“Stay here.”
“Marcus…”
“Stay here.”
He walked into the living room.
The laughter continued for another few seconds.
Then Marcus reached for the remote.
He turned off the television.
Silence.
Every face turned toward him.
His mother smiled.
“What’s wrong?”
Marcus stood there.
Nobody spoke.
Then he said quietly:
“Mom, did you throw away Elena’s medication?”
His mother’s expression changed.
“Her medication?”
“Yes.”
She shrugged.
“I cleaned the bathroom.”
“Did you throw it away?”
“I thought it was old.”
“It wasn’t old.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t ask.”
His mother frowned.
“Marcus, don’t start.”
“Don’t start?”
His voice remained calm.
That somehow made it worse.
“She’s eight months pregnant.”
“I know.”
“She has blood-pressure problems.”
His mother waved her hand.
“She has vitamins.”
“No.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Not just vitamins.”
He took a step forward.
“You threw away medication prescribed by her doctor.”
His sister immediately jumped in.
“Mom didn’t do it on purpose.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I didn’t say she did.”
“You are acting like she tried to hurt her.”
“I’m acting like my pregnant wife is missing medication she needs.”
His brother sighed.
“Come on, Marcus. It’s just one dose.”
Marcus turned toward him.
“Do you know what medication it is?”
