Emily shook her head slightly.
“I don’t know…”
Suddenly everything in my mind started connecting.
Every late night I had come home from work.
Every explanation Rachel had given me.
“Emily already ate.”
“She lied to me today so she’s grounded.”
“She said she wasn’t hungry.”
Now every word sounded like poison.
I remembered the times my daughter avoided my eyes.
The times she wore long sleeves even when the weather was hot.
The way she stayed unusually quiet at dinner.
God.
It had all been happening right in front of me.
And I had missed it.
Because I was always busy.
Because I believed the person I married.
Because I never imagined something like this could happen in my own home.
I knelt beside the hospital bed.
“Emily…”
She looked at me carefully, those big eyes full of fear.
“Am I in trouble?”
My heart shattered.
“No, sweetheart.”
My voice shook.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She whispered softly,
“Rachel said if I told you… you would be mad at me.”
Carefully, I leaned forward and hugged her without touching the bandages.
“Never,” I said.
“Never ever.”
Tears streamed down my face.
“Daddy believes you.”
The doctor stepped closer.
“Mr. Reynolds, I need to ask you a few questions.”