Chapter 3 - The Damage Done
The ambulance ride was a blur of flashing red lights and sterile smells. Dr. Evans rode in the back with us, communicating in rapid medical shorthand with the paramedics.
When we arrived at the ER, they whisked Lily away for immediate X-rays. I was left standing in the cold hallway, staring at the blood on my shirt from where she had bitten her own lip in pain.
Dr. Evans emerged twenty minutes later. He looked exhausted.
"The graft held, barely," he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "But the sudden torque caused a hairline fracture just above the surgical site, and the soft tissue is severely inflamed. I’m admitting her. I’ll have to take her back into the OR tomorrow morning to relieve the pressure and reinforce the hardware."
My knees buckled. I grabbed the wall to steady myself. "Another surgery?"
"I'm sorry," Dr. Evans said gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. "But I promise you, I will fix this. However, you have another problem waiting in the lobby."
I walked out to the waiting room. Two uniformed police officers were standing near the admission desk, waiting for me.
"Sir, we need to take your statement regarding the incident at the residence," the older officer said.
May you like
I took a deep breath, thinking of Vanessa's smug face, my father's annoyance, and my mother's obsession with her image.
"I want to press full charges," I said clearly. "Assault, battery, and child endangerment."
