His jaw tightened.
He began gathering the dishes.
That was when he noticed the counter.
There was a small plastic bag sitting beside the sink.
It looked like something that had been pulled from the trash.
Marcus almost ignored it.
Then he saw the white label.
He picked it up.
His eyes moved across the words.
ELENA REYES.
PRENATAL MEDICATION.
DO NOT DISCARD.
Marcus stopped breathing for a moment.
The bag was empty.
Completely empty.
He turned it over.
Nothing.
He looked inside again as if the medication might somehow be hiding in a corner.
Nothing.
His heart began beating faster.
“Elena.”
She turned from the living room.
“What?”
Marcus held up the bag.
“Where’s your medication?”
The color drained from her face.
She didn’t answer immediately.
Marcus walked toward her.
“Elena.”
She swallowed.
“Which one?”
“All of it.”
She looked at the bag.
Then away.
“My medication…”
“Where is it?”
Her voice became very small.
“Your mom threw it away.”
Marcus stared at her.
“What?”
“She was cleaning the bathroom.”
“When?”
“Earlier.”
“What did she throw away?”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“Everything.”
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
“Everything?”
“My prenatal vitamins.”
She took a breath.
“The iron.”
Another breath.
