I Trusted a Babysitter to Watch My Son — But in the Middle of the Day, I Got a Chilling Call: ‘Mommy, I’m Scared. Please Come Home.’

Silence.

I tried again, louder, completely forgetting that he’d said he was in a closet. Panic crawled up my throat.

Then I heard it. Faint. Croaking.

“In the closet…”

I found him curled up in the hallway closet, hugging his stuffed dinosaur like it was the only solid thing left. His knees were pulled to his chest. His little fingers trembled. I dropped to the floor and wrapped him in my arms.