As the officers gently lifted Matthew out from under the bed, a flood of emotions washed over me. Relief that he was alive, dread for the trauma that had clearly taken its toll on his small body and mind, and an overwhelming sense of urgency to uncover what had transpired here.
The paramedics were quick to arrive, assessing Matthew’s condition and preparing to take him to the hospital. His unresponsiveness was deeply concerning, and as they loaded him onto a stretcher, I whispered promises to him—I would find out what happened, I would make him safe again. But the vacant look in his eyes was haunting, devoid of the spark I remembered.
