Chapter 16 - Under Oath
The hearing was held in a small courtroom with pale walls and a clock that made too much noise. I wore flat shoes because my legs still shook after climbing stairs. Daniel sat behind me, not beside me. That had been my choice.
Beatriz arrived with two relatives and a folder thick enough to look important. She told the judge that I'd been depressed, careless, and hostile toward family members. She described the bleeding as something she'd discovered and immediately acted upon.
"I saved her life," she said.
For one second I couldn't hear anything except my pulse. Surviving had not freed me from that room.
Lena touched the table. "We'll answer that with evidence."
Ruth testified about arriving at the house, seeing the amount of blood, hearing Beatriz resist the emergency call. The responding EMT's report recorded my condition and the timeline I'd given. The school principal's statement explained why Beatriz had been refused permission to take Alma. Hospital staff confirmed I had disavowed the signatures on both forms.
Beatriz shook her head through it all. "Misunderstandings. Every family has them."
Then Lena asked about my phone.
"Did you take it from Mariana's bedside?"
"She was using it too much."
"Did you return it when she became ill?"
"I didn't know she was ill."
"You heard her calling from upstairs, correct?"
Beatriz looked at Daniel. He kept his eyes on the front of the room.
"She called for me all the time," Beatriz said.
"And you decided not to check?"
The judge leaned forward. "Mrs. Hernández, please answer the question directly."
Beatriz's voice dropped. "I thought she wanted attention."
May you like
That was the first time she'd admitted it in front of anyone who could hold her to the words.
Lena opened another document. "Your Honor, there's one more person who asked to speak about what was happening in that house."
