I got to my dad’s funeral with Bella, his dog. She’s usually cool with chilling in the car when I say so, but…NOT THIS TIME. So, there we were, doing the whole emotional goodbye thing with dad, and out of nowhere, Bella just bursts into the church, barking her head off at the casket. I immediately realized something was wrong and decided to trust her. I opened the lid, and my mom fainted at the sight. There was a note clutched tightly in Dad’s cold hand—crumpled, like he had gripped it in his final moments. I gently took it, heart pounding, while Bella whimpered beside me, her eyes fixed on him like she was waiting for him to wake up.
The note read:
“If you’re reading this, it means something went wrong. I was being followed. I didn’t want to believe it, but the documents hidden in my study drawer—under the false bottom—will explain everything. Protect your mother. And trust Bella. She knows more than anyone.”
I stood frozen. A mix of shock, fear, and adrenaline surged through me. My father hadn’t just passed—he had left behind a warning. My mom, regaining consciousness, clutched my arm. “He was scared… I didn’t know how serious it was,” she whispered through tears.
We rushed home with Bella, who immediately ran to Dad’s old study. With trembling hands, I pulled out the drawer—and just like the note said, a false bottom lifted to reveal files, photographs, and a USB drive labeled “FOR THEM.”
As the storm rolled in outside, we sat silently on the living room floor, Bella curled at our feet. I plugged in the drive and clicked open the first file. What appeared on the screen made my blood run cold—but it also made everything make sense.
This wasn’t just a goodbye. It was the beginning of uncovering a truth Dad had died protecting. And Bella? She wasn’t just a loyal companion—she was the only one left who had sensed it all along.