The room remained suspended, as if time itself had stopped breathing. For the first time in days, a thin ray of hope pierced the darkness.
Angela’s insistence finally wore down the staff’s resistance: a hesitant but curious intern took a sample of the luxurious cream and brought it to the lab.
A few hours later, the verdict fell—merciless. The lotion contained thallium. Not much, just enough to slowly, methodically destroy a body.
The doctors exchanged stunned looks.
— How did we miss this?* one of them whispered, ashamed.
