Anxiously Awaiting
He sat quietly by his wife’s bedside in the hospital, anxiously awaiting the doctor’s explanation. She had suffered from headaches for many years, but this time was unlike any before. The pain was so intense that she struggled to speak or even move.
What he didn’t realize was that the cause of her condition traced back to a visit to her hairdresser in Charleston. This unexpected connection would soon reveal the true source of her distress.
Expected A Trip
Marcus never expected a trip to the doctor to be frightening. At forty-five, he was accustomed to routine visits for his own monthly checkups and taking his children for their flu shots without worry.
However, this appointment felt different. His wife, Vanessa, lay before him with her head heavily bandaged. Marcus recalled discovering her at their Charleston home, unconscious beside the sink, her head bleeding and infected. It was clear something was seriously wrong.
A Typical Life
Marcus Bennett led a typical life as a devoted father in Charleston, sharing a warm and loving household with his wife and two daughters. Their home was a place of happiness, filled with laughter and affection.
However, everything changed unexpectedly when Vanessa, once the bright and cheerful presence in their lives, began to act in ways that were unrecognizable. Marcus was left puzzled and concerned, unsure of what had caused this sudden shift in her behavior.
Eager For Some Personal Time
It was on a beautiful summer day that everything changed. Vanessa went out with a few friends, eager for some personal time. Marcus understood her need to unwind, considering her dedication to managing the house, a full-time job, and the children. He didn't hesitate to let her enjoy a relaxing afternoon. After all, it was summertime in Charleston, and everyone was entitled to a break.
Little did Marcus know, this simple act of allowing Vanessa some freedom would trigger a series of unforeseen events. The day, which started with such promise and innocence, was about to unfold into something neither of them could have ever anticipated.
Returned By Evening
Vanessa departed at midday, assuring she would return by evening, right when Marcus would inevitably struggle with preparing the family dinner. Watching him fumble in the kitchen was one of her favorite pastimes. Their playful interactions had always been a hallmark of their bond, blending humor and affection effortlessly.
Their connection had consistently balanced silliness with romance, creating a unique and cherished dynamic. However, this lighthearted rhythm was about to be disrupted, signaling a shift in their relationship that neither of them anticipated.
Out Of The House
Vanessa spent the day out of the house as planned, while Marcus stayed behind to care for the children. Together, they enjoyed watching movies, playing video games, and ended the day with a peaceful walk through a nearby park in Charleston.
Anticipating Vanessa’s return, Marcus quickly headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner, hoping to surprise her with a homemade meal. Despite his efforts, he knew that even this thoughtful gesture might not be enough to brighten her mood.
Unlike Before
Vanessa arrived home at sunset, but unlike before, she didn’t stop to say hello to the children or check on Marcus. Instead, she headed directly upstairs and got into the shower without a word.
Surprised by her unusual actions, Marcus decided to follow her. What he discovered was so shocking that he rushed into the shower fully clothed, unable to hold back his concern.
Shower Running
Marcus discovered the shower running, but Vanessa was not inside. Instead, she was unconscious on the floor, partially undressed, with her hair scattered around her. The most alarming sight was the thick mixture of blood and yellowish pus seeping from her scalp, staining her head and the side of her neck.
This appearance suggests a severe infection, possibly folliculitis or a related skin abscess. Folliculitis is an inflammation or infection of hair follicles, often caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, which can produce pus-filled blisters and oozing wounds. Such infections can cause redness, swelling, pain, and discharge of pus, sometimes requiring medical treatment with antibiotics or topical creams to prevent worsening or complications. The presence of blood and pus indicates a serious condition that demands urgent medical attention.
Water Soaking His Clothes
Marcus rushed to her side, ignoring the water soaking his clothes from the shower. He quickly examined her, searching for any obvious wounds that might explain the bleeding. Finding no visible injuries, he carefully lifted her from the shower and laid her down on their bed.
“Vanessa,” he called urgently, shaking her gently but with growing panic. “Vanessa!” Unaware of the consequences, his frantic actions inadvertently triggered an unexpected reaction.
Toward The Commotion
Marcus was so focused on trying to save Vanessa that he didn’t notice his youngest daughter, five-year-old Lila, rushing toward the commotion. The sound of chaos had drawn her in, but Marcus was too absorbed in his desperate efforts to revive her.
Fortunately, his eldest child, Maya, arrived just in time to take Lila away from the distressing scene. None of the children were prepared to witness their parents struggling against one of life’s harshest battles: the threat of an untimely death.
Worry And Anxiety
Marcus didn’t know what was happening. But he knew Vanessa needed immediate medical attention. He called 911 while simultaneously running up and down the house, ensuring his two daughters had everything they needed after he accompanied Vanessa to the hospital.
He called his younger sister to babysit them. Worry had him thinking the worst. What if Vanessa didn’t make it?
The EMTs
The drive to the hospital was short but harrowing. The EMTs managed to get a response from Vanessa. But even they couldn’t tell what had happened.
As to keep Marcus on edge, they shared as little as possible about Vanessa’s condition, only stating that they needed to immediately get her to the emergency room.
Let Them Work
Marcus let them work in peace, though he could barely sit back and watch. He saw how they dressed Vanessa’s wet head, using their tools to clean the blood and pus from her hair.
He thought the worst part of the experience had passed once Vanessa’s head was clean. But what replaced the yellowish-red blood almost made him hurl.
Seeing It Clearly
Reddish-pink skin lay in a soggy mess as the EMTs continued cleaning Vanessa. Although Marcus couldn’t see clearly in the ambulance, he was sure his wife’s head was severely hurt.
