**Diary Entry**
*Somethings off with you, love,* my mother-in-law murmured, quietly swapping my heart medication. Little did she know, I had cameras everywhere.
Her voice, sticky as cloying syrup, belonged to Eleanor Whitmorethough everyone called her Nora. She stood at the kitchen table, her back to me, her fingers lingering over my morning pillbox.
I leaned weakly against the doorframe, my heart hammeringnot from illness, but anticipation. In my dressing gown pocket, my thumb zoomed in on my phone screen.
The camera, tiny as a poppy seed, was hidden in the salt shaker. Id placed it there myself. Just like the one in the smoke detector, and another in the plush teddy bear by the sofa. This was my silent, invisible war.
Her hands moved with practised easeflipping open the compartment labelled *Morning*, shaking out my pill, and palming it. Then, from the folds of her cardigan, another appearedchalky, dull. A placebo.
Shed been replacing my heart medication.
*Blood pressure, probably,* I whispered, stepping into the kitchen. *Slept poorly.*
Nora turned, her face a masterpiece of rehearsed concern. *I told your Charlie, you mustnt overdo it! Here, take your medicine and rest.*
She handed me a glass of water and the open pillbox, the fake tablet already nestled inside. I met her eyesgrateful, deceitful. *Thanks, Mum.*
My husband, Charlie, strode in, already dressed for work. He kissed my temple, his lips warm and oblivious.
*Katie, Mums right. You look peaky. Maybe call in sick?*
*Im fine,* I forced a smile. *Just tired.*
I made a show of placing the pill on my tongue, swallowing. Nora nodded, satisfaction flickering in her gazesharp, victorious. Her plan was simple.
Day by day, weaken me. Then, with a sigh, tell Charlie: *Shes too frail, too ill. A specialist care home would be best.*
She didnt know about the cameras. The smart home system Id installed under the guise of security. Charlie had laughed at my paranoia. Now, it was my only weapon.
The flat was a stage, and I was its director.
That night, once everyone slept, I opened my laptop. The days footage playedNora whispering to her husband, Gerald.
*Another fortnight, and shell beg for hospitalisation. Just keep Charlie in the dark. Poor boy loves her too much.*
Gerald grunted approval behind his newspaper. An accomplice, not just a witness.
I closed the laptop. No cold furyjust clarity. Time for the final act.
Morning arrived with my carefully rehearsed collapse. I slid to the hallway floor just as Charlie stepped out.
*Katie!* He rushed to me. Nora appeared, trembling with faux horror. *Charlie, I knew it! Shes getting worse!*
*Water…* I rasped, eyelids fluttering. *Dizzy.*
While Charlie dashed off, I locked eyes with Nora. She smiled, triumphant.
Later, I called Charlie at work. *I cant find my pills. Mum says I took them, but I dont remember. Im scared.*
Noras voice hissed in the background: *Memory loss, Charliea very bad sign.*
He wavered. Exactly as planned.
That evening, I gathered them in the lounge. Gerald scowled; Nora perched beside Charlie, ready to console.
*I need to talk about my health,* I murmured, staring at the carpet.
Charlie tensed. *Well see the best specialist*
*No. Its not doctors.* I lifted my gaze. *I think someones hurting me. On purpose.*
Noras hand gripped Charlies shoulder. *Darling, dont be absurd! Its stress.*
*Is it?* I turned to her. *Lets find out.*
I tapped my phone. The telly flickered to lifefootage of Nora at the pillbox, swapping tablets.
Charlie recoiled. *Mum?*
*Its edited!* she shrieked. *Shes framing me!*
I switched camerastheir bedroom last night, audio crisp. *A few more weeks, and shell beg for hospital. Just keep Charlie clueless.*
His face paled. *Mum?*
Then she snapped. The mask shattered, revealing naked hatred. *Yes! For you! To save you from her!* She clawed at his shirt. *Shes sickly, weakcant even give you children! This flat shouldve been ours!*
*Placeholder.*
The word struck Charlie harder than any video. He shoved her away.
*Ill call the police unless you leave in thirty minutes,* I said, placing a folder on the table. *The complaints already filed.*
Silence. Then Gerald stood, wordlessly trudging to pack.
Nora turned to Charlie, desperate. *You wouldnt throw out your own mother?*
He didnt look at her. *Go, Mum.*
They left, bags in hand, venom in her final glare. The door clicked shut.
Airclean, lightfilled the flat at last.
Charlie faced me, exhausted. *Katie… I shouldve seen it.*
I shook my head. *You loved her. And I loved you. Thats why I endured.*
From the pillbox, I took the real tablethidden, taken in secret all along.
*Im not weak. Just patient. But patience runs out.*
His eyes held something new: respect. Fear, even. A decent start.
*What now?* he asked.
*Now,* I said, *we learn to live honestly.*
And hed learn to see menot a fragile girl, but the woman whod saved us both.
