The boy plummeted from the tenth story, brushing against a tree that slightly softened his descent before hitting the grassâlifeless.
It was a young life that Dulce, despite her valiant efforts, could not rescue. Disregarding her own bruises, she rose, stumbled, and with tears clouding her vision, moved toward the shrubbery.
The crowd formed a circle around the scene.
âOh my God! How could a child just fall like that?â
âQuick, see if heâs breathing!â
âDonât touch him! You might make it worse!â
âSomeone call an ambulance, now!â
Dulce seized the arm of one of the speakers, her words deliberate and spaced. âCall the police.â
In a frenzy, Crowell descended the stairs, agony etched across his face, clad only in his slippers. Upon seeing his son amidst the foliage, he tore at his hair in despair.
âAhhh!â Crowell screamed, lost his footing, and collapsed beside his son.
The boyâs face was smeared with blood from his injuries.
Struggling to maintain his composure, Crowell crawled over the grass to cradle his sonâs still form, looking to the heavens and beating his legs in anguish. âAh!â While some offered words of comfort and others directed the chaos, only Dulce remained observant of Crowell, engulfed in his sorrowful display.
It wasnât as it seemed.
She had witnessed the truth herself.
Crowell had deliberately dropped his son.
Fiona paused at her office to phone Crowell and inquire about their son. Earlier that day, she had intended to leave him with the nanny. But Crowell had arrived, eager to spend time with their son.
Their son was the bond that still united them, despite their divorce. She was reluctant to interact with Crowell further, yet he remained the father of her child. After some hesitation, Fiona consented, swayed by Crowellâs sincere demeanor.
Having finished her tasks, she attempted to check if her son had eaten, but her calls went unanswered. Distracted throughout the afternoon, she decided to leave early to fetch her son.
She drove her usual route, effortlessly and with confidence.
At a stoplight, her phone rang. It was Crowell.
âCrowell, whereâs our son? Iâm on my way to pick him up. Has he eaten yet?â
âWhat did you give him to eat?â Fiona inquired. âOur son is gone.â
Fiona was perplexed. âWhat did you just say?â
âOur son is dead.â
Her son was dead.
Crowellâs voice was laden with gravity, but to Fiona, it sounded almost flippant. âWhat game are you playing? Donât you dare try to take our son away from me! What kind of father speaks of his child that way? Crowell, Iâm losing my patience. Give me my son back now!â
Crowell didnât respond, but the heart-wrenching sobs of his parents echoed in the background.
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