After years of raising my son Toby alone, I finally found love again when I met Thomas, a kind man I bumped into on the subway. He quickly became part of our small family, treating Toby with care and warmth. A year later, we married, and life felt perfect — until one terrifying morning when Toby called me, whispering that his “new dad woke up but was acting weird.” I rushed home from my nursing shift, heart pounding.
When I arrived, I found Thomas pale, sweating, and barely responsive — his eyes open but empty, his body stiff, moving almost like a robot. Toby clung to me, frightened, while I called 911. At the hospital, doctors discovered it wasn’t just a virus. Thomas showed signs of poisoning. My mind raced until I remembered the strange herbal tea a coworker named Evan had given him, claiming it helped with sleep. I brought a sample to the hospital for testing.
The results were horrifying: the tea contained foxglove extract, a deadly toxin that attacks the heart. Toby’s quick call had saved Thomas’s life. When the police investigated, they found Evan’s apartment filled with photos of my husband — evidence of a disturbing obsession. Evan had poisoned Thomas out of jealousy. Thomas survived after a grueling recovery, though his kidneys suffered lasting damage. Evan was charged with attempted murder.
Months later, our family finally began to heal. Thomas regained his strength, and Toby’s watchful nature only grew sharper — always alert, always observing. Though the experience left scars, it also strengthened our bond. Toby, my brave little boy, had proven that even in fear, courage can save a life — and perhaps one day, he’ll turn that courage into a calling as a doctor or detective.
