Then my phone vibrated.

I looked down.

A message from Vanessa.

You don’t understand what Mom was trying to do.

I stared at the screen.

And then another message appeared.

You will regret this.

THE EVIDENCE

The next morning, I gave the police my statement.

Ryan stayed beside me the entire time.

My hands were cold.

My voice shook.

But I didn’t take anything back.

The officer listened carefully.

When I finished, he asked, “Did anyone else see what happened?”

“A nurse.”

I pointed toward the hallway.

“She came in immediately.”

He nodded.

“There were also visitors nearby.”

My stomach tightened.

“So they believe me?”

He looked at me.

“We’re investigating what happened. That’s all I can tell you right now.”

I understood.

They needed evidence.

Not emotion.

Not family arguments.

Evidence.

And apparently, we had more than I realized.

Later that morning, a hospital security officer showed us footage from the hallway.

The camera didn’t show everything inside the room.

But it showed my mother walking toward the equipment.

It showed Vanessa blocking my path.

And it showed the nurse rushing inside seconds later.

I watched the footage twice.

The second time, I couldn’t breathe.

Ryan reached for my hand.

“Don’t watch it again.”

“I need to.”