“Has Emma taken any medication recently?”
Laura answered instantly.
“Just paracetamol.”
Lucas wrote in the medical chart.
“Anything else?”
“No.”
Emma glanced up briefly.
Only for a moment.
But it was enough.
Lucas saw something in her eyes.
Uncertainty.
“Emma,” he said gently, “did someone give you something that made you feel sick?”
The girl didn’t answer.
Her eyes shifted toward her mother.
Laura stepped forward.
“That’s enough, doctor.”
At that moment, the door opened again.
The hospital social worker entered.
Maria Ortega.
Behind her stood one of the hospital security guards.
Laura turned sharply.
“What is this supposed to mean?”
Maria spoke calmly.
“We just need to talk for a moment.”
“Talk about what?”
Lucas watched Emma closely.
The girl was trembling.
Maria approached the stretcher.
“Hello, Emma. My name is Maria. I help children who might need support.”
Emma looked up at her.
Her lips trembled slightly.
“May I ask you something?” Maria said.
Emma nodded slowly.
“Did someone give you something to eat or drink that made you feel sick?”
Silence filled the room.
Laura folded her arms.
“This is absurd.”
Emma whispered something so quietly it was almost impossible to hear.
Lucas leaned closer.
“What did you say?”
Emma swallowed.
“Mom… gives me juice…”
The room went completely still.
“What kind of juice?” Maria asked gently.
Emma began to cry.
“She says it’s medicine.”
“But my stomach always hurts afterward.”
A cold feeling ran through Lucas.
Laura reacted immediately.
