I Secretly Recorded My Parents’ Conversations

The key turned in the lock, and Alice, careful not to make a sound, slipped into the flat. The hallway was dark, save for a sliver of light creeping from the kitchen. Her parents were still awake, though it was well past midnight. Lately, this had become the normtheir hushed late-night conversations behind closed doors. Usually quiet, but sometimes rising to murmured arguments.

Alice kicked off her heels, set her laptop bag on the side table, and tiptoed down the corridor to her room. She wasnt in the mood to explain why she was late, though she had good reasonthe project at work refused to come together, and the deadline loomed.

Through the wall, she could hear their muffled voices.

“No, James, I cant keep doing this,” Mum said softly, though irritation laced her tone. “You promised last month.”

“Liz, you know its not the right time,” Dad replied, already on the defensive.

Alice sighed tiredly. Lately, her parents were always arguing about something, yet in front of her, they pretended everything was fine. Of course, they were in their fifties now, and she was long grownbut it still stung to realise something was wrong between them.

She undressed, washed up, and climbed into bed, but sleep wouldnt come. The same thoughts kept circling. Her brother, Thomas, lived in another town and rarely visited. If her parents divorced, who would stay with whom? Who would keep the flat? And why were they hiding their problems?

The voices through the wall didnt stop. Alice reached for her headphones on the nightstandanything to drown out their secrets with music. Her hand brushed against her phone, sending it tumbling onto the rug. As she picked it up, she accidentally opened the recording app. Her finger hovered over the screen.

What if she recorded them? Just to know what was happening, instead of guessing. If she asked outright, theyd only wave her off, insisting everything was fine.

Guilt pricked at her like a cold needle. Eavesdropping was wrong, especially recording them. But then again, they were her parents, her family. Didnt she have a right to know if something serious was going on?

Making up her mind, she pressed record, propped the phone closer to the wall, and pulled the blanket over her head.

The next morning, as she got ready for work, she noticed both her parents looked exhausted. Over breakfast, they barely spoke, exchanging only polite pleasantries.

“You came in late last night,” Mum remarked, pouring tea. “Late at the office again?”

“Yeah, finishing the project,” Alice nodded. “Why were you two still up?”

“Oh, just watching a film,” Mum dismissed, not even glancing at her.

Dad buried himself in the newspaper, pretending to be engrossed in an article.

“Dont wait dinner for me tonight,” he said without looking up. “Meeting with clientsmight run late.”

Mum pressed her lips together but stayed silent.

The entire commute to the office, Alice wrestled with the urge to listen to last nights recording. But the Tube was too crowded, and it felt too shameful. Shed wait until evening.

The day dragged endlessly. Finally home, she found Mum outa note said shed gone to a friends and would be back late. Dad was still at work, as promised. The perfect moment.

Curled under a throw on the sofa, Alice pressed play.

At first, only fragments of conversation reached her, then the recording grew clearer.

“…should we tell Alice?” Dads voice was uneasy.

“I dont know,” Mum sighed. “What if she doesnt understand? Its been so many years.”

“But she deserves to know.”

“Of course she doesbut how do we explain why we lied for so long?”

Alice froze. What were they talking about? What truth had they hidden?

“Remember how it all started?” Dad asked suddenly, a smile in his voice.

“How could I forget?” Mum chuckled. “I thought itd just be a phase. Turned out to be for life.”

“What a life its been,” Dad huffed. “Though it hasnt always been easy.”

“Especially when Alice came along.”

Her chest tightened. “Especially”? Had she been unwanted? Or was it something else?

“But we managed,” Dad went on. “And shes turned out brilliant.”

“She has,” Mum said warmly, pride in her voice, and Alice relaxed slightly. “But now we have to decide whats next. Im tired of this double life, James.”

Double life? Alice went cold. Was one of them having an affair? Or both? The thought made her queasy.

“Liz, lets at least wait until Thomas visits. Well talk as a family.”

“Fine,” Mum conceded. “But no more delays after that. Either we change things, or I dont know what.”

The recording cut offmaybe theyd left the kitchen, or the phone had stopped.

Alice sat stunned. What was happening to her family? What double life were they leading? Why wait for Thomas to explain?

A thousand questions, no answers. Record them again? That would be too much. And she already felt guilty for giving in once. Nobetter to call Thomas. Or Aunt Margaret, Mums sister. Shed always been honest with Alice.

Decision made: shed ring Thomas tomorrow, visit Aunt Margaret at the weekend.

Her brother didnt answer all day, finally calling back near evening.

“Alice! Sorryleft my phone in the van all day,” he said, cheerful as ever.

“Tom, when are you coming?” she blurted.

“Was planning this weekend. Why?”

“Just Mum and Dad seem off lately.”

“Off how?” Caution edged his voice.

“Whispering at night, acting like everythings fine around me. Talking about some double life.”

Silence.

“Tom?”

“Yeah, Im here,” he coughed. “Look, dont overthink it. People have secrets, even parents.”

“So you know whats going on?”

“Ive got an idea,” he hesitated. “But if theyre not ready to talk, we should wait. Ill be there Saturday, yeah? Well sort it then.”

“Fine,” she muttered. “Should I visit Aunt Margaret?”

“Dont,” he said too quickly. “Keep her out of itjust between us.”

After hanging up, Alices unease only grew. So Thomas did know something. And he wanted Aunt Margaret kept away. Was it really about affairs? Some family scandal they didnt want spreading?

That evening, Mum returned from her friends in high spirits, cheeks flushed, eyes bright.

“Youll never guessSarahs selling her flat!” she announced. “Moving to the countryside. Says shes sick of the city noise.”

Alice nodded, unsure how to respond.

“Would you ever want to live in the country?” she asked suddenly.

Mum paused, then answered carefully, “I dont know sometimes it sounds nice. Quiet. Fresh air. A garden.”

“What about Dad?”

“What about him?”

“Would he want to?”

“Ask him yourself,” Mum said, suddenly serious. “Hell be latedont wait up.”

Luckily, Dad returned earlier than expected. Alice was making tea when the front door clicked shut.

“Dad, want some?” she called.

“Please,” he replied, appearing moments later, loosening his tie. “Wheres Mum?”

“Upstairs, watching a film.” She fetched another cup. “How was work?”

“Fine,” he sighed, sinking into a chair. “Client agreed to our termsprojects a go.”

“Thats great.” She set his tea down. “Listen is it true you and Mum have something important to tell me?”

He startled, staring at her. “Whered you hear that?”

“Tom let it slip,” she lied, avoiding his gaze. “Said hed visit this weekend so you could explain.”

James rubbed his brow. “There is something. But lets wait for Tom, alright? Its better that way.”

“Is it bad?” she pressed. “Are you two splitting up?”

“What?” He looked genuinely shocked. “No! Whered you get that?”

“Youre always whispering, arguing. Mum mentioned a double life.”

Confusion, then understandingthen reliefflickered across his face.

“Alice, youve got it all wrong,” he exhaled. “No ones splitting up. Quite the opposite” He cut himself off. “Just wait till the weekend, yeah? Promise its nothing awful.”

“Really?”

“Really. Now drink your tea before its cold.”

That night, sleep wouldnt come. She tossed, piecing together fragmentstones, pauses, half-truths. If not divorce, what? Illness? Money trouble? Moving? The last thought unsettled her. Shed only just started building her career, made friends, loved London.

But something didnt fit. Why had Dad said “the