Shadows of Deception

My husband, 42, died unexpectedly a month ago. Yesterday, his phone chimed with a notification for a charge on his card—a hotel room booked just minutes earlier. I quickly drove to that hotel address. On the way, a text popped up on his phone: “I’m already at the hotel, waiting for you.” I started sweating; my hands began to shake as I drove.

Then, suddenly, his phone rang. I froze when a woman’s voice said, “Where are you, love? I’ve been waiting for an hour!” I screamed, asking who she was. She sounded confused and replied, “Isn’t this Jake’s phone?”

But my husband’s name wasn’t Jake. His name was Daniel…

It turned out Jake, a 23-year-old, had hacked into my late husband’s phone and stolen all his personal information, including his credit card. I contacted the authorities, and they resolved everything.

For a brief moment, I let myself believe the impossible—that maybe, somehow, my husband was still alive.