raised in foster care, and they’d always dreamed of creating a family of their own. Alicia stayed at home, while John was the managing director of a company that made parts for household electronics.

Their life seemed perfect—a happy marriage, a cozy home, and now, the dream of becoming parents. But their happiness was shattered one evening with a single phone call.

“Hello, am I speaking with Alicia Silvers?”

“Yes, this is Alicia. Who’s calling?”

“This is Officer Duncan, ma’am. I regret to inform you that your husband has been in a fatal car accident on Farm Road Highway. We found your number in his phone. Could you please come and identify the body?”

Alicia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Just that morning, John had left for a business trip. She remembered feeling uneasy, asking him not to go. He had assured her she was just overthinking and everything would be fine.

Seven months pregnant, the shock sent her into labor. She immediately called her neighbor, Mrs. Hall, who quickly called 911. Alicia was rushed to the hospital, where she delivered a baby boy prematurely. Little Edduin spent several weeks in the NICU.

After she was discharged, Alicia decided to take over John’s business to provide for her son. Thanks to her MBA, she quickly learned how to manage the company. However, caring for Edduin was difficult—he constantly needed her attention.

John’s secretary, Madison, was a huge support. She suggested that Alicia work from home and helped her set up a home office so she could care for her baby while also managing her work.

Alicia could have hired a nanny, but she wanted to be there for her son. Despite the challenge, she managed to balance her job and caring for her baby, doing her best for nearly a year. But Alicia had no idea that another challenge was just around the corner.

Present Day…

Around 1 a.m., Alicia grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to the living room. She arranged her files and looked over the reports one final time before heading to bed. Half an hour later, she fell asleep on the couch, exhausted.

She was startled awake by the sound of Edduin crying. It was 8 a.m. She rushed to his room and found him sitting in his crib, tears running down his face.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Are you hungry?” she asked, holding him and trying to comfort him. This was the second time in a week she had found him crying like this.

She checked his crib, but there was nothing there to bother him. She hoped it was just a phase, but after several days, Edduin still looked restless. He would yawn frequently, rub his eyes, and showed no interest in his favorite toys.

Concerned, Alicia took him to the doctor.

“He seems unusually calm but is always tired,” she explained.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Silvers,” the doctor said. “Babies go through phases like this.”

“But how long will this last? He doesn’t seem himself.”

“It’s hard to say, but everything will be alright. Every child is different.”

Alicia hoped the doctor was right, but as days passed, her worry grew. One afternoon, she heard strange noises coming from his room—soft giggling and what sounded like movement. She rushed in, only to find the room empty. Everything seemed normal, yet every night, Edduin seemed restless.

Something wasn’t right. Determined to find out what was happening, Alicia set up a Wi-Fi baby monitor to keep an eye on Edduin. She sat in the living room, watching the live feed.

For the first few minutes, everything looked fine. But then, she noticed movement. Edduin smiled, and Alicia saw something moving near his crib. Her heart skipped a beat. Was someone in the room? She rushed upstairs and opened the door.

Her hands trembled, her heart pounded, and then she saw it. The intruder wasn’t a person. It was a small, dirty dog circling Edduin’s crib, wagging its tail. Alicia sighed in relief.

As she stepped into the room, the dog quickly hid behind the crib, and Edduin started giggling. That’s when she realized what had been happening.

Alicia and John used to have a dog named Doblo, and after he passed away, they forgot to close the dog door that led into that room. The room used to be Doblo’s play area until it was converted into a nursery for Edduin. Amid all the chaos after John’s passing, Alicia had completely forgotten about the dog door, and this stray dog had found its way inside, playing with Edduin at night.

Seeing the poor dog’s state, Alicia couldn’t help but feel compassion. She decided to adopt him, naming him Casper. Now, Casper and Edduin are best friends. Thanks to Casper, Edduin no longer cries through the night, sleeps well, and is a happier baby. Alicia just makes sure the two don’t stay up all night together.

What Can We Learn from This Story?

Parenting is never easy, and Alicia’s determination to care for her son while managing her responsibilities shows the incredible sacrifices parents make. And, it also teaches us a valuable lesson in kindness—Alicia took in a struggling dog, and it brought joy to both her and her son.