I had just given birth when my 8-year-old daughter came to visit me. She quietly closed the curtain and whispered, «Mom, get under the bed. Now.» We crawled under together, holding our breath. Then, footsteps approached, and she gently covered my mouth…

Deborah, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? No, I’m fine, Deborah tried to sound calm. I just wanted to know if you could come with Lily when she visits today. On the other end of the line, Michael could be heard taking a sharp breath.

That’s difficult today. I have an important meeting. I understand, Deborah couldn’t hide her disappointment.

Talk to you later, then. After hanging up, Deborah sank deep into her bed, staring at the ceiling. Was her intuition correct? Or was this paranoia due to her postpartum mental state? At lunchtime, Rachel appeared.

She acted as cheerfully as ever, but Deborah noticed that her eyes weren’t smiling. Rachel brought the meal and another pill. This is an additional antibiotic prescribed by the doctor.

It’s to prevent infection. Deborah stared at the pill. She hadn’t heard the doctor give such instructions during the morning rounds.

Did my doctor say this? Rachel hesitated for a moment. Yes, of course. It’s recorded in your chart.

Deborah took the pill in her hand but didn’t swallow it. I’ll take it later. I want to eat first.

Rachel briefly showed a dissatisfied expression but quickly composed herself. All right. I’ll check back later.

After Rachel left, Deborah hid the pill in the bedside table drawer. Her feeling that something was wrong was growing stronger. Around two in the afternoon, Carol brought Lily.

Lily clutched a small bouquet and rushed to her mother. Deborah embraced her daughter tightly. Mom, are you okay? Lily looked up at her mother’s face with concern.

Yes, I’m fine, Deborah smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Carol picked up Thomas and, while rocking him, said, Deborah, I’m going to buy some drinks. What would you like, Lily? Apple juice.

Lily answered enthusiastically. When Carol left the room, Lily’s expression changed. She moved closer to her mother’s bed and said in a low voice, Mom, I saw that nurse again today.

She was talking with dad in the hallway. Deborah’s heart began to race. When? Just now.

When we arrived at the hospital. They didn’t notice us, Lily’s eyes reflected fear. Mom, she had a scary face.

Deborah squeezed her daughter’s hand. Lily, what do you mean? Lily moved even closer to her mother and said in an almost inaudible voice, she told dad, we’ll do it today. Dad said, not yet.

Mom, is she going to do something? Deborah caught her breath. Children’s intuition is sharp. Lily had sensed something.

Deborah herself had felt something unnatural about Rachel’s behavior, the overly strong effect of the medicine, knowing Lily’s name, and this morning’s suspicious antibiotic. Suddenly, voices could be heard from the hallway. Lily quickly stood up and listened toward the window.

Then, with a determined expression, she quietly began to draw the curtains in the hospital room. Lily, what are you doing? Without turning around, Lily said, Mom, she’s coming. After closing the curtains, Lily rushed to her mother’s bed and, with a small but serious expression, said, Mom, get under the bed right now.

Deborah sensed her daughter’s urgency and fear. Lily’s eyes held a wisdom and determination beyond her years. Deborah acted without hesitation.

She gently picked up Thomas and dragging the four stand with her, stood beside the bed. Lily, you come too. She first knelt on the floor and, still holding the baby, carefully slid under the bed.

Her postpartum body still felt pain, but she ignored it. Lily quickly crawled in beside her mother. As the two held their breath under the bed, they heard the hospital room door open…