David stood up quickly from the soft wooden chair beside the bed.
He placed a protective arm over Lily's shivering little chest.
He looked directly into Sarah's eyes with a confused and worried gaze.
David: She was just starting to drift off to sleep, Sarah.
Sarah: She needs to drink this fresh milk to build her strength.
Sarah reached out her hands to offer the cold clear glass.
Lily: I do not want it, Daddy!
Lily: It tastes nasty and makes my stomach hurt!
David looked down at his crying daughter with growing deep concern.
Lily had never acted so frightened around her new stepmother before.
David reached out his right hand and picked up the heavy glass.
The glass felt strangely icy cold against his warm fingertips.
He lifted the glass closer to his face to examine the liquid inside.
A thick white residue clung strangely to the inner rim of glass.
David leaned forward slightly and took a quick sharp sniff of the milk.
A harsh chemical odor filled his nostrils and made his throat burn.
It smelled like bitter crushed pills mixed with faint almond extract.
David's heart began to beat wildly inside his tight chest.
He remembered that real milk should never carry such a sharp bitter scent.
David: Why is this milk cold? What did you put in it?
Sarah's pleasant smile instantly melted away into a nervous pale mask.
She took one small step back toward the open bedroom doorway.
Sarah: I only put a little spoon of white sugar in it.
David: This is not sugar, Sarah.
Sarah: You are acting completely crazy and paranoid tonight, David.
David: Look at me and answer my question directly right now!
Sarah: I was only trying to help your sick little girl sleep!
David set the glass down firmly on the flat wooden dresser top.
He stepped directly between Sarah and the small bed behind him.
Lily sobbed softly into her pillow while clutching her stuffed teddy bear.
David: You have been giving her this strange drink every single night.
Sarah: Give me that glass back right now, David!
Sarah lunged forward suddenly to grab the milk off the wooden dresser.
David reached out quickly and pushed her hands firmly away from the glass.
The silver tray tipped over and slipped out of her frantic grip.
It crashed loudly onto the hard wooden floorboards with a sharp bang.