Sapphire Eyes ~ 10 Chapter Challenge

Ten Years Before the Letter

The counter is covered with lots of things. A pan, toaster, papers and envelopes, a bowl. I reach down and pull the toaster over, put one foot up. It feels sturdy. I hold onto the cabinet and step up, reach for the box, and grab it.

Something goes wrong, and the toaster moves underneath me. My feet hit the counter. I fall backward and spin upside down, and then the world turns off.

Child Social Services ~ Deb

A lady storms through the E.R. doors. She has a little girl in her arms, held awkwardly away from her body. The poor little thing. She looks about five years old, malnourished, in need of a bath and a hairbrush. The faint smell of urine fills the air as the two approach the counter. The lady looks bedraggled, anxious, and rather out of it.

"There's something the matter with her." She sets the child on the counter and holds her up. The poor girl can barely keep her head straight.

"Curtain three is open. Bring her back." I walk around the counter and lead the lady back. She practically drops the child on the bed and then rubs her hands on her jeans. "When did it start?" I check the girl's pupils, which are slightly dilated, and take her pulse. She pulls back from my touch... Eighty-four beats per second.

"Uh." The lady gazes away and makes a strange gesture. "I only left her alone for a minute and..." She runs her hand through her hair. Her fingers get caught, and she yanks them free. "I think she fell and hit her head. There was a big racket."

Hmm, I'm not buying it. "What's her name?"

"Mirna."

I lean down and give the girl a warm, friendly smile. She locks eyes with me, but looks away. "Hi Mirna, my name is Deb. I'm a nurse. I'm going to try to make you feel better, okay?"

Mirna nods at the wall.

"It would help if you can tell me what happened." I pause, but Mirna avoids my eyes and acts like she didn't hear me. "Do you remember anything?"

She shakes her head.

"Does it hurt anywhere?"

She bends her head forward and points at the back of her head.

"She might have hit her head," I say to the lady, the mother I'm guessing. "She lost bladder control."

"She was like that when I found her." The lady crosses her arms and practically glowers down at the girl.

"Well, Mirna, let's get you cleaned up, and then I'll have Dr. Adams come see you, okay?" I pull back the curtain and carefully lift Mirna to sit up. I ease her shirt off, a cute little white shirt with a pink bunny. My goodness, it's dirty. I slide a hospital gown over her and then take off her soiled pants and toss them in a garment bag. "There you are." I let her back against the bed. "Now don't be afraid, we'll fix you right up, okay?"

Mirna nods, but that frown is stuck on her face.

"It'll be just a moment." I walk back to the front desk to grab a chart, but like an automatic response, I set it back down and pick up the phone to call Child Social Services.

Blunt ~ Mia Conlins

"You can't do this!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "I'm her mother! What right do you have to take my child from me?!"

"Momma!" Miri cries. She wriggles and squirms in the lady's arms. "Momma!" She stretches out her little hand for me, but the security guard bars my way. She's so scared and alone, and I can't help her. It breaks my heart.

"Ma'am, we have sound evidence that you have been neglecting—"

"Don't you ma'am me!" I interrupt her. "I would never hurt my baby! Now give her back before I call the police!"

"Momma!" Miri sobs.

"The police are already on their way," the security guard says in a low rumbling voice. "Cooperate now and you might get your little girl back."

That means there's a chance I couldn't get Miri back. I take a big breath and nod.

A doctor runs up to us and holds out a black film, maybe an x-ray. "There are signs of blunt trauma to the head, a few hairline fractures."

The social worker hoists Miri up on her hip and says, "That's evidence of abuse. Remove her immediately."

"I'm sorry," the security guard mumbles. He takes me by the arms to the door.

"Momma!" Miri whines.

"No!" I shout. "I didn't hurt my baby. I'd never hurt her. It was an accident. She fell and hit her head, I swear!"

"Yeah, yeah, tell it to the judge." He shoves me into the hallway just as a real police officer arrives with his hand cuffs already out and ready for me.

"Youhave the right to remain silent," he says bluntly, and he cuffs me.

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1,600 Words