Chapter 2 - He Was Breathing
Real life did not cut to black.
Grandpa stopped.
That matters.
He did not continue beating Valerie.
He looked back at me.
Saw Leo.
His entire expression changed.
“Evan.”
“I’m okay.”
“I didn’t ask about you first. Is Leo breathing?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
I looked down.
Leo was crying against me.
His chest moved quickly.
“Yes.”
Grandpa pulled out his phone.
Called 911.
Then:
“Sit down.”
“I’m fine.”
“You got hit with a bat.”
“I’m fine.”
“Sit.”
I sat.
Leo refused to let go.
By the time paramedics arrived, the fabric of my shirt was twisted between his fingers.
One paramedic checked him while he remained against me.
Oxygen.
Heart rate.
Breathing.
Pupil response as far as his underlying visual condition allowed.
No visible facial injury.
No obvious trauma.
But nobody took chances after a reported smothering attempt.
Leo went to the children’s hospital.
I went too.
X-rays showed extensive bruising and one small nondisplaced rib fracture.
My shoulder was badly bruised.
No spinal injury.
No internal bleeding.
The lamp had opened a cut on Valerie’s scalp.
She required stitches.
Grandpa’s kick produced hip and side bruising.
His foot caused a minor toe injury.
No life-threatening injury to her either.
Three separate uses of force.
Three different legal questions.
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The most important fact remained:
Leo was alive.
