Chapter 3: The Pain Nobody Believed
The next morning, I woke up with a sharp pain twisting through my stomach.
It felt like something was tearing me apart from the inside.
I sat up slowly, holding my abdomen.
“Daniel…”
He was asleep beside me.
I touched his shoulder.
“Daniel, I need help.””
He opened one eye.
“What happened?””
“My stomach.””
He looked annoyed.
“Again?””
I stared at him.
Again.
That word.
Like my pain was an inconvenience.
“I think something is seriously wrong.””
He sat up.
“Do you want me to call someone?””
For one second, hope returned.
“Yes.””
Then he added:
“My mother thinks you’re being dramatic, though.””
The hope disappeared.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“Your mother thinks?””
Daniel stood up.
“She said you always look for attention when you’re upset.””
I felt tears forming.
“Daniel, I’m your wife.””
“I know.””
“Then why don’t you believe me?””
He didn’t answer.
Later that day, I barely managed to walk downstairs.
Margaret was sitting in the living room.
She looked at me.
“You look terrible.””
I waited for concern.
There was none.
“You should rest,” she said.
I almost felt relieved.
Then she continued.
“Maybe stop pretending to be sick for sympathy.””
I froze.
“I’m not pretending.””
She smiled.
“You always were sensitive.””
I returned to my room and locked the door.
I called my father.
This time, when he answered, I couldn’t hold it anymore.
“Dad…”
My voice broke.
Silence.
Then immediately:
“What happened?””
I cried.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just the quiet crying of someone who had held everything inside for too long.
“I think something is wrong with me.””
My father’s voice changed.
“Where are you?””
“At Daniel’s house.””
“I’m coming.””
“No, Dad, don’t—”
“I said I’m coming.””
I had forgotten what it felt like to have someone choose me.
That afternoon, the pain became unbearable.
I collapsed in the hallway.
The last thing I remember was hearing footsteps.
Daniel.
Then Margaret.
Then my father’s voice.
“Call an ambulance!””
When I opened my eyes again, everything was blurry.
White lights.
Machines.
Voices.
A nurse was standing beside me.
“Can you hear me?””
I tried to speak.
“What happened?””
“You passed out at home.””
My father appeared beside the bed.
His eyes were red.
He grabbed my hand.
“I’m here.””
I started crying.
“I’m sorry.””
He shook his head.
“Don’t apologize for being hurt.””
A doctor entered.
His expression was serious.
“Mrs. Carter?””
“Yes?””
He looked at the papers in his hand.
“We’re still running tests, but we found something concerning.””
My father stood up.
“What do you mean?””
The doctor hesitated.
“There are unusual substances in her stomach.””
The room went silent.
My heart raced.
“What substances?””
The doctor looked between us.
“Things that should not be there.””
My father’s grip tightened around my hand.
His voice shook.
“What did someone make my daughter eat?””
The doctor didn’t answer immediately.
But his expression told us everything.
This wasn’t an accident.
May you like
Someone had done this.
And now the hospital was about to uncover the truth.