Miss nobody strikes back

Truth

Chapter Forty-Three 

Susana

"Honey, I got a call from Samantha saying Hanna is in a coma, and I've been trying to call Tamara, but she won’t pick up. So, I’m on my way to New York." I said, hurriedly packing my bag, the panic in my voice unmistakable, as I spoke with my husband over the phone.

"What! A coma? How did that happen?" He asked, equally as shocked as I was.

"I don't know yet, but I’ll soon find out," I replied, stuffing some clothes into my handbag. I had already informed my staff that I wouldn’t be at work for some time.

"I'm sorry I can't accompany you. What have they done to our Hanna?" he asked, worry lacing his voice.

"It’s okay, honey. I’ll be fine. I just need to pack quickly so I don’t miss my flight," I assured him, trying to stay calm despite my racing heart.

"Alright, but keep me updated, okay? Calm down, honey. Everything will be fine," he said gently, trying to ease my anxiety.

"Okay, bye," I said, making a kissing sound over the phone, and he did the same before hanging up. I zipped my suitcase, grabbed my things, and headed out the door, locking it behind me. The drive to the airport was a blur. My mind kept replaying the dreadful words—Hanna, coma, hospital.

Once I got to the airport, I was relieved to find I had made it just in time. Soon, I was on the plane to New York. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, scattered and frantic. Samantha had mentioned something about an allergy, and the only thing I knew Hanna was severely allergic to was peanuts. The thought of peanuts killing her terrified me.

I tried to sleep on the flight but couldn't rest at all. My mind kept replaying the worst-case scenarios. By the time I landed in New York the next morning, I was exhausted but determined. The first thing I did was call Jenny, Hanna’s friend. Thankfully, she picked up and told me the full story, including the address of the hospital.

When I arrived at the hospital, the sight of Hanna lying motionless on the hospital bed, hooked up to machines and drips, was more horrifying than I could have ever imagined.

"We're doing our best, ma'am," one of the nurses in charge of Hanna said, offering a sympathetic smile.

"Has her mother or father come to see her?" I asked, hoping Tamara had at least shown some care for her daughter.

"No, only three of her classmates and one teacher have visited," the nurse replied.

“Okay, I’ll be back,” I said, feeling my heart break at the thought of Hanna lying there alone, abandoned by her own family. I walked out of the hospital, got into my car, and drove straight to my sister’s house. It was still quite early in the morning, but I didn’t care. I needed answers.

I knocked on the door, and as fate would have it, Tamara opened it. "Susan! What are you doing here? What a pleasant surprise! Come in," she said, motioning for me to enter.

I stepped inside but wasted no time. "Tamara," I said, my voice firm.

“What? What happened? Why are you here so early in the morning?” she asked, her tone casual, almost uninterested.

"I got a call, a very disturbing one, that made me come all the way here to see if it was true. And to my horror, it is," I said, trying to keep my composure.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, her expression turning slightly uneasy.

"Hanna. Why is she lying in a hospital bed in a coma? A freaking coma, Tamara!" I demanded, watching as her face hardened.

"Hanna had an allergic reaction to peanuts. She’s allergic, you know," Tamara finally said, her voice chillingly calm, as though we weren’t talking about her daughter’s life.

"And you’re so chill about it? She’s in a coma! A life-or-death situation! It may take her years to wake up, or she may never wake up at all, and the nurse tells me that I’m the first family member to visit. Her own parents didn’t bother to come!" I said, my anger rising. How could she be so nonchalant about this?

"Calm down, will you? Claire fainted, so I didn’t have time to visit Hanna," Tamara said, and I let out a bitter laugh.

"Are you even listening to yourself? Claire fainted? The same Claire who is behind all of this! I’ve told you so many times how you pamper Claire and push Hanna aside, and now look where that has led!" I exclaimed, unable to hold back anymore.

"Susan, calm down. Hanna is my daughter, and I feel very sad about it, but punishing Claire is not the solution," she said, as if that was supposed to excuse her neglect.

"Then when is the solution, Tamara? When? Hanna has always fought for herself, and instead of supporting her, you’ve grounded her, you’ve hit her. Why do you treat her like this? If it was the other way around, I bet you’d have disowned Hanna!" I spat, the truth spilling out.

"No, why would I—" she started to defend herself, but I cut her off.

"Even if you don’t love her like you love Claire, the least you could do is visit her in the hospital to see how badly Claire messed up. But no, you’re avoiding it because you know deep down that you’re wrong. You just can’t face the truth!" I said.

"Susan, stop this! If you know so much about raising children, why don’t you have your own and stop meddling in my family?" she snapped.

Before I could respond, her husband walked in. "Who do you think you are, coming here and shouting at my wife because of Hanna?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Wow, that’s rich, coming from a father who’s been just as absent in Hanna’s life," I shot back, glaring at him.

"Get out of my house now. As long as you’re under my roof, you’ll respect my words. Now, get out!" he ordered, his face red with anger.

"I can’t believe I have such a heartless sister," I said before walking out of the house, slamming the door behind me. My chest ached with frustration and sorrow. How much had Hanna suffered in that house?

I drove to a nearby hotel and booked a room. I wasn’t leaving New York until I knew what would happen to Hanna.

A/N: Please comment, share, and vote for my story. Thank you!