I found 30 red spots on my husband’s back that looked like insect eggs.

The morning sun had just begun to spill through the kitchen blinds when I noticed it again — the way David winced as his shirt brushed against his back.

At first, I thought it was nothing — maybe an insect bite, or the summer heat causing a rash. But over the weeks, his discomfort grew. Every night, he’d scratch absentmindedly until his skin turned red. Our bedsheets were peppered with tiny lint marks from his nails.

“Maybe it’s the new detergent,” I suggested once, trying to sound casual as I passed him the oatmeal.