Chapter 6: The Brother Who Finally Heard Her
Dr.
Vale’s case slipped against his leg.
Santiago stepped between him and Sophia.
“What did you give her?”
“Prescribed medication.”
“Prescribed by whom?”
“By me.
I am her physician.”
Sophia shook her head and signed.
Ruby translated.
“He told her the medicine would keep the bad memories away.
It made her unable to think.”
“That is not what she said,” Dr.
Vale snapped.
“You don’t understand sign language,” Ruby replied.
“How would you know?”
Elena reached for Santiago.
He pulled his arm away.
“Show me every prescription,” he said.
“Medical records are confidential.”
“I am her legal guardian.”
Elena’s voice turned quiet.
“Not anymore.”
She removed a folded document from her handbag.
Santiago read the first page, then looked up.
“What is this?”
“A temporary transfer of medical authority.
You signed it after your father’s funeral.”
“I signed permission for you to speak to doctors while I traveled.”
“The language is broader than that.”
“You told me it was routine.”
“You should have read it.”
Sophia stared at her brother.
Her hands moved once.
Ruby hesitated.
“She says Elena always told her you agreed.”
Santiago approached Sophia.
“I didn’t know.”
Sophia’s voice scraped from her throat.
“You didn’t ask.”
He stopped.
“You left me with her,” Sophia whispered.
“I thought she was helping you.”
“You chose her.”
Santiago’s knees touched the carpet.
“I chose what the doctors told me was safe.
I was wrong.”
Sophia pushed his hand away.
Her face crumpled, and Ruby wrapped both arms around her.
“I tried,” Sophia said into Ruby’s shoulder.
“Every day, I tried.”
“I know,” Ruby whispered.
A man in blue scrubs appeared in the doorway.
Dr.
Vale frowned at him.
“Owen, wait downstairs.”
The nurse remained where he was.
“No, doctor.”
Dr.
Vale’s eyes hardened.
“That was an instruction.”
Owen took a flash drive from his pocket and held it toward Santiago.
“These are Sophia’s medication logs.”
Elena stepped forward.
“You cannot release those.”
“I already did.”
“Why?” Santiago asked.
Owen looked at Sophia.
“Because she used to tap three times whenever Dr.
Vale increased her dose.
I told myself it meant nothing.”
Sophia tapped three times against Ruby’s wrist.
Owen swallowed.
“I was wrong.”
Dr.
Vale grabbed for the drive, but Santiago closed his fist around it.
“You are finished here,” Santiago said.
Dr.
Vale pointed at Sophia.
“If she deteriorates, it will be your fault.”
“She spoke after you put the syringe away,” Ruby replied.
Elena lifted her phone.
“The clinic transport is already outside.
Under the document Santiago signed, Sophia can be admitted for emergency observation.”
Two attendants appeared behind Owen.
Santiago blocked them.
“No one takes her.”
Elena held up the transfer order.
“Interfere, and I will have you removed from your own home.”
A uniformed officer entered with a court representative.
The representative examined the paper and turned to Santiago.
“Until a judge reviews this, Ms.
Voss has temporary authority.”
Sophia clung to Ruby as the attendants approached.
“Please,” Santiago said.
“Give me one hour.”
Elena’s expression did not change.
“You had seven years.”
Sophia was led toward the stairs.
May you like
At the front door, she turned back.
“Don’t let them erase me again.”
