Chapter 2: What Jasmine Knew
Tasha pulled the examination curtain halfway around the bed.
“Jasmine, I’m going to press gently on your stomach,” she said.
“Tell me if anything hurts.””
“Okay.””
Andre stayed beside the bed.
Monica remained across the room.
Too far away.
Too quiet.
Tasha placed her hand against Jasmine’s abdomen.
“Here?””
Jasmine flinched.
“There?””
“Yes.””
Tasha nodded.
“Okay. And here?””
Jasmine shook her head.
“No.””
“Good. You’re doing great.””
Andre watched his daughter’s face.
She looked exhausted.
Ten years old.
Braids slightly loose from crying.
Yellow hoodie bunched around her waist.
She looked impossibly small beneath the bright hospital lights.
Andre reached for her hand.
Jasmine grabbed his fingers.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“Are you mad at me?””
His chest tightened.
“No.””
“But I took it.””
“Took what?””
Jasmine looked toward Monica.
Monica immediately spoke.
“Jasmine, stop.””
Andre turned.
“Let her finish.””
Monica folded her arms.
“She’s confused.””
Jasmine whispered, “I’m not.””
Andre squeezed her hand.
“Tell me what you took.””
Jasmine looked at the red backpack.
“The bottle.””
Monica closed her eyes.
Andre’s voice became quieter.
“Why?””
“I thought it was medicine.””
“It is medicine.””
“I know.””
Andre frowned.
“How do you know?””
Jasmine stared at the blanket.
“Because Mom gave it to me.””
The room seemed to shrink.
Andre slowly looked at Monica.
“You gave our daughter your prescription?””
Monica’s eyes flashed.
“No.””
Jasmine started crying again.
“Yes.””
“No, Jasmine.””
“Yes!””
The little girl's voice cracked.
“I didn’t know what else to do!””
Tasha immediately moved closer.
“Jasmine, take a breath.””
Andre turned toward Monica.
“What did you give her?””
“Nothing.””
“She just said—”
“She’s frightened, Andre!””
“Then why does she have your bottle?””
“I don’t know.””
Andre pointed toward the chair.
“It has your name on it.””
Monica looked away.
“I must have left it there.””
“In her backpack?””
“I said I don’t know.””
Andre took a slow breath.
“Then why did you try to grab it?””
Monica said nothing.
“That’s what I don’t understand.””
Still nothing.
Tasha carefully opened the folded medical document.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then she stopped.
Andre noticed.
“What?””
Tasha folded it again.
“I think we should have a physician review this.””
Monica stepped forward.
“No.””
Tasha looked at her.
“Mrs. Hayes—”
“No.””
Her voice was sharper now.
Andre turned toward her.
“Why not?””
“Because it’s mine.””
“Then take it.””
Monica didn't answer.
Andre walked toward the document.
She stepped in front of him.
“Don't.””
Andre stopped.
“Move.””
“Please.””
That word changed everything.
Monica had not begged him in years.
Not once.
Andre studied her face.
“What's on the paper?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because you'll hate me.””
Jasmine made a small sound from the bed.
Andre turned.
She was staring at Monica.
“Mom,” Jasmine whispered, “you promised.””
Monica's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
Andre slowly looked back at his wife.
“What did she promise?””
Monica wiped beneath one eye.
“Nothing.””
“Jasmine?””
The girl shook her head.
“I can't.””
Andre crouched beside her.
“You don't have to be scared of me.””
“I’m not scared of you.””
“Then what are you scared of?””
Jasmine looked at Monica.
Her voice dropped.
“I'm scared of what happens if Dad finds out.””
Monica covered her mouth.
Andre stood.
He could hear the monitor beside the bed.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Then his phone vibrated.
He pulled it from his pocket.
An unknown number.
One message.
*ASK MONICA WHERE SHE WAS LAST NIGHT.*
Andre stared at the screen.
Monica saw it.
Her face went completely still.
“Who sent that?”” she whispered.
Andre raised his eyes.
“I was about to ask you the same thing.””
Monica took one step backward.
Then another.
And suddenly someone knocked on the examination-room door.
Three slow knocks.
Tasha looked up.
Andre turned.
Monica whispered one sentence.
May you like
“Please don't open it.””
The handle began to turn.
