Chapter 2 - The Doctor's Discovery
Blood poured down Patricia's face as she collapsed dramatically onto the bedroom floor.
I was too focused on keeping Hannah breathing to care about my mother's psychotic theatrical performance.
The piercing sound of ambulance sirens echoed down our quiet suburban street mere minutes later.
Paramedics swarmed into the bedroom, immediately loading Hannah onto a rolling stretcher.
I carried Owen tightly in my arms, following the medical team out to the flashing vehicles.
When we arrived at the hospital, they rushed Hannah straight into the emergency trauma unit.
I paced the sterile waiting room for what felt like an absolute eternity.
Finally, a tall man in a white coat approached me with a grim expression on his face.
He introduced himself as Dr. Evans, the chief attending physician.
"Mr. Parker, your wife is currently stabilized, but she is suffering from severe dehydration and chemical sedation," he explained.
I felt the blood drain completely from my face.
"Chemical sedation?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.
Dr. Evans nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing with deep professional suspicion.
"I also saw the deep, fresh bruises on her wrists during the physical examination," he stated firmly.
He took a step back and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I have a legal obligation to report suspected domestic abuse, so I just called the police," Dr. Evans revealed.
Before I could even thank him for taking the situation seriously, the heavy double doors of the waiting room burst open.
Two uniformed police officers marched directly toward me, resting their hands on their duty belts.
Behind them walked my mother, her head wrapped in thick white medical gauze.
She pointed a trembling, accusatory finger directly at my chest.
"That is the man who beat me and tried to kill his own wife before he left for his trip!" Patricia sobbed flawlessly.
The taller police officer immediately grabbed my shoulder and shoved me forcefully against the wall.
He ordered me to put my hands behind my back because I was officially under arrest for aggravated assault.
I screamed that she was lying, but the cold steel of the handcuffs snapped tightly around my wrists.
May you like
Through the chaos, I saw a woman in a sharp gray suit step out of the hospital elevator.
She flashed a Child Protective Services badge and told the nurses she was taking emergency custody of my son.
