I Discovered 13 Mysterious Candles and My Photo in My MIL’s Basement—The Shocking Truth

I Discovered 13 Mysterious Candles and My Photo in My MIL’s Basement—The Shocking Truth

It was just supposed to be a regular family celebration—my mother-in-law’s birthday. But when I went into the basement, I found something shocking: a ritual that made me question everything, especially the woman who raised my husband.

Honestly, this was wild! My mother-in-law has really lost it!

So, here’s what happened.

It was Jane’s birthday party. The whole family was there, and everything seemed fine. People were laughing, drinks were flowing, and she was acting sweet and welcoming.

Source: Midjourney

You know, typical family stuff. I had only been married to Willis for a month, so I was still figuring out the whole in-law situation and trying to get along. But if someone had told me earlier what I was about to find, I would have thought they were joking.

Willis and I were in the living room with the guests when Jane, my mother-in-law, casually mentioned we were out of wine.

“Chelsea, dear, could you and Willis go down to the basement and get some bottles for the guests?” she asked, smiling in that warm but slightly forced way she always did. I didn’t think much of it, so I nodded and followed Willis downstairs.

Source: Midjourney

The moment we stepped into the basement, something felt off. Maybe it was the musty smell, the dim lighting, or just a feeling deep in my gut telling me to leave. There was an eerie silence that hung in the air like a bad sign. I glanced at Willis, but he seemed completely unaware of anything unusual.

He walked straight to the wine rack, chatting about how his mom loved a good Chardonnay, while I lingered by the stairs, looking around. That’s when I saw it.

Source: Midjourney

In the far corner of the basement, past the shelves of old family albums and dusty boxes, was a small table. On it sat a framed photo of… me.

“Uh, Willis?” I called out, my voice a bit shaky.

“What’s up?” he replied, still focused on grabbing a bottle.

“There’s a picture of me over here…”

He stood up, holding two bottles of wine, and walked over, looking confused. I pointed to the table, and that’s when he noticed it too.

“Why is your picture here?” he muttered. That’s when I spotted the candles.

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Thirteen candles. Eight were lined up in front of my photo, one in each corner of the room, and one right in the center, right on the floor.

“What the hell?” I whispered, feeling my stomach drop. “Why are there candles? And why are they all around my photo?”

Willis blinked, just as shocked. “I…I don’t know. This is weird.”

“Weird?” I snapped, my voice rising. “This is more than weird, Willis! This is freakin’ creepy!”

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I rushed to the table, my heart racing with questions. Why would Jane have a picture of me like this? Was it some sort of ritual? A strange family tradition? Or something darker?

I turned to Willis, my heart pounding, feeling like I had stepped into a horror movie. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide with disbelief, as if he had seen something much worse than just a weird setup of candles and my photo.

“Willis,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “What… What is this? What’s happening?”

He didn’t respond right away. He just stood there, staring at the candles, his breathing shallow. I could see the panic building in his eyes, the kind of fear that freezes you.

“Willis?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “Please, talk to me.”

Finally, he turned to me, his lips parting slightly, but no words came out. After what felt like forever, he spoke, his voice hoarse and shaky. “I… I think my mother’s been using a spell,” he stammered.

Source: Midjourney

“A curse?” My stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”

He took a deep breath, clearly struggling with whatever awful truth he was about to share. “My grandmother… she was into all this—this dark stuff. Witchcraft, curses, spells. I—I never believed it, but…”

He ran a hand through his hair, his voice almost breaking. “She taught my mom everything. And I think—Chelsea, I think my mom’s been trying to curse you.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. “Curse me? For what?”

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I blinked, and there it was: positive.

“Willis!” I shouted, barely able to contain my excitement. “Willis, come here!”

He rushed in, panic flashing across his face. “What? What’s wrong?”

I held up the test, my hands shaking. “I’m pregnant,” I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks.

For a moment, he just stared at me, his mouth hanging open in shock. Then his face broke into the biggest smile I had ever seen.

“You’re—wait, we’re—” He stammered, pulling me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe. “We’re having a baby?!”

While Preparing for My Niece’s Christening, I Met the Man of My Dreams, but I Never Expected How It Would End — Story of the Day

While preparing for my niece’s christening, I met a man different from anyone I had ever known. He was kind, thoughtful, and impossible not to like. But he had made a choice long before we met, one that stood between us. I never imagined how it would all end—or how much it would change me.

