“Dad!” Ethan’s voice came from the living room, small and frightened. Thomas followed the sound, his heart pounding.

He found Ethan sitting on the couch, clutching a small teddy bear. His eyes were red and puffy from tears, his cheeks streaked with dried salt lines. The boy ran to his father, wrapping his arms around Thomas’s waist in a desperate embrace.

“Daddy, I’m so scared,” Ethan sobbed. “Lily won’t wake up. I tried to wake her up like Mommy does, but she won’t move.”

Thomas crouched down, holding Ethan’s shoulders tenderly. “It’s okay, buddy. I’m here now. Where is she?”

Ethan pointed toward the hallway. “In her room. She was sleepy when Mommy left, and now she won’t wake up.”

Thomas’s heart twisted painfully. He hurried to Lily’s room, pushing the door open gently. The curtains were drawn, casting a dim light over the small figure lying in the bed. Lily looked so peaceful, her little chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.

“Lily, sweetheart,” Thomas whispered, kneeling by the bed. He touched her forehead, relieved to feel warmth. “Come on, darling, open your eyes for Daddy.”

But she didn’t stir.

Thomas checked for any signs of illness, brushing his fingers along her arms, noting the paleness of her skin. It was clear she was weak and dehydrated, likely from the lack of food and water over the past three days. Panic surged again, but he forced himself to remain calm.

“We’re going to the hospital, okay, Ethan? They’ll help Lily there.”

Ethan nodded, trusting his father implicitly. Thomas lifted Lily gently, cradling her against his chest. The little girl remained limp, her eyelids fluttering faintly. He grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around her to keep her warm.

Together, they rushed out to the car. Thomas buckled Lily into the backseat, next to Ethan, who held her hand tightly, whispering comforting words.

As he drove toward the hospital, Thomas’s mind raced. How could Emily have left them alone like this? Anger and confusion boiled within him, but he pushed those thoughts aside. Right now, all that mattered was getting Lily the help she needed.

At the hospital, doctors and nurses sprang into action, whisking Lily away to be treated. Thomas held Ethan close, reassuring him that Lily would be fine. As they waited, he felt the enormity of the situation crash over him. His children had been left alone for days, neglected and frightened.

When Emily finally answered her phone, Thomas’s voice was a mix of fury and disbelief, but he knew there would be time for that conversation later. Right now, his focus was on his children, ensuring they were safe and never left alone again.

The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him, but as he looked at Ethan, exhausted yet brave, he knew they would get through this—together.