Chapter 6 - The Hospital Room
Three days later, the sterile scent of antiseptic greeted me as I pushed open the door to Room 412 at City General Hospital.
Marlene sat propped up in bed, her left shoulder wrapped in thick white gauze. The yellow lemon oven mitt rested quietly on the bedside table like a bizarre relic of a war zone. When she saw me, her eyes softened with deep, aching sorrow.
“Claire,” she whispered, her voice raspy. “You came.”
I walked over, pulling a chair up beside her bed. I didn't say anything at first; I just poured a small cup of water and held the straw to her lips. She drank gratefully.
“I’m sorry,” Marlene said, her voice breaking. “For a long time, I wanted to believe him. It’s easier to believe your child is good than to accept the monster he’s become. I covered for him out of fear... and shame.”
“I know, Marlene,” I said softly, my hand resting gently over her uninjured fingers. “We both survived him.”
“Did they... did they deny the custody petition?” she asked anxiously.
“Instantly,” I nodded, a genuine smile finally breaking through the exhaustion on my face. “Maya filed the cloud files with the family court judge. The court appointed an emergency guardian ad litem for June, and all of Eli’s financial assets have been frozen pending the criminal trial. He’s being held without bail at the county detention center.”
Marlene closed her eyes, a heavy weight lifting off her frail shoulders. “Good. Let him face what he built.”
Just then, the door opened softly, and Maya poked her head in, holding a laughing, energetic June by the hand.
“Look who’s ready for pancakes!” Maya announced, holding up a greasy takeout bag from our favorite diner.
May you like
June ran straight to my side, throwing her arms around my neck. “Mommy, Aunt Maya said we can stay at her house with the big pool now, and Daddy’s not coming back, right?”
“No, sweetheart,” I said, kissing the top of her head as tears of absolute relief stung my eyes. “Daddy’s not coming back. We’re safe now.”
