Husband left on a business trip, and wife decided to repot flowers. What she found in the pot made her hair stand on end…

The job of a sleep doctor, to the surprise of many, took no less energy than other fields in medicine. — Sleep disorders and problems with relaxation at night are serious things, and sometimes other diseases start from them, — the chief doctor of their clinic liked to say. — Ah, how beautiful you are, always pleasing me with your bright flowers, — said Paula with a smile.

She often talked to the flowers as if they were alive. — Maybe it’s silly, but it makes it easier somehow. They’re my little green friends, — she thought.

The third flower remained. An exotic plant with large fleshy leaves. Her friend gave it to her about two months ago.

— Paula, this is for you, — said Natalie, handing her the flower. — It’s so unusual, I think you’ll like it. My acquaintance brought it from South America.

— Oh, thank you, — replied Paula, — it’s really so beautiful. Paula took the pot with the exotic flower and, carefully pulling out the plant, began to examine the roots. — What’s this, — she whispered, noticing some strange object wrapped in cellophane and lying shallow in the soil right behind the stem.

Paula looked closer and froze. A miniature lens, no bigger than a shirt button, was staring right at her. It was a video camera.

It can’t be. She carefully pulled the find out of the soil and began to examine it. Apparently, it was a modern device capable of recording video and sound.

— Could it be Natalie? — whispered Paula, feeling betrayal burning her heart. — But why would she do this? What did I do to her? What a nightmare. Questions began to swarm in her head.

Or maybe she wanted to ruin our marriage with Anthony or was spying on us to find dirt. After all, such cameras are used for that. But who needs this? I’m just a doctor, treating sleep disorders.

No secrets. Or is it one of the patients, or maybe colleagues? Paula’s hands were shaking. Just what she needed.

Apparently, the fatigue and tension of recent days were taking their toll. — Shame to say. I’m a doctor, a certified specialist, and I have sleep problems myself.

And how can I treat patients after that? — whispered Paula sadly and, picking up the phone, dialed her friend’s number. — Natalie, hi, it’s Paula. — Hi, — replied Natalie.

— How are things? How’s Mikey, Anthony? — Overall fine. Mike’s at grandma’s, Anthony’s on a business trip. — Natalie, I need to talk to you.

It’s very important. — What happened? — Remember, you gave me the flower for my birthday, — asked Paula. — Yeah, I remember.

What’s wrong with it? Did it wilt? — Well, maybe from watering? They told me it doesn’t like moisture much, and it’s better not to water it, but to spray the leaves. — Natalie, it’s something else. I repotted it today, and you know what I found in the pot? — There was silence on the line.

— What? — Natalie finally asked. — There was a hidden camera, — replied Paula. — For surveillance, you understand? — There was silence on the line again.

— Seriously? What camera, Paula? I don’t understand anything. — Natalie, don’t pretend, — said Paula, feeling anger boiling inside. You knew about this.

You gave me this flower with a spying device. — Paula, what are you talking about? It’s not true, — exclaimed Natalie, — I didn’t know anything, I swear. — Then how did the camera end up in the pot? If not you, then who, why are they spying on me? — I don’t know, — Natalie cried into the phone, — I really don’t know anything.

Probably someone wants to turn us against each other. Yeah, and who is that? This is some madness. I need to do something.

I can’t just leave it like this. Who wants to turn us against each other? Who could I have crossed? — Paula, I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s some mistake. Paula was silent and didn’t know what to believe, and most importantly, what to do next.

— Paula, please believe me, — begged Natalie, — I’m your friend and would never hurt you. I don’t know what to think, Natalie. I’ll call back.

She hung up and sank into a chair, still looking at the miniature camera lying in the open drawer. Maybe call Anthony? A wild thought flashed in her head, but no, now is definitely not the time for panic, he’s on a business trip and needs support, not problems. Need to focus on work.

She slammed the drawer and, putting on her favorite pantsuit, left the apartment. «The day promises to be long,» thought Paula sadly, heading to the bus stop. There have been more patients lately, all with the same problem — sleep, or rather, its absence.

Approaching the crowded stop, Paula involuntarily plunged into her thoughts, and a picture from six months ago popped into her head. «How long ago that was and how much has changed since then,» she thought, remembering the meeting with Vanessa. The bus arrived, and Paula took a seat by the window; the road to the hospital seemed endless.

«I wonder how Vanessa is now? We haven’t seen each other for a long time. Need to meet sometime, sit in a cafe,» thought Paula, looking at the passing houses. And at that moment, she remembered that very day on the bus when they met.

«Sir, I really don’t have money, I left my wallet at home. Want me to leave my ID as collateral?» — Paula heard the worried voice of a girl. «I’m sorry, but I really need to get to the city.»

«She needs it. Everyone needs it.» «No money, then no ride…