That night, the monsoon rain was pouring 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 – collapsed on the floor, her face pale, sweating profusely. I panicked and called a taxi to take me straight to a big hospital in Quezon City.
The whole way, my mind was spinning. Lani was healthy, only occasionally had a mild headache. I held my wife’s hand tightly, trembling and praying for her to pull through.
When we arrived at the Emergency Department, the nurse immediately pushed Lani inside. I was asked to wait outside. Time passed heavily, each minute felt like a century. I kept my eyes glued to the door of the room, my heart in turmoil.
A moment later, the doctor on duty – Dr. Santos – with a tense face, stepped out and called me:
– Are you the husband of patient Lani? Please come in, I need to talk to you urgently.
I staggered to my feet. Inside, Lani lay motionless, the machine beeping continuously. But what made my spine shiver 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… it is very likely that she was poisoned in her food, accumulating over time.
I was stunned, stammering:
– What do you mean… someone intentionally harmed my wife?
Dr. Santos nodded, lowering his voice:
– This situation is very dangerous. More importantly, when we checked her personal belongings, we discovered a strange powder package in the patient’s bag. Do you know anything about it?
I was shocked. 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 advise you to call 911 immediately. This is not just a medical matter anymore; it is a legal matter.
He opened the sealed bag of evidence: inside was a small, sealed package, the English label printed with the name of a strange “herbal/health mix”. I didn’t understand everything, but I had a feeling this was extremely serious.
With trembling hands, I dialed 911. When the PNP (Philippine National Police) on duty picked up, I almost screamed:
– Please, my wife is at the hospital in Quezon City. The doctor just found signs of poisoning, and there is suspicious evidence. Please come immediately!
A few minutes later, the PNP police appeared. The emergency room was in an uproar as the officers marched straight into the room. They took the powder, made a report, and sealed it. An investigator asked me:
– Have you seen your wife threatened or had a conflict with anyone recently?
I tried to recall. In recent weeks, Lani has been 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 wife was gentle, trusting, and never suspicious.
I recounted with trembling. The officers took notes, exchanged serious glances. One whispered:
– This could be a clue.
Meanwhile, Lani was still lying on the hospital bed, breathing weakly. I held her hand, tears streaming down my face. I never thought that my peaceful life would be caught up in such a terrifying spiral.
All night long, the police worked with the hospital, took statements, and sealed the evidence. The doctors tried their best to save her, giving her fluids and antidotes. Dr. Santos encouraged:
– She still has a chance, as long as the detoxification is done in time
The night was long. I sat in the hallway, my back against the wall, my eyes red. The footsteps of the investigators came and went, the vital signs in the room echoed steadily.
At dawn, Dr. Santos came out, breathing a sigh of relief:
– She is out of danger. You can come in and visit, but please keep quiet.
I burst into tears, ran to hold Lani’s hand. She opened her eyes, and whispered weakly:
– I… I’m so scared…
I quickly reassured her:
– It’s okay. I’m here. The truth will be revealed.
Outside, the investigation had been launched, narrowing down the people involved. I knew the journey to find the mastermind was still long, but most importantly: my wife had escaped the jaws of death.
That terrifying night will forever be engraved in my mind: the moment the doctor turned pale, placed the file in front of me, and the words that made my heart clench – “Look at this and call 911 immediately!”
It wasn’t just a warning, but a milestone that changed our entire lives.
