When they finally came out, Emily seemed different in a way that was hard to explain but impossible to ignore. She stayed quiet, withdrawn, and held her towel tightly around her body like she wanted to disappear from the room entirely.
One evening, when I reached out to brush her hair gently after one of those long baths, she flinched for just a second but enough for me to notice. That tiny reaction stayed with me, because it planted a seed of doubt that refused to go away no matter how much I tried to dismiss it.
That night, after another long bath that felt endless, I sat beside her on the bed while she held her stuffed bunny close to her chest. I asked softly, “What do you do in there for so long?” hoping she would feel safe enough to answer.
She looked down immediately, and I saw tears begin to form in her eyes while she remained completely silent. I gently took her hand and said, “You can tell me anything, sweetheart,” trying to keep my voice calm despite the fear growing inside me.