We felt violated and angry. Without a second thought, we packed our bags, rushed out, and drove away from the house. Our first action was to post a review on the Airbnb site to expose the host and the property. We felt it was our duty to warn any future guests about what we had found.
The Host’s Unexpected Reply
A few minutes after I published the angry review, my phone chimed with a reply from the host. It was a strange, short message that immediately changed everything.
I paused, thinking this was some kind of defensive, weird joke. But the host continued the message, revealing a heartbreaking situation: “…my mother’s house.”
This immediately threw me off. What did his mother’s house have to do with illegally filming his guests?
The host’s explanation continued in the next few sentences. “She passed away two months ago. That camera was for her safety. It automatically sends alerts to my phone.”
Namira leaned over my shoulder to read the exchange. She was completely confused and skeptical. “What is he even saying? That he watches guests live on camera?” she asked.
I mumbled my own interpretation, feeling the situation shift from a security breach to something far more complex. “Apparently not guests,” I muttered. “His mother.”
An Honest Oversight
The host, whose name was Marten, sent a quick follow-up message trying to explain the situation clearly. He admitted he had simply forgotten to remove the camera. He hadn’t even realized that the house had been reactivated for new guests. He claimed his sister had quickly reopened the listing without properly double-checking the setup or telling him.
By the time this second message arrived, we were already halfway to a motel. We had no intention of going back.
“I still don’t like it,” Namira said, arms folded in the passenger seat. “Even if it was for an old lady, he should’ve told us. That’s violating.”
Still, the thought of turning around and sleeping under that ceiling light—even if we knew the full story—was too much. We checked into a basic motel for the night. It wasn’t fancy, but it felt safe.
The True Story Behind the Camera
The next morning brought another message from Marten. This one was far more personal and painful, and it completely changed my perspective.
“I’m so sorry,” he wrote. “My mom’s name was Mila. She had dementia. The camera helped us make sure she didn’t leave the stove on or get confused at night. I didn’t mean to spy. I didn’t even realize someone had booked the place. My sister handles the account now and she didn’t tell me.”Continue reading…
