Chapter 02: Tragedy Strikes.

Annalise's POV

After cleaning the place, I rushed to the hospital where Derek was taken to. Mother had left me at home after calling Benson, my husband. In the car, I couldn't help but panic. I took Derek to school this morning, and he was fine. How could he have just collapsed?

When we reached the hospital, I rushed in before asking the lady behind the desk for directions. She showed me the way to Derek's room.

I barged in only to freeze. Looking around, I found mother, Benson, and father in the room. Mother was crying bitterly, I shook my head with my eyes closed,

"No," I muttered, my body trembling and soul unwilling to accept the truth before me.

I forced myself to move from where I stood by the door to the bed, it couldn't be my son that the doctor was covering with a white cloth. No!

"Doc… doctor? What is…. Is going on?" I stuttered.

"I'm sorry," he replied but I ignored him as I made my way to my boy. My son, my only son.

"Derek?" I called, taking the cloth off his face,

"Ma'am," a nurse called.

"Derek?" My voice was raspy and hoarse.

"What's happening?" I asked the Doctor, "Why isn't my boy responding?"

They all looked down at the ground, it was like I wasn't speaking to them. Tears continued to drop down my eyes,

"Derek!" I screamed this time, shaking him. Derek always responds to me when I call him, why isn't he speaking? He can't be dead. He can't

"Doctor, what the hell is going on?!?" I yelled, "He only collapsed in school, right? Why isn't he speaking?"

"Ma'am, you have to calm down," the doctor said.

"No, no, no!" I yelled as I tried to wake Derek up, shaking him. My body trembled, cold enveloped me, and my fingers were shaking. I couldn't hear the sound of anything anymore.

"Derek! Derek!" I cried falling on his small body. I pressed my face to his chest as I cried bitterly. Oh no, this wasn't the plan. This has never been the plan. How can I lose my son?

Soon, I felt a hand hold me saying,

"Annalise, you have to stop screaming like that" It was Benson my husband who was speaking,

I pulled my hand from his grip when I noticed he was trying to separate me from my son. I am going nowhere. He dare not try me. I am not staying away from my son.

"You have to take her out," the doctor said as he tried to cover Derek's face again with the cloth but I kept taking it off. My boy isn't dead, he can't die

"Ma'am Please…."

"Annalise, get the fuck up and get out of the room now!" Mother yelled. My eyes widened as I remained kneeling on the ground.

"Out where?" I asked like a mad woman, it is where Derek is that I would be also. So where should I go to?

"You are asking me such a question, you swine!?!" She yelled as she marched towards me. I didn't even have any time to move back or apologize, I was too weak to do anything.

"You bitch, you were the one who killed Derek!" She yelled and my eyes widened,

"What?" I choked on my saliva. Was she accusing me of killing my child?

I turned to Benson who was also staring back at me. He wasn't saying anything, he wasn't doing anything. He stared blankly at me. No emotions, no pain or grief.

"You think we will not know that you are the one who killed our son?"

Why would I do that? Why will I kill my child? Why will l kill my source of joy and my best friend? Why?

"Mother—"

"The doctor asked you to leave the room. Let's all go out" Benson said, causing me to turn my head to him. He wants me to leave my son?

"Benson—"

"Annalise, go out!" He ordered with a stern voice that made me tremble. I looked at my son who was already covered with a white cloth and burst into tears again. I do not know what to do, I feel lost right now.

My eyes were red already, and as I cried some more, I felt someone pull me aggressively from the ground. My eyes shot up to see Mother pulling me by the wrist out of the room

"Mother, wait. Wait", I cried but they all pulled me out of the hospital before throwing me to the ground as if I was dirt to them.

The pain in my heart knows no bounds as I continue to shed tears. I didn't bother to stand up as I cried,

"What a waste. You dare to kill your child. What a shame" Mother clicked her tongue. I was about to respond to her when I heard Benson ask,

"Is it true?" The question rang double time in her head when Benson asked it. It was okay hearing it from mother or father but from Benson?

"Benson, you think—"

"It's a question that demands an answer. Is it true what Mother is saying?" He asked again, breaking my heart. He was staring right back at me without a drop of tears in his eyes. I sniffed,

"Benson, I would never, never in my life. Derek is my son. I will never kill a stranger let alone my own son"

"We don't really know what that dark heart of yours is thinking. I will appreciate it if you tell the truth" Mother sneered. She doesn't look like someone who had cried just a while ago.

"Why then did you come late if you don't have a hand in his death?" Benson asked and I furrowed my brows, really? Wasn't he supposed to let me mourn first?

My eyes moved from my husband to his mother who was staring at her son. I was sweating already, my body shaking and on my knees, I said,

"Bens—"

"Shut up!" His mother yelled, "Answer the question!"

"I said no! I will never kill anyone! You're lying! I did not kill my son!!" I blaze, turning towards my mother-in-law, frustration, anger, and agony working hand in hand as I stared at her.

How can someone be so inhumane?!

“How dare you talk to my mother like that?!” Benson growled, and spun me around, his large rough palm connecting to my cheek which immediately led to my blackout.