**Diary Entry**
I drove to the cottage without telling my husbandI needed to know what he was hiding. What I found horrified me.
We have a cottage in the countryside. We used to visit every weekendplanting flowers, picking vegetables from the garden, or just escaping the city noise. But lately, hes been making excuses not to go. Work. Fatigue. Errands. I brushed it offeveryone has rough patches.
Then, our neighbour mentioned something that unsettled me.
Saw your husband at the cottage yesterday, she said offhand.
I froze. Thats impossible. He was on shift.
No, I definitely saw him, she insisted.
After hanging up, my mind raced. *Is he seeing someone? Is that why hes sneaking off?*
The next weekend, he refused to go again.
Maybe Ill go alone? I suggested.
No! he snapped. Id worry. Dont go by yourself.
His sharp tone only deepened my suspicion. When he left the house, I followed. Sure enough, he drove straight to the cottage.
I waited, then went after him. My heart pounded as I approached the door. I pushed it openand wished Id found another woman instead of *this*.
The house was silent, but a strange smellheavy, metallicdrifted from the shed. I stepped inside, my pulse wild.
Animal pelts hung from the beams. Bad enough. But among them was something that looked *too much* like human skin.
I couldnt breathe.
Then he appeared in the doorway. His face paled when he realised Id seen it all.
Its hunting, he mumbled, stepping closer. I didnt want to scare you.
I forced a smile. Alright. Just surprised me.
He relaxed, but his eyes never left me. That night, I didnt sleep.
The moment he left the next morning, I called the police. *Better they check now than learn the worst too late.*
