Chapter 1: The Red Backpack
“She's exaggerating.””
Monica Hayes said it without even looking at the child crying beside the hospital bed.
Jasmine was on her knees, one hand pressed against her stomach, the other gripping the edge of the examination bed so hard her knuckles had gone white.
Andre stared at his wife.
For half a second, he didn't understand what he'd heard.
Then Jasmine whimpered.
“Dad…”
Andre was beside her instantly.
“Hey, hey. I'm here.”” He lowered himself to the floor, one hand hovering near her shoulder.
“Look at me, baby. Breathe.””
Jasmine's braided hair had come loose around her face. Tears streaked down her cheeks, catching the bright fluorescent light of the examination room.
“It hurts,” she whispered.
“I know.””
“It really hurts.””
“I know, Jasmine.””
Behind them, Monica remained near the medical cart, beige blouse perfectly pressed, phone still in her hand.
Her thumb moved across the screen.
Andre looked up.
“Monica, put the phone away.””
She finally lifted her eyes.
“I'm trying to handle something.””
“Our daughter is on the floor.””
“She was fine twenty minutes ago.””
Andre's jaw tightened.
“That doesn't mean she's fine now.””
Before Monica could answer, Nurse Tasha entered the room carrying a blood-pressure cuff.
“What happened?””
Andre looked toward her.
“She suddenly grabbed her stomach and dropped to her knees.””
Tasha immediately crouched beside Jasmine.
“Hi, sweetheart. I'm Tasha. Can you tell me where it hurts?””
Jasmine pointed toward her lower stomach.
Tasha nodded calmly.
“Okay. We're going to get you onto the bed.””
She slipped an arm carefully behind Jasmine's back.
“Easy. One step at a time.””
Jasmine stood, trembling.
Then she suddenly grabbed Tasha's wrist.
Her eyes shot toward the chair beside the wall.
The red backpack.
“Please…”
Tasha stopped.
“Please what?””
Jasmine swallowed.
“Don't let Mom take it.””
The room went strangely quiet.
Andre slowly turned his head.
Monica had stopped moving.
Her phone lowered from her hand.
“What did you say?”” Andre asked.
Jasmine stared at the red backpack.
“Please don't let Mom take it.””
Monica's face changed.
Not dramatically.
Not enough that anyone unfamiliar with her would notice.
But Andre knew his wife.
He saw the color drain from her cheeks.
Then Monica moved.
“Jasmine, give me that bag.””
Her voice was suddenly sharp.
Jasmine recoiled.
Andre stood.
“Monica.””
“Give me the bag.””
“Why?””
“I said give it to me.””
Tasha looked between them.
“Ma'am, please step back.””
Monica ignored her.
She crossed the room quickly and reached for the chair.
Andre stepped directly in front of it.
“What are you doing?””
“Move.””
“No.””
“Andre, move.””
“Why do you want Jasmine's backpack?””
Monica's breathing changed.
“I need to check what's inside.””
“Why?””
“Because I'm her mother.””
Andre didn't move.
Jasmine was now sitting on the examination bed, watching them with frightened eyes.
Tasha placed the blood-pressure cuff around her arm.
“Jasmine, keep your arm still for me.””
Monica reached around Andre.
He caught her wrist.
“Don't.””
She stared at his hand.
“Let go of me.””
“Tell me what's in the bag.””
“Nothing.””
Jasmine whispered from the bed.
“Dad…”
Andre looked back.
“Yeah?””
“Look inside.””
Monica froze.
Andre turned toward the red backpack.
For the first time, he noticed how tightly it had been zipped.
He picked it up.
Monica's voice cracked.
“Andre, don't.””
That was enough.
He looked at her.
Then at the bag.
Then back at her.
“Why shouldn't I?””
“Because it's private.””
“It's our daughter's.””
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
Andre pulled the zipper open.
Monica took one step forward.
“Andre.””
He reached inside.
Jasmine's eyes squeezed shut.
Tasha stopped adjusting the cuff.
Andre's fingers touched something hard.
He pulled it out.
A small prescription bottle.
Then a folded medical document.
Both landed in his palm.
Monica's face went completely pale.
Andre stared at the label.
PATIENT: MONICA HAYES.
His eyes lifted slowly.
“Why was this in Jasmine's bag?””
Monica opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
May you like
And for the first time since they'd entered the hospital, Andre realized his daughter hadn't been afraid of being sick.
She'd been afraid of what he would find.
