Emily and Jackson were thrilled when their six-year-old son, Mark, started school and quickly made a “best friend” named Carlos. Every night, Mark shared stories about Carlos, and one day he even brought home a beautifully carved wooden bird that Carlos had given him. When Emily tried to arrange a playdate, Mark oddly claimed that Carlos didn’t have parents.

Worried, Emily spoke to Mark’s teacher, who revealed there was no student named Carlos at the school. Security footage confirmed Mark was always alone, though he frequently slipped away to the restroom where there were no cameras. When Emily confronted Mark, he said Carlos told him to keep their friendship a secret.

The truth came out when the school identified Carlos as one of their janitors. To Emily and Jackson’s shock, Carlos turned out to be Jackson’s estranged father, who explained that Jackson’s mother had falsely accused him of abuse and cut him out of his son’s life. Carlos had only wanted to meet his grandson, Mark, but went about it the wrong way.

Though hurt and shaken, Jackson offered a chance for redemption: if Carlos could prove his story, he could become part of their lives openly — not as a mysterious stranger, but as Mark’s grandfather. Mark’s “imaginary friend” had uncovered a painful family secret, giving them all a chance to heal.