To what degree, he couldn’t tell. But he knew the answer lay in whatever activity she’d spent her day doing while out with her friends. Marcus would have to root each of them out.
Fear And Anxiety
He sat in silence with his fingers intertwined with Vanessa’s. Although she was awake now, she was barely lucid and couldn’t formulate an articulate answer to any question he’d throw her way.
Forced to wait until the ambulance got to the hospital and the doctors ran tests on her, Marcus sat in silence, boiling in fear and anxiety. He couldn’t tell what had happened to his wife.
The Hospital
The ambulance got to the hospital, and nurses wheeled Vanessa off while Marcus barraged them with questions. He tried to remain by her side, but they wouldn’t let her.
“Sir, we’re gonna need you to step back,” they’d say each time he came too close. But how could he when this was the love of his and the mother of his children they were talking about?
Sit And Wait
The nurses wheeled Vanessa to the operating room. And after a few hours of agonizing quiet, one of them finally approached Marcus.
“You can see her now,” she said softly, even though her face showed no emotion. Marcus didn’t wait for her to elaborate. He couldn’t get into Vanessa’s room fast enough.
Inside The Room
What he saw inside the room had him stepping back. He let out a hot breath, his body trembling in place. Vanessa had so many bandages around her head that not a single curl of her hair showed.
Machines beeped beside her bed, their presence clearly indicating that whatever happened to her was profound. Marcus stepped closer, his eyes wet with stemmed tears. “What’s going on, Van?” he asked.
Talking To The Doctor
The doctor came behind him, and he had to wipe his eyes before facing him. “Doctor,” he greeted him with a curt nod. “What’s happening to my wife?”
The doctor seemed to be searching for what to say. He asked Marcus to sit down first. Was the news so heavy that he’d make such a request?
Patience
Marcus did as the doctor had requested, feigning patience when in reality, he wanted to snatch the documents from the man and see what was wrong with Vanessa.
The doctor cleared his throat, returning Marcus’s mind to the room. He didn’t know what the doctor would say and could feel his heartbeat rise. But one way or another, he’d get to the bottom of what happened to Vanessa.
Headaches
“I have a few questions for you, Mr. Bennett,” said the doctor. “Please ask,” Marcus answered. “Has your wife ever complained of headaches? It could have been mild or severe in the last twenty-four months.”
“Why?” Marcus asked. “What’s wrong?” The doctor didn’t answer. But the way he took off his glasses and sighed told Marcus all he needed to know.
Numerous Occurrences
“She is severely injured, Mr. Bennett,” the doctor said. “The worst part is that this isn’t the first time it happened. It’s only the worst of the numerous occurrences.”
“Numerous?” “Yes. We found scars on her head, indicating she’d been going through this for a while now. Has she ever complained about having a headache?”
Think Hard
Marcus tried to recall his conversations with Vanessa. She was usually a cheerful person even when sick and hated bumming anyone out with her problems.
Marcus had talked to her many times about this, insisting they were a team. He always went to her with his problems and would have given anything for her to do the same. He sat for a few minutes, combing through his mind until he found something substantial.
The Medicine Cabinet
At the beginning of summer, Vanessa had taken the kids to the mall. But when she came back, she seemed tired and in pain. Although she promised Marcus she was okay, he saw her in the medicine cabinet taking a pain reliever.
She also mentioned a headache the following day, although in passing. Had Marcus missed something crucial at that moment that could be a huge help now?
Other Times
“She came down with something at the beginning of summer,” he said. “She’d taken our daughters to the mall for some quality time: shopping and whatnot.
But when she got back, something was wrong.” He suddenly remembered other times when Vanessa had exhibited the same behavior. After coming from the mall, she’d go to the room for a while before returning to spend time with the family. Was something happening to her without Marcus knowing?
A Quick Hairdo
“This didn’t happen once,” he said as his mind finally recalled what happened. “Yes,” the doctor said, eventually opening his file.
“In the time your wife left the house, either alone or with the kids, did she ever visit a hairdresser, by any chance?” he added while perusing through the white pages. “Yes,” answered Marcus.
The Truth
“Well, that narrows down everything,” the doctor said. “We had to operate on your wife, Mr. Bennett. She had severe chemical burns that burrowed into her scalp.
The pain was too much, and her body went into shock. She’s been going through this for a while because, as I already mentioned, we found older scars all over her head. But that’s not all.”
I Have Failed
“We found signs of infection in the wounds, which, coupled with how bad the burns were, could have spelled real trouble for your wife.”
Marcus listened carefully, trying to pinpoint his wife’s hairdresser. He still couldn’t believe that all this had happened under his nose. What kind of husband was he if he couldn’t protect his wife? “Do you know her hairstylist?” the doctor asked.
Who’s Her Hairstylist?
Marcus didn’t know who the hairstylist was, which was good because he’d end up in a police station if he did. Taking a deep breath, he chose to remain objective.
Vanessa was still sick, still fighting for her life. Marcus needed to stand by her side until she was well again before rooting out the person who had done this to her. But unknown to him, something else was happening behind the scenes.
Defense To Offense
Vanessa spent a week in the hospital until she was stable enough to go home. Her bandages stayed on, and although she insisted that she felt okay and wanted to help Marcus with the house chores, he wouldn’t allow it.
With the help of Lila and Maya, they nursed her back to health. It was then that Marcus switched from defense to offense. He’d find the hairdresser responsible for this and make them pay.