CHAPTER 3 — THE TRUTH COMES OUT
CHAPTER 3 — THE TRUTH COMES OUT
Doctors later confirmed that Noah had been suffering from acute appendicitis.
His worsening pain had caused repeated vomiting and severe dehydration.
The freezing basement had only made his condition more dangerous.
The surgeon spoke gently.
"If he'd remained there much longer..."
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't have to.
Michael squeezed Noah's hand as tears filled his eyes.
Across the waiting room, Sarah sat alone.
Matthew quietly approached his mother.
"Mom?"
She looked up.
"I told you Noah wasn't pretending."
Sarah froze.
The boy's voice shook.
"He kept crying."
"He said his stomach really hurt."
"I asked if we could tell Uncle Michael."
"You said birthdays only happen once."
Matthew began to cry.
"I should've helped him."
Sarah buried her face in her hands.
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For the first time, she understood that her own son had witnessed everything.
And he would remember it for the rest of his life.
