Carl smiled optimistically. “I’m just as surprised. But maybe this is a positive sign for us, right?” There was hope in his voice, a desire for normalcy in their family dynamics that had been absent for too long.
Pauline nodded, gently applying the cream to her face. “These products are costly. I’m eager to see the effect on my skin tomorrow.”
However, they could never have predicted what the next morning would bring.
Pauline woke to the gentle morning sunlight, but something felt amiss. Her face burned, and her eyelids were heavy and crusty. Slowly blinking, she tried to orient herself in the dim morning light.
“Ouch,” she muttered, touching her face only to experience a sharp pain. “Oh no!”
She abruptly sat up, feeling her skin tighten and crack with each movement. Stumbling to the bathroom mirror, Pauline gasped in horror at her reflection. Her face was covered in severe red blotches and peeling skin, appearing as if the outer layer had been completely removed. Some areas were so raw they seemed almost burnt.
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