Abandoned single mother risks her last $1,000 on an old house in the middle of nowhere. What she finds inside changes her life forever

A deep wheeze. Maya’s heart sank. His asthma.

The mold. The dust. It was a nightmare.

She rushed him back outside. Gave him the inhaler. His breathing slowly calmed.

But reality crashed down. They couldn’t sleep in that house. Not yet.

With nowhere else to go and no money for a motel. Maya laid the seats back in the car and tucked Ethan under a blanket. That night, as the wind rustled the broken windows, Maya stared up at the towering shadow of their house.

Their gamble and whispered. What have I done? What would you have done if you were Maya? Would you risk your last $900 on a house like that? Do you think there’s something hiding in the Mercer house? Something dangerous? Or something valuable? If you’ve ever made a bold decision in life that changed everything? Tell us in the comments. Drop your thoughts below and let us know where in the world you’re watching from.

The morning sun filtered through the car windows, casting soft beams over Maya’s face. Her neck ached from sleeping in a half upright position. And Ethan’s head rested against her shoulder, still fast asleep.

For a brief moment, surrounded by silence and the scent of damp earth, everything felt strangely peaceful. But reality returned like a slap. No plumbing.

No electricity. No roof over their heads. And a son whose asthma couldn’t survive inside the house she had just bought.

Maya stepped out of the car and stretched, staring at the weathered farmhouse. It looked like it might collapse just from being stared at too hard. Her stomach twisted with dread.

What had she done? But before despair could take hold, a beat-up red pickup truck pulled into the driveway. The tires crunched over gravel, and a silver-haired woman climbed out with surprising energy. She held a wicker basket.

Morning, the woman called out cheerfully. Saw lights out here last night. Figured someone finally got brave or foolish enough to take on the Mercer place.

Maya walked cautiously toward her. I’m Maya. And yeah, I guess that’s me.

This is my son, Ethan. I’m Iris Barnes, the woman said, handing her the basket. Coffee, muffins, and orange juice.

You look like you could use it. Maya blinked, touched me on words. Thank you.

I… I really didn’t expect kindness out here. Well, Iris chuckled. You’ll need plenty more than muffins to survive this house.

You know what they say around here, right? Maya tilted her head. What do they say? That it’s cursed, Iris said plainly. Hasn’t been lived in since Josephine Mercer disappeared.

Back in 1989. Disappeared, Maya asked, her voice tightening. Just vanished, Iris said.

Left everything behind. Her car, her wallet. No note.

Just gone. Some folks say she ran. Others, not so sure.

Maya felt the hair on her arms rise. And nobody ever found out what happened to her? Nope, Iris said, her face serious. She was a healer.

Knew more about plants than anyone I’ve ever met. Some say she had cures the world wasn’t ready for. Maybe someone didn’t want her sharing them…