The specialist came in early the next morning.
He reviewed the scans.
Then he looked at me.
“Emma, we believe you’ve been experiencing a serious cardiopulmonary problem.”
I didn’t understand.
“What does that mean?”
“We need additional testing.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“It can be.”
My mother immediately spoke.
“But she’s only eighteen.”
The specialist nodded.
“I know.”
Mom looked at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I stared at her.
“I did.”
She opened her mouth.
I continued.
“Every time I couldn’t breathe.”
Silence.
“You told me to stop pretending.”
Mom looked down.
The specialist quietly said,
“She was trying to tell you.”
Part 8 — The Call
Later that morning, a social worker came to speak with me.
She asked whether I felt safe going home.
I hesitated.
Then I said,
“I don’t know.”
My mother overheard.
“What does that mean?”
The social worker looked at her.
“It means we need to discuss Emma’s home environment.”
Mom became defensive.
“This is ridiculous.”
Daniel stepped into the room.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
He continued,
“It isn’t ridiculous.”
He looked at me.
“I should have taken you seriously too.”
My eyes filled with tears.
Daniel sat beside my bed.
“I heard you coughing at night.”
I stared at him.
“You did?”
He nodded.
“I thought you had allergies.”
Mom interrupted.
“She does.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“We all kept explaining away what she was telling us.”
Part 9 — Uncle Ray
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