I'm Kelly. I'm 30, and my life has been a rollercoaster of love and loss. My husband, Jeremy, di.ed in a car ac.cident two years ago. I was eight months pregnant with our daughter, Sophia. One moment, I was painting flowers on the walls of her nursery, dreaming about our future. The next, I was getting a phone call that shattered my world.

I remember that moment like it was yesterday. The paintbrush slipped from my fingers, leaving a trail of pink down the wall.

"Miss Kelly?" the voice on the phone was gentle, practiced. "This is Officer Reynolds..."

"Yes?" My hand instinctively went to my swollen belly. Sophia kicked, as if sensing my fear.

"There's been an ac.cident. Your husband..."

"No," I whispered. "No, please..."

They told me the crash was bad — so bad that I shouldn't see his bo.dy. I never got to say goodbye. Just a closed casket at the funeral, and that was it.

Two years later, I was doing my best to keep going, to be strong for Sophia. But the emptiness? It never really left.

And then, two days ago, something happened that made me question everything.

It was just a regular afternoon. I had put Sophia down for her nap in her bedroom and curled up on the couch with a book. The house was quiet. Peaceful.

Until I heard it.

The sound of a window shutting. Not loud — just enough to make me glance up. Probably the wind, I thought. But then, my blood ran cold when I... Oh my God... when I heard JEREMY'S VOICE:

"I love you forever."

I swear to God, my whole bo.dy turned to ice.

It wasn't a muffled memory in my head. It wasn't wishful thinking. It was CLEAR AS DAY.

I sat frozen, my breath caught in my throat. My ears were ringing. My heart pounded so hard I thought I might pass out.

"Jeremy?" I whispered into the silence, my voice trembling. "Baby, is that you?"

No. No, no, no. Jeremy was gone. This was NOT POSSIBLE.

But I heard it. Again.

"I love you forever."

It was coming from Sophia's room.

I shot up so fast the book tumbled off my lap. My mind raced with possibilities — was someone in there? Was I hallucinating?

Was Jeremy ALIVE?

I rushed down the hallway, barely feeling my feet hit the floor. My hands were ice-cold, and my stomach churned like I might throw up.

"Please," I whispered as I ran, tears already forming. "Please, if you're there..."

I pushed open Sophia's door.

She was sound asleep in her crib, curled up in a little ball, her tiny fingers clutching a teddy bear. The room was just as I had left it. No open windows. No shadows in the corner. Nothing.

But then, I heard it again.

"I love you forever."

I swore my heart stopped.

"Jeremy?" My voice cracked. "Is this some kind of cru.el joke? Please... I can't... I can't take this..."

I scanned the room, my hands shaking as I moved toward the window. Something had to explain this.

My fingers brushed against the glass. It was shut. Locked. Outside, a small tree branch rested against the pane, broken like it had fallen against it.

Okay. That explained the noise. But Jeremy's voice?

My eyes darted back to Sophia. She stirred in her sleep, hugging the bear tighter.

"Dada," she murmured in her sleep, and my heart shattered all over again.

And then it hit me.

The bear.

I dropped to my knees beside her crib, hands trembling as I reached for it. Pressed it.

"I love you forever."

My chest squeezed so tight I thought I might collapse.

Jeremy's voice... It was coming from the bear.

"Oh God," I sobbed, clutching the bear to my chest. "Oh God, Jeremy..."

I sat on the couch, staring at the bear like it might come to life.

I had no memory of buying this. Had someone given it to Sophia?

And then I remembered. A week ago, we had celebrated Sophia's second birthday. My mother-in-law, Gloria, had given her this bear.

"Look what Grandma got you!" I had said, trying to sound cheerful despite the ache in my chest. Another birthday without Jeremy.

I had barely looked at it at the time. It was just another stuffed animal.

But now? Now I needed answers. So I called Gloria.

She picked up on the second ring. "Kelly, hi, sweetie! Everything okay?"

I gripped the bear tighter. "Did you know this thing plays Jeremy's voice?"

Silence.

Then, a quiet, almost hesitant, "Oh… did it finally play?"

My stomach twisted. "Finally? What do you mean FINALLY?"

Gloria sighed. "I was wondering when you'd hear it."

I sat up straighter. "Gloria. What did you do?"

"Kelly, please," her voice wavered. "Just let me explain..."

"Explain what?" I demanded, my voice rising. "Explain why you...?"