To my horror, Ryan didn’t drive toward Target.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Why were they at the hospital? Was someone sick? Was Avery sick?
I parked a few rows back and watched.
Ryan and Avery got out of the car. They didn’t go straight inside. They stopped at the flower shop near the entrance. Avery came out a few moments later holding a bouquet. White lilies and yellow roses.
Then they walked into the main building.
I waited for about 30 seconds, then followed.
They stopped at the flower shop near the entrance.
***
The hospital lobby smelled of antiseptic and coffee.
I stayed far enough behind that they wouldn’t see me, but close enough that I wouldn’t lose them.
They got on the elevator. I watched the numbers light up. Third floor.
I took the stairs, my legs shaking.
When I reached the third floor, I peeked around the corner. Ryan and Avery were walking down the hallway. They stopped at a room near the end. Room 312.
I stayed far enough behind that they wouldn’t see me.
Ryan knocked softly. A nurse opened the door, smiled, and let them in.
The door closed behind them.
I stood there, frozen, trying to figure out what to do.
Who was in that room?
I waited 10 minutes. Finally, the door opened. Ryan and Avery came out. Avery’s eyes were red and puffy, and Ryan was comforting her.
I ducked into a supply closet until they passed.
Avery’s eyes were red and puffy.
Once they were gone, I walked to room 312. I reached for the door handle.
“Excuse me, ma’am.”
I turned. A nurse was standing behind me.
“Are you family?”
“I… yes. I’m his…”
“His what?”
Once they were gone, I walked to room 312.
I hesitated. “I don’t know who’s in there.”
The nurse frowned. “Then you can’t go in. Privacy regulations.”
“Please. My daughter was just in there. I need to know who…”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”
She walked away, leaving me standing in the hallway alone.
“I don’t know who’s in there.”
***
When I got home, Ryan and Avery were already there. Ryan was setting out pizza boxes on the counter.
“Hey! Where’d you go?” he asked casually.
“Just the store,” I lied. I didn’t confront them or mention the call from Avery’s school. “Get anything good?”
“No. Just looked around.”
Avery wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Get anything good?”
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept replaying everything in my head.
The whispered conversation.
The hospital. The flowers.
Avery’s red eyes. The school calling about absences.
Something was happening. Something big.
And my family was hiding it from me.
Something was happening. Something big.
***
The following day, Ryan made another excuse.
“I’m taking Avery to the library. She needs to work on that science project.”
I nodded. “Okay. Have fun.”
As soon as they left, I grabbed my keys again. This time, I wasn’t going to hide.
I wasn’t going to wait in the hallway. I was going to find out the truth.
I wasn’t going to hide
