Michael dropped beside her. Her breathing was uneven, and one wrist bent at a painful angle. Behind him, Vanessa spoke quietly.
“It was an accident.”
Michael looked up slowly.
He had seen the push.
The ambulance arrived quickly, but the wait felt endless. Michael rode beside Sophie, gripping her cold hand while paramedics asked questions. At the hospital, doctors rushed her through scans and tests. She had a concussion and a small fracture in her wrist but would recover.
Relief never came. Anger burned inside him.
Vanessa arrived late that night and approached Sophie’s room. Michael blocked the door.
“It was an accident,” she whispered again.
“I saw you,” he said.
For the first time, Vanessa looked afraid.
The next morning a hospital social worker spoke gently with Sophie. Because the injury happened at home, questions were necessary.
At first Sophie answered carefully. Yes, Vanessa had argued with her. Yes, she was scared. Then the social worker asked, “Has she hurt you before?”
Sophie stared down at the blanket.
Then she nodded.