The reality of the officer’s words was so jarring, it was as if the world had shifted beneath my feet. I stood there, frozen in the doorway of our bedroom, a place that had always been a refuge, now transformed into a scene from a nightmare. The air felt heavy, pressing down on me as I tried to comprehend his words. How could this be possible? I had just checked on her not long ago. She had been sleeping peacefully, or so I thought.
The officer’s gaze was fixed on the figure in the bed, a mixture of caution and disbelief etched on his face. Slowly, he inched forward, as if approaching a fragile crime scene. I wanted to protest, to tell him he was mistaken, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, I watched as he reached out, gingerly pulling back the covers.
