Chapter 2
I had never seen my father look at my mother the way he did that afternoon.
He wasn't shouting.
He wasn't threatening anybody.
He was simply staring at her as though he couldn't recognize the woman standing in front of him.
Dr. Bennett asked everyone to remain calm.
“Marcus, I need you to sit with Malik. Denise, I'd like to speak with you separately.”
My mother immediately shook her head.
“Why?”
“Because I need to understand exactly what he's been consuming.”
“I already told you. It's a nutritional drink.”
“What brand?”
She hesitated.
“It's homemade.”
Dad slowly turned.
“Homemade?”
Mom nodded.
“It's just something I prepare for him.”
“What do you put in it?”
“Vitamins. Protein. Natural ingredients.”
Dr. Bennett pulled out a notebook.
“Which vitamins?”
Mom began naming a few.
But she couldn't remember all the ingredients.
The doctor asked her to write down everything she used.
She kept looking at Dad.
Finally, he spoke.
“Why are you struggling to answer a simple question?”
“Because you're making me nervous!”
“Your son is lying in a hospital bed.”
“I KNOW THAT!”
Her sudden scream made me jump.
Dad immediately moved closer to my bed.
“Lower your voice.”
Mom covered her mouth.
For a moment, she looked almost sorry.
Then she turned toward the doctor.
“Can I talk to you privately?”
Dr. Bennett nodded.
He asked Dad to stay with me while he and Mom stepped outside.
The door closed.
I watched my father's face.
“Dad?”
He looked down.
“I'm right here.”
“Am I going to die?”
His expression shattered.
He pulled his chair closer.
“No, Malik. Listen to me. You're going to get the care you need.”
“But the doctor looked scared.”
“He's being careful.”
I swallowed.
“Did Mom do something bad?”
Dad didn't answer immediately.
He took my hand.
“I don't know yet, buddy.”
I looked at the ceiling.
I wanted to believe that.
But I remembered the mornings when I told Mom the drink tasted strange.
She always said the same thing.
It was good for me.
It would make me stronger.
And if I refused, she became angry.
Sometimes she stood beside me until I finished every drop.
I had never told Dad.
I thought he would get upset because Mom said the drink was expensive.
The door opened.
Dr. Bennett returned alone.
“Your mother is speaking with another member of our medical team.”
Dad stood.
“What's happening?”
“We've collected the remaining drink samples from your home through the appropriate process, and we're reviewing the ingredients she reported.”
“Can you tell me what's wrong with my son?”
“His body shows signs of a possible ongoing exposure. We need further testing before identifying the substance.”
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“How long?”
“We can't establish that yet.”
I looked at the doctor.
“Can I go home?”
He gave me a gentle smile.
“Not today, Malik. We need to monitor you.”
Dad squeezed my hand.
“You're staying right here with me.”
A nurse arrived to take another sample.
While she worked, I remembered something.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Mom made the drink different last week.”
He immediately leaned closer.
“How?”
“She started adding something from a little bottle.”
“What bottle?”
“It was dark. I don't know.”
“Did you see the label?”
I shook my head.
“She told me not to touch it.”
Dad looked at Dr. Bennett.
The doctor made a note.
“That's important information.”
Then he asked me another question.
“Did anyone else drink it?”
“No.”
“Did your mother?”
I shook my head again.
“She said adults didn't need it.”
Dad closed his eyes.
I knew he was trying not to show how frightened he was.
A few minutes later, a hospital social worker entered.
Her name was Mrs. Williams.
She introduced herself and explained that because I was a minor and the doctors had concerns about possible repeated exposure to something harmful, the hospital needed to follow its safeguarding procedures.
Dad nodded.
“Whatever you need to do.”
Mom returned shortly afterward.
Her eyes were red.
She stood near the door.
“Malik, sweetheart.”
I looked at her.
“Why did you make me drink it?”
Her face tightened.
“Because I wanted you to be healthy.”
“Then why did it hurt?”
She looked toward Dad.
“Marcus, please.”
He stood between us.
“Answer him.”
“I didn't know it would make him sick.”
Dr. Bennett entered again.
“Mrs. Carter, we need the name of every product you used.”
Mom nodded.
But then she said something that made Dad freeze.
“I wasn't the one who told me to give him that formula.”
The room became silent.
Dad stared at her.
“Who did?”
Mom's lips trembled.
“My sister.”
Aunt Rochelle.
I hadn't seen her in almost two months.
Dad's expression changed.
“What does Rochelle have to do with this?”
Mom looked down.
“She said it would help Malik.”
Dr. Bennett stepped closer.
“Mrs. Carter, we need to know exactly what she gave you.”
Mom covered her face.
May you like
Then she whispered something I never expected to hear.
“She said nobody would ever know.”
