But the moment Elena looked down at the floor, she felt as though the world was collapsing beneath her feet.
The chalk line had been erased.
In several places, it was completely broken, and right beside it were clearly visible footprints from bare feet.
Elena slowly knelt down.
The footprints belonged to an adult. They started near the bed and led directly toward the door.
The woman turned sharply toward her husband.
Viktor was still completely motionless.
She gently lifted the blanket and examined his legs. They looked just as thin and motionless as usual.
But on one of his feet, she noticed a small dark stain.
Elena took a wet wipe and tried to clean it.
It was nothing more than ordinary dirt.
A shiver ran down her spine.
How could dirt have gotten onto the foot of a man who hadn’t left his bed in almost three years?
