Chapter 3

3.

The nurses and other families around us started whispering.

"Looks like the stepmom isn't as caring as the real mom. Poor kid."

Perhaps noticing my icy glare, she quickly changed her tune.

"Sarah, don't get the wrong idea, that's not what I meant. I was just so worried about him. It breaks my heart to see him in pain."

I went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face, trying to calm myself.

He was suffering like this to escape me, to be with his Aunt Emily.

From age three until now. Six whole years...

When I returned, I was about to push the door open when I heard laughter from inside the room.

"Daddy, I want to stay with Aunt Emily for a few more days."

He said it so sweetly. Emily looked at David with hopeful eyes.

David refused without a second thought.

"No. It was dangerous enough for you to come running over here this time. I told you, we can't let Sarah find out about this."

Emily bit her lip, pouting.

"Just this once, please? We just have to make sure Sarah doesn't see. I'll leave as soon as I'm sure he's okay. I only get to see him for three months a year. What's a few more days?"

David stared into her eyes and finally gave in.

"Just this once."

I laughed bitterly to myself. Standing outside the door, I felt like the other woman trying to break up a happy family.

A doctor came in to do his rounds. He looked at David and asked a few questions about Leo's allergy history. David didn't know a single answer. The doctor was getting annoyed.

"What is the child's prior history of allergic reactions? What antihistamines has he used before? What were his most severe symptoms of shock… Don't you know these things as his parents?"

Emily wrung her hands awkwardly. David was secretly texting me for help from his pocket.

Just then, I pushed the door open.

"Talk to me. I'm..."

Never mind.

I expertly recited Leo's entire medical history and medication contraindications to the doctor. After all, I carried him for nine months. I couldn't stand to watch him suffer.

Back in the room, Emily made a show of getting ready to leave.

Leo looked at me and suddenly burst into tears.

"No! No! I want Aunt Emily!"

His piercing cries echoed through the room. I knew what this was. They were putting on a show.

They wanted me to leave so they could have their space.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I fought them back. I took one last, long look at Leo.

"Fine. I won't be back."

That night, my head was splitting. In a haze, I instinctively called David.

He rushed home immediately, getting me water and feeding me my pills.

"Don't blame the kid. It's just the novelty of it all. In a few days, he'll be crying for his mommy again. You should use this chance to get some rest. You look like you've wasted away."

He saw that my breathing had steadied and was about to head back to the hospital.

But over the next few days, I became incredibly drowsy. When I was awake, I had a bitter taste in my mouth and sharp, twisting pains in my stomach.

I forced myself to get up and go to the hospital alone.

My family doctor looked at my pale face with concern.

"Sarah, have you changed your medication? Your old antidepressant was working so well for you. You shouldn't switch without consulting me."

I shook my head. I always carried my pills with me, still in the same orange prescription bottle.

But the doctor took the bottle, ran a quick test in the lab, and found something wrong.

"The composition is very similar to Ambien. Aren't you intolerant to this type of medication? I prescribed it for you once before when your insomnia was severe, and you had these exact side effects. Your sleep is fine now, who switched your prescription?"