Iris POV
“Iris! What happened?” Maria called out her voice breaking through the thick silence of the evening filled with worry and concern. She hurried into the dining room her eyes wide open showing just how anxious she felt.
I stood completely still unable to move with my hands still in the air at the dining table. On the table, the plates were only half-full and the food had been carefully arranged all meant to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for a nice dinner.
However, at that moment all of that joy and excitement for a lovely meal disappeared instantly. It vanished like fog disappearing when the sun came up leaving behind only a sense of unease.
It was Dahlia. She was lying on the floor twisting and turning in pain. My heart sank and I felt an icy heaviness settle deep inside me when I understood with growing fear that she had just taken a bite of the meal I had cooked with so much care and love.
My thoughts began to race uncontrollably as I tried to figure out what had gone wrong. What had happened to cause this terrible situation? How could this be occurring right now? I couldn't comprehend it.
“Oh my God!” I exclaimed in shock stumbling backward in surprise. My heart was racing uncontrollably thudding hard against my ribcage like a wild drumbeat that was too loud for me to hear anything else around me.
The once delicious and lively smell of garlic and herbs which had previously filled the air with warmth and comfort seemed to change completely.
Instead of being pleasant it quickly transformed into a disgusting and rotten odor that was deeply unsettling and troubling. It made me feel a sense of dread as if something terrible was about to happen.
“She's having a seizure!” Maria shouted with great concern kneeling next to Dahlia. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably as she desperately tried to help stabilize her. Dahlia the elderly maid had always been like a second mother to me providing comfort and support throughout my life. However, in this terrifying moment, all I could do was stand there frozen in utter disbelief and horror watching what was happening and feeling helpless.
“Quick! We need to call for help right now!” Maria shouted her voice breaking with anxiety and fear. She was desperately pressing her shaking hands down on Dahlia trying to keep her steady and supportive but nothing she did seemed to be effective.
I stood frozen in place unable to move my body felt heavy with fear. My mind was racing filled with a wild tangle of thoughts. Each thought was more intense and alarming than the one before it making it hard for me to focus or figure out what to do next.
Out of nowhere the door swung open hard which made me pay attention and brought me back to reality. Raf walked in looking very serious at first. But as soon as he saw his daughter on the floor shaking and in distress, his expression changed completely.
Panic replaced his usual confidence and I could see deep lines forming on his face. “Dahlia!” he yelled and I could hear the fear in his voice. Without even looking at me he hurried past completely focused on his daughter and ignoring my presence determined to reach her as quickly as possible.
“Dad! Please help me!” Luiza cried out in complete desperation. It seemed that she had come in just after him. In no time at all both of them dropped to their knees right next to Dahlia. The graceful and classy woman I had always looked up to and admired was completely missing from the scene.
Instead what I saw was a face filled with pure terror. Her hair which was usually neat was now tangled in her hands. I could see her nails pressing hard into her palms showing just how much she was fighting to keep herself together.
“What on earth is happening right now?” Raf exclaimed loudly his voice booming and cutting through the confusion around him like a sharp knife through soft material.
I took a deep breath and quietly said “Dahlia ate the food that I cooked.” It was hard for me to get the words out and I could hardly manage to whisper them. But deep down in my heart my mind was filled with a feeling and the words felt like a warning ringing in my ears.
They echoed strongly making me anxious. I realized that a lot was riding on this simple dinner we had shared. I couldn't help but wonder if Raf would believe that I had done something bad to his child something that was completely unimaginable and terrible.
“Is anyone going to call for an ambulance?” Luiza shouted her voice filled with urgency. You could hear the panic in her tone. Meanwhile, Raf was holding Dahlia carefully in his arms.
His eyes were filled with tears showing just how frantic and scared he was. The look on his face was different from usual it was filled with deep sadness and worry as if a heavy shadow had fallen over his normally calm expressions.
“Maria!” Raf called out his voice sounding urgent and filled with desperation almost like a growl. He looked at the maid with an intense stare that seemed to cut through the heavy tension that filled the room. “What exactly happened? I need some answers right now!”
“Raf! I don’t know what to say. I was just in the kitchen minding my own business when all of a sudden I heard Dahlia scream! I quickly ran out of the kitchen to see what was going on and when I got there she was… well she was in such a terrible state!”
Maria’s voice was unsteady and you could hear the fear and confusion in her words. Her hands were shaking and it was clear that the horrific scene we were looking at was causing her a lot of distress and turmoil deep inside her heart.
“Can you please call 911?” Luiza shouted her heart racing as she hurriedly took out her phone. She was pressing the screen with her fingers moving quickly like a mother who was in a panic and needed answers right away. “We need help and we need it immediately please!”