as I explained the situation. The dispatcher assured me that officers were on their way, and I was advised to stay calm and not to confront anyone. I retreated to the living room, my mind racing with possibilities. Was someone threatening Daniela? Was she in trouble? Or worse—was she betraying my son?
Minutes felt like hours as I waited. I nervously paced the living room, my eyes darting towards the bathroom door. Finally, the doorbell rang, and I hurried to let the officers in. I briefed them on the situation as they nodded, their expressions turning serious.
They approached the bathroom door, knocking firmly. “Police! Is anyone in there?” one of the officers called out. Silence. The only sound was the steady drip of water from the shower. The officer knocked again, louder this time. “Open the door, please.”
“Ma’am, we received a call about strange activities in this bathroom,” the officer explained, his voice gentle but firm. “Can you tell us what’s going on?”
Daniela looked bewildered, glancing at me with questioning eyes. “I… I don’t understand,” she stammered. “There’s nothing going on here.”
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and concern, I stepped forward. “I heard a man’s voice,” I explained, my voice trembling with uncertainty. “And there’s this scent… it’s not yours.”
Daniela hesitated, then sighed, her expression softening. “I should have explained earlier,” she admitted. “It’s my brother, Marco. He’s been going through a tough time and has nowhere else to go. I let him use the bathroom to freshen up and talk to him through the door to keep him company.”
I felt a wave of relief wash over me, mixed with embarrassment for jumping to conclusions. “I’m so sorry, Daniela,” I apologized, feeling guilty for not having asked her directly. “I was just worried.”
Daniela smiled reassuringly. “It’s okay,” she said, understanding in her eyes. “I should have told you. Marco’s just really private about his situation.”
The officers, satisfied there was no danger, left after offering a few words of advice about communication and understanding. As the door closed behind them, I turned to Daniela, my heart still pounding but relieved.
Daniela nodded, her expression softening. “I appreciate that. We’re family now, and we should watch out for each other.”
