My wife was taken to the emergency room, the pale-faced doctor called me into the room and revealed a secret: “Look at this and call the police immediately”
That night, it was raining heavily in Quezon City, Metro Manila. I was sitting in the living room when I heard a loud noise from the kitchen. Rushing downstairs, I saw my wife – Lani – fall to the floor, her face pale, sweating profusely. I panicked and called a taxi to go straight to a large hospital in Quezon City.
All the way, my mind was spinning. Lani was healthy, only occasionally having a slight headache. I held my wife’s hand tightly, trembling and praying that she would make it through.
When we arrived at the Emergency Department, the nurse immediately pushed Lani inside. I was told to wait outside. Time passed heavily, every minute felt like a century. My eyes were glued to the door of the room, my heart was in turmoil.
After a while, the doctor on duty, Dr. Santos, came out with a tense face, and called me:
– Are you the husband of patient Lani? Come in, I need to talk to you immediately.
I stood up. Inside, Lani lay motionless, the machine kept beeping. But what sent shivers down my spine was the doctor’s serious gaze. He placed the test results on the table, his voice low:
– Please calm down. Your wife’s blood and stomach have strange signs. This is not normal food poisoning… She probably got poisoned by her food, which accumulated over time.
I was stunned, snatching:
– What do you mean… Did my wife intentionally hurt someone?
Dr. nodded. Santos, and lowered his voice:
– This situation is very dangerous. On top of that, when we checked her personal belongings, we discovered a strange packet of powder in the patient’s bag. Do you know anything about this?
I was surprised. Lani carried that bag every day. I shook my head:
– No, I don’t know.
The doctor looked me straight in the eye and said slowly:
– You need to see this. And… I recommend you call 911 immediately. This is no longer a medical matter, this is a legal matter.
He opened the sealed evidence bag: inside was a small, sealed package, the label in English printed with the name of a strange “herbal / health mix”. I didn’t understand everything, but I felt that this was serious.
With shaking hands, I dialed 911. When the PNP (Philippine National Police) on duty picked me up, I almost screamed:
– Please, my wife is in the hospital in Quezon City. The doctor only found signs of poisoning and suspicious evidence. Please go immediately!
A few minutes later, the PNP police arrived. The emergency room was on fire when the officers rushed into the room. They took the powder, made a report, and sealed it. An investigator asked me:
– Have you seen your wife threaten or have an argument with anyone recently?
I tried to remember. In recent weeks, Lani had been very tired and dizzy. I thought she was overworked. But there was one detail that made me shiver: recently, a neighbor named Ate Liza often came by, often bringing snacks, cakes/”detox” for Lani. My husband was kind, trustworthy, and never suspicious.
I told him with a shudder. The officers took notes, exchanged serious glances. One whispered:
– This could be a clue.
Meanwhile, Lani was still lying in the hospital bed, breathing heavily. I held her hand, tears streaming down my face. I never thought my peaceful life would spiral into such a terrible spiral.
All night, the police worked with the hospital, taking statements, and sealing evidence. The doctors did everything they could to save her, giving her fluids and antidotes. Dr. Santos encouraged:
– She still has a chance, as long as the detoxification is completed on time
The night was long. I sat in the hallway, my back to the wall, my eyes red. The footsteps of the investigators came and went, the vital signs in the room kept echoing.
At dawn, Dr. Santos came out, breathing a sigh of relief:
– He is out of danger. You can come in and visit, but please be quiet.
Tears welled up, I ran to hold Lani’s hand. She opened her eyes, and whispered softly:
– I… I’m scared…
I immediately reassured her:
– It’s okay. I’m here. The truth will be revealed.
Outside, the investigation was launched, narrowing down the people involved. I knew that the journey to find the mastermind was still long, but most importantly: my husband had escaped the jaws of death.
That terrifying night is forever etched in my mind: the moment the doctor turned pale, placed the file in front of me, and the words that made my heart skip a beat – “Look at this and call 911 immediately!”
It was not just a warning, but a milestone that changed our entire lives.