Daniel closed his eyes.
“Can I talk to her?”
“She’s tired, but she’s asking for her dog.”
He laughed through his tears.
“Tell her Duke is safe. Tell her I’m bringing him home as soon as the veterinarian says he’s ready.”
The nurse promised to pass on the message.
For the first time since the previous night, Daniel felt he could breathe again.
But the story did not end there.
When Vanessa was strong enough to speak, she learned how close she had come to dying.
The doctors explained that carbon monoxide interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Because it cannot be seen or smelled, people may not realize they are being exposed until they become seriously ill.
Vanessa listened in silence.
Then she began to cry.
“I thought I was just tired,” she whispered.
The doctor nodded gently.
“That’s why these incidents can be so dangerous. The early symptoms can be mistaken for ordinary fatigue or a minor illness.”