I stood in front of Sarah’s house, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. That day, we were finalizing the details for Ellie’s christening, something Sarah had been stressing about for weeks.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I rang the doorbell and waited. Nothing. I rang it again. Still nothing. Frowning, I tried the handle—it turned easily. The door was unlocked.

Stepping inside, I was immediately hit by a wall of noise. Ellie’s wails filled the house, high-pitched and relentless.

Sarah was darting back and forth, juggling bottles and stuffed animals with the frantic energy of someone running on two hours of sleep. Mark stood nearby, hands hovering uselessly as he attempted to soothe Ellie.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Silently, I slipped into the kitchen, grabbed a mug, and poured myself some coffee.

A moment later, Sarah rushed into the kitchen, her hair a mess, her face flushed. Her eyes widened.

“Oh, God! You scared me!” she gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “How long have you been standing there?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“A while,” I said, taking another sip of coffee.

She frowned. “You could have helped, you know.”

I leaned against the counter. “I’m here for moral support.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Just then, the doorbell rang. Sarah straightened, her whole demeanor changing. “Oh, that must be him!” she said, hurrying toward the door.

At least she heard this doorbell.

Curious, I followed her. As I stepped into the hallway, I saw a man standing at the entrance. A very attractive man. Very attractive.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Sarah smirked. “Claire, are you done with your coffee?”

“Something like that,” I said, my eyes still on him.

Sarah gestured toward him. “Then I’d like to introduce you. Claire, this is Father Nathan. He’ll be christening Ellie.”

I blinked. “Father?” I looked him up and down. No collar. No robe. “Where’s your—” I made a circle around my neck.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’m allowed to wear regular clothes,” he said, amused.

I crossed my arms. “You don’t look like a priest.”

“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, still smiling.

“You should,” I said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Sarah clapped her hands together. “Alright, let’s go over the details.”

We all moved into the living room. I sat at the far end, keeping my distance from the baby. She made me nervous.

All babies did. Sarah and Mark discussed the ceremony, asking Nathan about traditions and schedules. I tuned most of it out.

“So, what do you do?” Nathan asked, turning to me.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, I own an art supply store,” I said.

“You’re an artist?”

“No, but I sell materials for artists. Without me, they’d be nothing,” I said.

He laughed. A real, warm laugh.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For the first time all day, I felt seen. The meeting went on, but Nathan and I kept talking. Jokes, small talk, teasing. It felt easy. Familiar.

When we were both in the entryway, getting ready to leave, he asked, “Why aren’t you the godmother?”

“Babies scare me. And kids.”

“Oh, I understand. Me too.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“But you’re—”

“These will be my first christenings. I just hope I don’t forget that babies can’t swim,” he said.

I laughed. “That’s an honest answer.”

“Lying is a sin. And He sees everything,” Nathan said, pointing to the ceiling. He hesitated, then added, “I’d love to see you at church sometime.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I swallowed. “Oh, I wouldn’t call myself particularly religious.”

“Well, if you ever feel like it, I’ll be there,” he said.

And I don’t know why, but I listened to him.

That Sunday, I found myself sitting in a wooden pew, surrounded by families, older couples, and a few scattered individuals like me.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The church smelled of candle wax and old books. I folded my hands in my lap, unsure what to do.

Nathan spoke with ease, his voice warm, his words thoughtful. He told stories, made people laugh, yet never lost the meaning behind his sermon. People seemed to like him—and oh, how I understood why.

Nathan was impossible not to like.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

After the service, I walked toward him.

“So, you actually came,” Nathan said, smiling.

I nodded. “Yeah. It was… different. In a good way.”

“Glad to hear that. I try not to make people fall asleep.” He grinned.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Well, you kept me awake,” I said.

“Would you like some coffee or tea?” he asked.

“I’d love some,” I said, and he led me to his… office? I wasn’t sure what they were called.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

That day, we talked for hours. The conversation flowed so easily—about faith, the church, people, and life in general.

Nathan listened without judgment, spoke with honesty, and made me think in ways I hadn’t before.

I felt more comfortable with him than I had with anyone in a long time. That should have been a good thing, but it wasn’t.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He was a priest. And it killed me to know that he was a priest—that I could never have a real relationship with him.

