I couldn’t wait any longer.
Fortunately, we kept a spare key for the bathroom in our bedroom. I took him and ran into the hallway. But at the last moment I stopped.
If I went in, Daniel would probably find an explanation again.
Instead, I decided to follow him.
After bathing, he put Emma to bed. Then he put on his jacket and left the house. I called our neighbor and asked her to stay with Emma for a few minutes. Then I got in the car and followed my husband.
He stopped outside a children’s hospital on the other side of the city.
With the same small metal can in his hand, he entered the building.
I followed him and saw him go to the basement. At the door was:
“Department of Pediatric Oncology”
I refused my legs.
Daniel went to an elderly doctor and retrieved several small glass bottles as well as photos of Emma’s back from the can.
“The stain was redder today,” he said. “It hurt her again when the water touched her skin.”
The doctor opened a patient record.
“The final results are here.”
I could no longer remain silent.
“What results?”
Daniel turned around. When he saw me, his face became chalk-blemish.
“Laura? How are you…”
“What’s wrong with our daughter?”
The doctor asked us to take a seat.
It turned out that Daniel had discovered a small dark spot on Emma’s back three weeks earlier. The pediatrician had immediately referred her to a specialist. A rare and dangerous skin disease was suspected.
Until the results of the examination were available, Daniel had to clean the affected area every evening with a special medical solution. This caused a slight burning, which is why Emma cried.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I sobbed.
Daniel lowered his head.
