Chapter 5 — The Proof
903 Words
Lily rushed out of the house as soon as she heard Rosalie scream. Her voice cut through the morning air: “Call an ambulance! Now!" She fell to her knees beside Rosalie, who was lying on the grass, moaning in pain. “My baby, hang on! Someone help us!"
Rosalie's right leg bent at a terrible angle. Blood trickled from her ankle where the bone had pierced the skin. Her face was pale, contorted with pain and fear. The housekeeper was crying, fumbling with her phone to call for help. Sara stood at the balcony above, silent, her expression unreadable. She didn't move or speak. Her hands were cold against the railing as she watched Lily cradle Rosalie in the garden below.
Within minutes, the ambulance arrived. Lily climbed inside with Rosalie, shouting instructions at the paramedics, while Sara followed in the second car without saying a word. The sirens wailed as the cars sped through the city streets.
At the hospital, the medical staff moved quickly. Doctors and nurses crowded around the stretcher as Rosalie cried out in pain. Lily held her hand tightly, whispering soothing words. “You'll be all right, sweetheart. You'll be all right."
Sara stood quietly in the corner, her expression calm but distant. She remembered the same hospital lights, the same smell of antiseptic, the same cold tile floor from her previous life. Only this time, she wasn't the one lying on the bed.
After a while, the doctor came out with an X-ray in hand. “Her right leg is broken in two places," he said. “We'll need to operate and insert metal plates. She'll recover, but it will take time—and she may not walk normally again."
Rosalie's lips trembled. “No… no, please. I have a show next month. I can't—" Her voice cracked into sobs.
Lily gripped her hand. “Don't cry, my darling. You'll be fine. We'll find the best doctors. Money doesn't matter."
The doctor nodded politely and left to prepare for surgery.
When he was gone, Lily finally turned and saw Sara standing by the door. Her eyes filled with rage. “You," she hissed, marching toward her. “What did you do?"
Sara didn't flinch. “I didn't do anything," she said evenly.
Rosalie's sobs grew louder. “She pushed me!" she cried, looking up at Lily through her tears. “I wanted to surprise her with a gift. I told her to close her eyes, and then she shoved me. I tried to catch the railing, but it broke, and I fell."
Lily gasped, her face twisting with disbelief and fury. “You monster!" she screamed, raising her hand and slapping Sara hard across the face. “How could you? How could you hurt your own sister like this?"
The sound echoed through the small hospital room. The nurses froze. Rosalie whimpered softly, her voice trembling. “Don't fight… please, don't fight because of me."
Sara's cheek burned from the slap, but her tone remained calm. “You should listen to the doctor's report," she said. “And maybe watch something before you accuse me."
Lily glared at her. “What do you mean?"
Sara took out her phone and opened a video. The room fell silent except for the faint hum of the machines.
The screen showed a clear image of the balcony. Rosalie stepped toward Sara, her arm reaching out quickly. Sara stepped aside just in time, and Rosalie stumbled forward. The railing broke, and she disappeared from view.
The video ended. Lily's hand slowly dropped to her side. Rosalie stared at the screen, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You— you filmed me?" she whispered.
“Yes," Sara said. “Because I knew what you planned."
“You knew?" Lily snapped. “Then you set her up!"
Sara shook her head. “No. I just didn't let history repeat itself."
Rosalie's face twisted with both fear and guilt. “I didn't mean to fall," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “It was an accident. I just wanted to scare you a little…"
“Enough," Sara said quietly. “You wanted to destroy me, and now everyone sees the truth."
Lily turned pale, looking from one daughter to the other, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. “No one must know about this," she said sharply. “Do you hear me? We'll say it was an accident."
Sara's eyes were cold. “Last time, you told me to stay silent. This time, I won't."
Lily's hand trembled as she pointed at her. “If you release that video, you'll ruin this family."
“This family ruined itself," Sara said softly.
Before Lily could answer, the nurses returned with the surgical team. “We need to prepare the patient," one of them said.
Lily quickly turned to follow the gurney, still holding Rosalie's hand. Rosalie's tear-streaked face looked back at Sara. For a moment, she seemed to want to speak, but no sound came. The doors closed, leaving Sara alone in the hallway.
Sara stood there for a long time, the phone still in her hand, the proof of everything she had endured glowing faintly on the screen. She exhaled slowly. For the first time in two lives, she didn't feel like the one who had to defend herself. The truth, simple and undeniable, was finally on her side.
- Writer
