His eyes widened, shock evident. “Blood? Are you sure?”

“Yes, Michael. I’m not sure what it means, but I think we need to talk to Emily. Together.”

He nodded slowly, processing the revelation. “I’ll talk to her. I promise.”

That night, I lay awake, my mind racing with possibilities. What could explain the blood? An accident? Something worse? The specter of fear loomed over me, and I prayed for clarity.

The next day, Michael came over, his expression a mix of relief and concern. “I talked to Emily last night.” He paused, his voice trembling slightly. “She finally opened up. It’s not what we feared.”

I leaned forward, my heart heavy with anticipation. “What happened?”