…where Amber claimed she had taken Caleb and Lily for their playdate. My mind raced with fear—what kind of prank could leave a child unconscious? Every second in the car felt agonizingly long, and I imagined the worst as I sped toward the park.
When I arrived, the sight froze me in place. Amber hovered over Caleb, who lay pale and still on the grass, while Lily sobbed beside him. Amber tried to reassure Lily, her voice calm, but the flicker of panic in her eyes betrayed her composure as she saw me running toward them.
“Amber, what happened?” I shouted, dropping to my knees beside Caleb. I checked his pulse—it was faint, but steady. His breathing was shallow, and the remnants of a melted ice cream cone lay nearby.
Before Amber could respond, sirens blared. Paramedics rushed to Caleb, assessing his condition, while I held Lily close, trying to soothe her. Amber stood back, visibly shaken.
“I don’t know what happened,” she stammered. “We were just playing, and he suddenly collapsed. I thought it was a joke when Lily said he wouldn’t wake up.”
The paramedics stabilized Caleb and rushed him to the hospital, urging me to follow. My mind was a storm of anxiety, fear, and growing suspicion.
