Chapter 2 - THE SECRET BEHIND THE MEDICAL WING
The next morning, I knew something was wrong.
The moment Isabella entered the staff kitchen, everyone stopped talking.
She didn’t need to announce herself.
Her presence did that for her.
“Clara.”
I turned.
“Yes?”
“Come with me.”
My stomach tightened.
I followed her.
She didn’t speak.
Not once.
That scared me more than yelling.
We entered a private office.
She closed the door.
Then locked it.
Click.
The sound felt heavier than it should have.
“What happened?”
Isabella placed a piece of paper on the desk.
A medical report.
“Your daughter went upstairs yesterday.”
My face went pale.
“I’m sorry?”
“The medical wing.”
I shook my head.
“She was with me.”
“No.”
“She couldn’t have—”
“She did.”
My hands started trembling.
“Did she damage something?”
“No.”
“Then why are you telling me this?”
Isabella looked at the report.
Then at me.
“Because something happened.”
I waited.
She slowly pushed the paper toward me.
“Lorenzo Moretti responded.”
I stared.
“What?”
“For forty-nine days, doctors have measured almost no changes.”
She pointed at the report.
“Yesterday, after your daughter entered his room, his condition changed.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“No.”
Isabella’s voice became quieter.
“That’s why I need answers.”
I looked at her.
“My daughter is three years old.”
“I know.”
“She doesn’t understand medicine.”
“I know.”
“She only sings because thunderstorms scare her.”
Isabella suddenly became still.
“Thunderstorms?”
I noticed the change.
“What?”
“What song does she sing?”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Clara.”
Her voice was different now.
Not cold.
Not controlling.
Almost desperate.
“What song?”
Before I could answer, someone knocked.
Hard.
“Isabella!”
It was Elena.
Her voice was shaking.
Isabella opened the door.
“What happened?”
Elena looked terrified.
“Come upstairs.”
“Why?”
Elena swallowed.
Then whispered:
“Lorenzo woke up.”
The hallway went silent.
Isabella looked at me.
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For the first time since I met her...
She looked afraid.
