Daniel pulled the dusty young girl out from the hidden wall compartment into his warm arms.
He wrapped his large arms around her small body, sobbing uncontrollably against her shoulder.
Lily clung tight to his shirt, burying her dirty face into his neck with relief.
Sarah stood frozen near the hallway door, her hands shaking violently at her sides.
The emotional reunion filled the quiet living room as soft sunlight illuminated the broken dust.
Daniel held his daughter slightly back to carefully examine her frail face and body.
Thick white plaster dust was smudged heavily across her hollow cheeks and small nose.
Daniel: Lily, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?
Little Girl: I am so thirsty, Daddy.
Daniel: How long were you inside that dark wall?
Little Girl: I ate the wall dust so I wouldn't make a noise.
Daniel felt a horrifying chill rush through his blood as her words sank into his mind.
She had been kept in that pitch-black hole so long that she was consuming dry plaster.
His sorrow turned into pure, blinding fury as he looked up from his darling daughter.
His face shifted from tender relief to gritting, unstoppable rage in a single second.
Daniel: How long has she been in there?!
Sarah: Daniel, you don't understand the whole situation...
Daniel: Answer me right now, Sarah!
Sarah: She wouldn't stop crying after you left!
Sarah stepped backward, her trembling voice betraying her absolute terror of her husband's rage.
Sarah: I just needed some peace and quiet for a few hours!
Daniel: You locked our child inside a hollow wall?!
Sarah: I forgot about the hidden lock mechanism on the outside frame!
Daniel stood up slowly, keeping his weak daughter securely shielded behind his large frame.