I waved to the nurses at the station as I hurried down the hallway to Suzie’s room, eager to check in on her after a long night. It had been a difficult few days, but I was hopeful that we could finally move forward, and the sight of her resting in her room always brought me a sense of relief. But when I pushed through the door, I froze in surprise. The room was quiet, too quiet. My heart skipped a beat as I looked around, searching for her.
My daughters were peacefully sleeping in their bassinets, their tiny chests rising and falling with each breath, but Suzie was gone. I thought maybe she had stepped out for a bit of fresh air or to take a walk down the hall. But when I looked toward the bed, my gaze caught something else. A folded note sat on the pillow, an unusual sight in a room that had previously felt so familiar.
I walked over, my legs heavy with dread, and reached for the paper. My hands trembled as I tore it open, the words spilling out like a punch to the gut.
“Goodbye. Take care of them. Ask your mother WHY she did this to me.”
The room seemed to close in around me, and I stood there for a moment, unable to fully process the words. It didn’t make sense. Suzie had been improving—why would she leave? What was this note about? My mind raced, questions flooding my thoughts, but before I could gather myself, the door opened.
A nurse entered, clipboard in hand, offering a polite smile as she greeted me. “Good morning, sir, here’s the discharge—”
I didn’t wait for her to finish. “Where’s my wife?” I interrupted, the words bursting out of my mouth before I could stop them.
The nurse hesitated, her smile faltering for just a moment. “Excuse me?”
“My wife,” I repeated, my voice edged with panic. “Where is she? Suzie… where is she?”
The nurse’s expression shifted, confusion mixing with concern. She glanced down at the clipboard as if she were trying to find the answers there. But I could see the hesitation in her eyes, and I knew something was wrong.
“She… she’s not in her room?” she asked softly.
I felt my chest tighten. The note, the absence, the strange words. Something was terribly wrong. I stared at her, desperate for any sign of an explanation.
“Where is she?” I asked again, my voice now thick with dread.
