Breathe

Outside the hospital room, Maya stood with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on the floor. Her face was pale but tight with anger. The white lights in the hallway buzzed faintly, but her mind was louder. She could still hear her son’s voice blaming her. She could still see his little body lying on the hospital bed.

Her husband Daniel, walked toward her, running a hand through his hair. He looked tired, but his face was calm. Too calm.

“She didn’t mean to hurt him,” Daniel said quietly. “It was a mistake.”

Maya looked up at him slowly. “A mistake?” Her voice was low but sharp. “She gave him cake. Cake, Daniel. After I told her again and again that he’s allergic.”

“She didn’t know the cake had eggs,” he replied.

“She shouldn’t have given him anything!” Maya snapped. “She’s not his mother. She shouldn’t feed him without asking me first.”

Daniel sighed. “You’re blowing this out of proportion. Lena was trying to help. You make it sound like she did it on purpose.”

Maya’s eyes widened. “Of course I don’t think she did it on purpose. But that doesn’t change what happened.”

“She’s a child specialist, Maya. You’re acting like she’s clueless.”

“I don’t care if she studied kids for ten years. She doesn’t know my son. I told her he was allergic.”

Daniel shook his head. “Maybe you should’ve watched him more closely.”

Maya froze. Her mouth slowly opened, stunned. “What… did you just say?”

“I’m just saying,” Daniel continued, “you know how serious his allergy is. You should’ve kept a better eye on him. You know Lena didn’t fully understand the risk.”

“Unbelievable,” Maya whispered. Her eyes filled with angry tears. “So now this is my fault? I’m the one to blame for what she did?”

Daniel didn’t answer.

“I was inside, Daniel. You brought her into our home. You let her take our son outside. And now I’m the problem?”

“I’m not trying to blame you,” he said quietly, but the damage was already done.

Maya turned her back to him, pressing her hand against the cold wall. Her heart hurt in a way she couldn’t explain. She had done everything to protect her child. How could Daniel not see that?

Just then, the doctor stepped out of the room with a clipboard in hand. His expression was calm but serious.

“Mr. and Mrs…?”

“Roberts,” Daniel replied.

The doctor gave a small nod. “Your son is stable now. The allergic reaction was caught in time. We gave him medication to reduce the swelling and stop the reaction.”

Maya let out a shaky breath. “Will he be okay?”

“He should be fine,” the doctor said gently. “But I’d like to keep him under observation for the next 24 hours. Just to be safe.”

Maya nodded. “Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much.”

Daniel gave a tight smile. “Thanks.”

As the doctor walked away, Maya opened the door quietly and stepped into the hospital room. The lights were dim, and the soft beeping of a machine filled the silence. Her son, Jamie, lay on the hospital bed with an oxygen mask over his face and a monitor clipped to his finger. His small body looked even smaller under the white blankets.

Maya sat beside him and gently brushed his hair back from his forehead.

“Mommy’s here,” she whispered. “You scared me so much. But you’re going to be okay.”

Jamie stirred and opened his eyes slowly. He looked at her for a moment, and then turned his head away.

Maya blinked. “Jamie?”

“You’re mean,” he said softly, his voice raspy. “You always shout at Auntie Lena. She’s nice.”

Maya’s heart dropped.

“What?” she asked, confused. “Jamie, baby, I’m not trying to be mean. I just—she gave you food you can’t have.”

“But I like Auntie Lena,” he said, pouting. “You always make her sad.”

Maya leaned back in her chair, completely stunned. Where had he gotten that idea? She had never said anything bad in front of him. Someone had been talking. Someone had been planting those thoughts in his little head.

She looked at the door just as it opened again. Lena walked in slowly, holding a small bag of toys. Her smile was nervous, and her eyes were filled with guilt.

“I’m so sorry,” Lena said, her voice trembling. “I swear, I didn’t know the cake had eggs. I checked the label, and it didn’t say. I thought it was safe.”

Maya stood up slowly, her jaw tight. She didn’t trust herself to speak yet.

“I really didn’t mean to hurt him,” Lena added. “I feel terrible.”

Daniel stepped beside Maya and said quickly, “We know. It’s okay, Lena. It was an accident.”

Maya turned her head sharply. You know? She wanted to scream. But she bit her tongue.

Lena looked at Maya, her tone soft. “I know you care about Jamie a lot. You’re doing your best. I just think… maybe you’re being a little too strict sometimes. Children need freedom too, or they feel caged.”

Maya’s fists clenched. “Is that your expert opinion?”

Lena backed up a step. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just saying—”

“You’ve said enough,” Maya said through her teeth. But before she could say more—

“Auntie Lena is nice!” Jamie cried from the bed. “Stop yelling at her!”

Maya turned to her son, her heart breaking all over again.

Lena rushed over to calm him. “It’s okay, sweetie. No one’s yelling. I’m right here.”

She patted his head, then turned back to Maya and Daniel.

“I feel terrible,” Lena said again. “And I want to make it right. I was thinking… maybe I could stay with you for a few days. Just to help take care of Jamie. I can cook for him, help with his medicine, keep him company while you work.”

Maya’s mouth opened in shock.

But Daniel nodded before she could even speak.

“That might actually be helpful,” he said. “You know what you’re doing. And Jamie clearly likes having you around.”

Maya’s voice came out like a whisper. “Are you serious?”

“She’s offering to help,” Daniel said. “Let’s not fight about it.”

“She put him in the hospital, and now you want her to move in?”

“It was an accident, Maya,” he said firmly. “You’re overreacting again.”

Maya looked at them both. Her husband and the woman who nearly killed her son—standing there like they were doing her a favor.

Her hands were shaking. She felt like she was standing alone in a room full of people who didn’t hear her, didn’t see her, didn’t care.

Her eyes moved to Jamie. He was smiling now, talking softly to Lena as she handed him a toy.

Maya blinked back tears and walked out of the room.

She needed air.

She needed to breathe before she screamed.