Still, I kept coming back. Almost every day, we found something new to talk about.

One day, we sat on a park bench, the sun warm against my skin. Talking to Nathan felt easy, natural.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“You can’t get married. What would you do if you liked someone?” I asked, glancing at him.

He smirked. “I’d invite her to my services, talk to her, agree to christen her niece, and hope she leaves me alone.”

I smiled, feeling my cheeks heat up. “And if you fell in love with someone?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Nathan’s smile faded. He let out a slow breath. “The path I chose requires me to devote my life and love to God.”

I swallowed hard. “I could never do that.”

Nathan turned toward me. “That’s why talking to you is good for me. You challenge me. You make me question things.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

His eyes met mine. My heart pounded. And then, without thinking, I kissed him.

For a moment, he kissed me back. Warm. Certain. Then, suddenly, he pulled away, his face pale.

“No, this is wrong,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.” He stood up and walked away.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I sat frozen, watching him disappear, feeling like I had just lost something I never really had.

The next day, my phone rang early. Sarah’s voice came through, shaky and rushed.

“Claire, he backed out! Nathan won’t do the christening. It’s tomorrow! What am I supposed to do?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I gripped the phone tighter. “What? Why?”

“He didn’t say. Just told Mark he couldn’t do it.”

I closed my eyes. I knew why. This was because of me. I tried to calm Sarah, but she was too upset.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

After hanging up, I went to the church. Nathan wasn’t there. No one knew where he was.

That evening, a knock at my door startled me. I opened it and froze. Nathan stood there, his expression unreadable.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Your sister gave me your address,” he said. His voice was quiet, but his eyes held something heavy.

I stepped aside. “Come in.”

He walked in, standing awkwardly in the middle of my living room. I crossed my arms. “Sarah is panicking. You need to do the christening.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Nathan sighed. “I already agreed. My conscience wouldn’t let me refuse.”

Relief flooded through me. “Good. Then why are you here?”

He ran a hand through his hair, looking more unsure than I’d seen him. “I gave up a lot to have the life I have. Years of training, sacrifice, purpose. Then you showed up.” His eyes met mine. “And now, I doubt everything.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.”

“I can’t stop thinking about you. I pray, I work, I read, and it’s still you. It should be Him. My mind should be clear. It’s not.”

I stared at him, unable to speak. My throat tightened, my chest ached.

“Screw it,” Nathan muttered. Then, before I could react, he grabbed me and kissed me.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I kissed him back without hesitation.

He stayed the night…If you know what I mean.

By morning, I stared at the ceiling, my heart pounding. I felt warm beside him, but my mind spun.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I can’t believe you actually did this,” I said, barely above a whisper.

Nathan sat up, rubbing his face. “Neither can I.”

We both knew what this meant.

It was the day of the christening. Nathan dressed quickly, avoiding my eyes.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He muttered something about needing to be at the church early. Then he was gone.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the empty space where he had been. My heart felt heavy, but I pushed the feeling down.

I got ready, put on a simple dress, and drove to the church.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The ceremony went perfectly. Nathan spoke with warmth and confidence, his voice steady, his smile easy. No one would have guessed he was struggling.

Afterward, Sarah and Mark hosted a celebration. Laughter filled the house, food covered the table, and everyone seemed happy.

Nathan and I left at the same time. We didn’t plan it, but suddenly, we were standing outside together, alone.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The air between us was thick with unspoken words. I knew this was it. The moment I had been dreading.

“You did well today,” I said. My voice was even, but I felt unsteady.

“Thanks.” Nathan wouldn’t look at me.

I exhaled slowly. “It’s not going to be me, is it?” My voice wavered. “It’s going to be Him.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He finally met my eyes. “…Yeah.”

I let out a small, sad laugh. My vision blurred. “The funniest part of all this? I love you.”

Nathan pulled me into a tight hug, his arms lingering before he let go.

“This won’t last forever,” he murmured.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I forced a smile. “So… see you Sunday at mass?”

Nathan chuckled, though his eyes were sad. “Yeah. But seriously? You’re banned from my services for life.”

He turned, hesitated, then looked back.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I love you too.”

Then he walked away.

And that was the last time I ever saw him.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

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