Rebecca tried her best to avoid her mother as she walked around the apartment complex. Her father had gotten approval from the property manager to install a botanical garden in the middle of the complex, separating the building units. He hadn’t doubted that it would, adding that it would increase the property’s value, allowing the rent to be raised.

She looked at the upturned gravel and soil, the gardenia trees and rose bushes stacked along the wall, hidden in the shade. Her father was also installing a new sprinkler system to ensure the plants would survive the Florida heat.

What she really thought would be cool would have been a communal garden. But she had been outvoted by the complex. They wanted something easy, not something they would have to take care of.

Except they didn’t understand, roses and flowers, gardenias and orchids, they needed more care. The difference was that they looked prettier.

“Your father is an idiot.”

Rebeca flinched at the voice. Turning, she looked at her mother, who stared back at her, arms crossed, a scowl darkening her features.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, Mom? That’s all I get you unrateful girl.” Her mother began walking towards her. Rebecca faltered, swallowing, feeling the air shrink in around her.

“I’m going home.”

“Home!” Her mother stormed up to her, snatching her arm, yanking her close, nails digging into her flesh. “That place with that cheating bastard and homewrecker is not your home. Your home is with me.” Spit flew from her mouth, spraying onto Rebecca with vehemence. She tried to pull away, to get away from her mother. But as Becca yanked her arm against her mother’s pull, she hadn’t realized how close to the pit they were, slipping on the muddied ground, falling backwards.

Something hit her head hard. Everything was doubled, before descending into darkness.

***

The sound of beeping woke her. Slowly, Beccca opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She was in a hospital room, hooked up to a heart monitor, an IV attached to her left arm.

“Becca!” Her brothers’ arms flew around her. She winced at the loudness of his voice.

“Ow.”

“Becca, mijita.” She looked over at her father, who kissed her head.

“When Luci found you in the pit, we had no idea.”

Luci? “Where’s mom?”

“We called her, left a message. She hasn’t come.”

What? “How long?”

“A few hours we think. Luci was a mess. She was trying to rein in her panic attack, it was…” her brother broke off.

“Mom didn’t come?”

“No. Mija—”

“She just left me there?”

Her brother and father stared at her, confused.

“What?”

“Becca, repeat that.”

Before she could, the doctor walked in, a smile on their face.

“I see we’re awake!” The doctor leaned down, taking Becca’s chin in her hand. “How are we feeling?”

“Um, okay.”

“A little disoriented, I’m sure.” She pulled out a penlight and held it up to her face. “I want you to follow this light, please, don’t move your head, just your eyes.”

Becca did as she was told, blinking furiously, head pounding. “Good girl. Okay, you took a nasty bump to the head. Can you tell me how that happened?”

The doctor studied her, hands in her pockets. Becca considered lying, but her mother had just left her there.

“My mom.” She looked down at the scratches on her arms from her mother’s nails. “She was holding my arm, here,” she said, pointing to the scratches. “I just wanted to get away from her. So I yanked my arm away, and I guess that messed with my balance, so I fell backward.”

“I see. Mr. Sanches, can we talk for a moment?”

The doctor’s tone was suddenly somber. She watched her father leave the room with the doctor, stepping just outside the door frame. Becca closed her eyes, straining to eavesdrop.

“Is this the first time she’s hurt your daughter?”

“My wife—my ex-wife, sorry, we’re in the middle of a divorce. She’s always put her down, but no, she’s never physically hurt her.”

“Where is she living?”

“My daughter is currently living with me.”

“YOU understand that this is neglect, and in such cases, I have to contact child protective services.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

“Are you filing for sole custody?”

“No…I mean, I wasn’t. But now…Yes, I will be.”

“All right.” Becca opened her eyes as the doctor and her father reentered the room. The doctor seemed to be all smiles now, her serious demeanor gone. “You’ll have to stay overnight for observation. You seem to have a slight concussion, so I’m going to need you to stay awake all night.”

“Okay.”

“Now, there is a rather large group in the waiting room, all here for you. Shall we go get them?”

Moments later, Lucita was throwing her arms around her, still in her gym clothes. Silvia, Blake, Jason, Matt, and Cyrus were with her.

“Oh my god, Becca! Do you have any idea what kind of panic attack I had? I didn’t know what to do.” Luci sat on the bed, one leg crossed under her, pushing her glasses back up her nose.

“Dude, what happened?” asked Silvia, sitting beside her. Becca looked at her group of friends and told them.

“Your mother just left you there,” said Blake, disbelieving.

“I saw her,” said Luci. “She looked frantic. I was taking one of my prescribed runs and ran right by her.”

“So that means you found her not long after,” said Cyrus. Luci didn’t even acknowledge him.

“Thank god you were out there,” said Jason.

“Yeah, thank you, Luci.”

Luci rolled her eyes, cheeks turning red under the praise. “Pff, don’t even, dude. I’m just glad I found you.”

“So what’s the diagnosis?” asked Matt, arm around Cyrus. She was glad to see they were close again.

“They think I have a slight concussion, so I’m spending the night.” Just then, a nurse came in to let them know that visiting hours were ending. She checked Becca’s vitals real quick, then left.

“Mija, I’m going to drive them back home. I’ll be back soon.”

“Cyrus and I came together, so we’ll see you around.” Matt came over and leaned down to hug her. “Keep us updated, okay.”

They all left, one by one, waving goodbye, wishing her well, until it was just her and her brother.

“Mom just left you there?”

“Yeah.”

“And she did that to you?” he said, indicating her arm.

“Yeah.”

Ernesto let out a deep sigh. “Dad told me she’s been fighting for sole custody.”

Something like fear gripped her heart. “Oh. I had no idea.”

“Yeah. A bit surprising considering how she always spoke to you.”

“I think she’s just doing what she can to hurt dad.”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t believe she left me there.”

“She’s not getting anything. Not now.” They sat there in silence before he spoke again.

“You know, even growing up, I was never okay with the way she spoke to you. Like you weren’t good enough. It’s why I always tried to step in. I think sometimes I made it worse, distracting her with my shit.”

“It’s okay, I knew what you were trying to do.”

“Yeah. But, Becs, I want you to know, I think you are good enough, and I think Mom’s treatment of you was part of the reason Dad chose to leave. Carmilla, I think she just gave him the courage to finally do it. To leave and take you away from it all. You always were his favorite.” He grinned at her, holding her hand tightly.

“I love you,” she said, eyes brimming with tears.

“I love you too, Becs.” He wiped at his own tears. “Now, what should we watch. Looks like a Charmed marathon is on TV.”

“OG or remake?”

“OG.” “Sign me up then.”

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