He opened his mouth to argue, but then Zelene’s lips turned blue. She let out a choking cry and vomited all over the bed.
“It’s a drug reaction! If we don’t do something fast, she could die!” he shouted, then shoved me aside and ran for help.
My daughter looked up at me with that small, pale face and said, “Daddy… I don’t feel good… I want some water…”
Despite everything, she was still my daughter. I couldn’t bear to see her suffer.
So, I turned away and poured her a cup of warm water.
But when I turned back around, she was gone.
The bed was empty, except for the mess she’d thrown up, and my phone, still playing her cartoon.
Just then, my father-in-law rushed back in with a nurse. “Where’s Zelene? Let the nurse take a look at her!”
My stomach dropped. “Dad… didn’t you see her leave just now?”
He froze. “What?! I just came from the reception desk with the nurse, we didn’t see anyone!”
The nurse’s station faced the only two elevators. Anyone coming or going would’ve been in full view.
But both he and the nurse swore they hadn’t seen a soul, aside from my mother-in-law going downstairs earlier.
We turned the room upside down, checked every corner of the ward, but Zelene had vanished.