That day my sister called me early in the morning. She had only recently become a mom, was tired, sleep-deprived, and asked a favor — to watch the baby for a couple of hours while she got some rest.
Of course, I agreed. My daughter and I adored her newborn little one.
My six-year-old daughter was excited from the very beginning — she rocked the baby, stroked her head, sang lullabies.
Everything was calm and even pleasant: a quiet day, children’s laughter, the smell of milk and diapers.
But after a few hours the baby woke up and began to cry loudly. I realized it was time to change the diaper.
My daughter enthusiastically offered to help — she always wants to be “grown-up,” especially when there’s a baby around.
I spread a clean diaper on the bed, carefully laid the baby on it, and unfastened the diaper.
At that moment my daughter suddenly frowned, froze, and quietly asked, pointing her finger at my niece:
— Mom… what is that?
I looked where she was pointing — and inside me everything went cold from what I saw 
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There were bluish-purple marks on the baby’s tummy and legs. As if someone had squeezed or hit her very hard.
I froze.
— Sweetheart… did… did you do this? — I barely managed to say.
— No, Mom, I only kissed her, — she answered with a trembling voice, already almost in tears.
I felt a chill run down my spine. I immediately called my sister. When she answered, I told her what I had found. She was silent for a long time, and then suddenly said calmly:
— It was me…
I didn’t understand right away what she meant.
— What — you?..
— I did it… I just couldn’t handle it. She cried all night. I didn’t sleep, didn’t eat… I didn’t want to, I just snapped.
I sat in silence, not knowing what to say. My chest tightened with pain and fear. In front of my eyes was her tired, exhausted smile.
And I understood — my sister wasn’t a monster. She was simply burned out, confused, and there was no one beside her who would notice in time how badly she was doing.
After that conversation, I started visiting her almost every day. I would take the baby to my place so she could sleep, go for a walk, just be a person, not a constantly anxious mother.
Sometimes I remember that day and think how terrifyingly close she was to the edge. And how important it is that in such moments there is at least someone who can lend a shoulder in time.
