Chris was finally discharged, feeling both anxious and hopeful about returning home. A nurse helped him into a cab, and the ride back to his familiar street felt surreal. But when the taxi pulled into his driveway, his heart sank.
His front yard looked completely different. The grass was patchy, several plants were gone, and items from his porch — a rocking chair, potted flowers, even the wind chime — had vanished.
Slowly, he got out of the car and walked up to the front door. It was unlocked.
Inside, the shock hit harder. Furniture was missing. His favorite recliner, gone. Family photos on the wall — taken down. Even some of the rugs and curtains were missing.
“What the hell…” he muttered under his breath.
Just then, Peter walked in from the kitchen, carrying a box. “Grandpa! You’re home! Uh… we didn’t expect you until tomorrow.”
Chris’s eyes darted around. “Where’s all my stuff, Peter?”
Peter looked uncomfortable. “Well, uh, Hannah and I… we thought maybe you’d be better off in a care home, you know? And since no one was using the house, we figured we could start moving in.”
Chris stood frozen. “You moved me out… while I was in the hospital?”
Peter fumbled with words. “It’s not like that. We were just thinking long term. You’re not as strong as you used to be. The house is big. We thought maybe you’d want to stay somewhere with help. I mean… we could take care of things here.”
Chris clenched the back of a chair that wasn’t his. “This isn’t helping. This is stealing. You didn’t even ask.”
Hannah walked in just then, arms crossed. “We didn’t mean harm. We thought we were being practical. You’re old, Chris. Things change.”
Chris looked at the young couple in disbelief. The betrayal weighed heavier than any illness. “Get out,” he said quietly.
“Grandpa, wait—”
“Out. Of. My. House.”
Peter hesitated. “Mom said—”
“I don’t care what your mother said. This is my home. And you had no right.”
Hannah scoffed. “This is ridiculous. We were trying to help you!”
Chris looked her square in the eye. “If this is help, I’d hate to see what harm looks like.”
Peter and Hannah left that night, but the damage was done. Chris sat alone in a house that no longer felt like his — stripped of his memories, his belongings, and the trust he once had in his own family.