My Daughter’s 4 A.M. Secret

I checked my daughter’s phone location at 4 a.m. and found out why she wasn’t in her bed.

My daughter, Lily, 15 years old, had been exhausted all week.

Falling asleep at dinner. Dark circles. Same excuse. “Just couldn’t sleep.”

Last night, I woke up and her room was empty. Bed untouched. Phone charger unplugged.

My heart dropped. I did something I swore I wouldn’t do. I opened her phone.

Location history. One pin. Active. Right now. 4:07 a.m.

A hospital. My hands started shaking. Why is my kid at a hospital in the

middle of the night? I don’t wake my husband. I grab my keys. I drive.