The Missing Puzzle: Incomplete Until You

lV

May.9th 2009 *5:56pm*

Dwayne sat at the edge of the hospital bed, staring at Constance's brown skin against the stark white sheets. Her face looked so still, so unlike the girl he'd seen swinging just hours ago. The steady rhythm of the heart monitor beeped softly in the background, but it did little to ease the knot twisting in his stomach. He rubbed the back of his neck, replaying the scene in his head-her body collapsing after the football smacked her, the way she just crumpled, like the weight of everything finally broke her down.

"I should've seen it," he muttered to himself, frustrated. "I should've stopped it."

He let out a sigh, resting his elbows on his knees as he glanced around the sterile room. The sharp scent of disinfectant hung in the air, mixing with the muted murmur of nurses in the hallway. He hadn't expected the day to take such a turn. First, their awkward conversation about her walking away from the porch, then seeing her fall-it all seemed like a blur now. It made him realize that Constance wasn't just some quiet girl dealing with a loss. She was carrying way more than anyone, including Gerald, seemed to realize.

Gerald rushed into the room, panting heavily. "Where is my sister? What happened to her?" he pressed, his voice filled with urgency as he turned to Dwayne.

Dwayne stood up from the bed, allowing Gerald to take his place, his eyes immediately drawn to Constance's restless state.
"How did this happen? What even went wrong?" Gerald's voice rose in panic, desperation creeping in as he looked to Dwayne for answers. He had trusted Dwayne to keep her safe, especially after she had left the porch.

"I followed her once she left the porch like you said," Dwayne replied, anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. "I was looking out for her and sat by the swing next to her, trying to hear her out. Then a football came flying at her. It's okay though, because once I find out who did it, it's going down for real."

Gerald stood, his gaze shifting between his sister and the floor, frustration tightening in his chest. "So damn stubborn. I told you to be careful, Constance."

Before Dwayne could respond, the door swung open, and a doctor entered, followed closely by Douglas and Vanessa. Their faces were drawn with concern, and the air in the room shifted as they took in the scene.

"Gerald, Dwayne," the doctor greeted, maintaining a calm demeanor despite the tension. "We need to talk about Constance's condition."

Douglas stepped forward, his worry evident. "What's going on? Is she going to be okay?"

The doctor glanced at Constance, then back at the group, his expression serious. "She's stable for now, but we need to run some tests to assess any potential head trauma. It's important to keep her calm and monitor her closely."

Gerald smacked his lips. "Man that football ain't shit, c'mon little sis wake up for me."

Vanessa's eyes filled with tears fearing the worst as she reached for Gerald's hand. "You told me she was just outside... How did this happen again?"

Dwayne shifted uncomfortably, guilt weighing heavily on him. "I was there. I was trying to be there for her, but..."

"Dwayne," Gerald interjected, cutting him off. "This isn't the time. We don't need to hear you were trying to be there for her Just so you miss the fucking football in a knocked her off the swing."

"Ay, I wasn't playing football with no nigga that shit came out of no where" Dwayne protested walking up to Gerald looking him up and down.

The doctor spoke. "Hello, I need you all to step out for a moment so we can attend to her. We'll keep you updated as soon as we know more."