” “Yes, it’s in the legal agreement. We alternate weeks. This week was her turn.”
“We’re going to have to file a report for abandonment, Mr. Gutiérrez.”
“Do what you have to do. I just want to know how my daughter is.”
The doctor returned a little while later.
“The girl is stable. She has a mild intestinal infection due to dehydration and not having eaten. We’re going to keep her under observation. The good thing is that you arrived in time; one more day and the story would have been very different.”
Tomás released the breath he’d been unconsciously holding. Santiago squeezed his hand.
“Can I see her?”
“In a little while. She’s asleep right now, but she’s fine.
” “Yes.” Santiago nodded. “And my mom?”
Tomás didn’t know what to answer. He bent down and put a hand on the boy’s shoulder.
“I don’t know yet, but we’ll find out.”
A couple of hours later, a nurse approached Tomás.
“Mr. Gutiérrez, we just received a report from the police. Your ex-partner was admitted to the general hospital early Saturday morning after a car accident. She was with a man who fled the scene. She was admitted as an unknown patient because she didn’t have any identification, but they’ve identified her now.
” “Is she alive?
” “Yes. Stable, but she’s sedated. She has fractures and a head injury. She’s recovering.”
Tomás closed his eyes for a moment. He felt like screaming, like breaking something, but Santiago was right there beside him.
“Can I see her?”
“You’ll have to wait until she wakes up. She can’t talk yet.”
Tomás stood up, took out his cell phone, and called his lawyer.
“Carlos, I need to start the custody proceedings. It’s urgent. I won’t let this happen again.”
“Send me the information, and we’ll file the paperwork first thing tomorrow.”
Tomás hung up and looked at his son.
“We’re going to stay here, okay? Right near your sister.
” “Can I stay with you forever?”
Tomás stared at him.
“From today on, I’m not letting you go.”
Tomás spent the entire night sitting in a chair next to the hospital bed where Alma slept, connected to an IV drip. Santiago, already quite drunk, had fallen asleep in an armchair with a blanket a nurse had lent him. Dawn was breaking outside when the social worker peeked out again.
“Mr. Gutiérrez, we need to ask you a few more questions. It’s part of the protocol.”
Tomás nodded without standing up.
“Of course, ask whatever you need.”
“Is this the first time the children have been left alone with their mother?”
“As far as I know, yes. But my son told me she’s left them alone before, though for shorter periods.
” “And did you try to contact her over the weekend?”
“No. She asked me not to call. She said she was going to a ranch where there was no cell service with some friends. According to her, she wanted to disconnect.”
“Did she tell you who she was going to be with?
” “No, she just said ‘with friends.’”
“The General Hospital notified us that Mrs. Vargas was admitted with severe injuries and a traumatic brain injury. She was with a man who fled. Do you recognize him?
” “I have no idea who he is, but I imagine he’s her boyfriend. That guy gave me a bad feeling from the first time I saw him.”
—We understand. We’ll file a report with all of this. For now, you’ll remain the sole temporary guardian of the minors. The report will be sent to the prosecutor’s office.
Tomás simply nodded. He didn’t want to waste time on paperwork, but he knew he had to do it for his children’s sake. A little while later, a nurse approached.
“Sir, the baby’s awake. Would you like to come in?”
Santiago’s eyes widened when he heard that.
“Is Alma awake yet?”
“Yes, my love, you can go see her now.”
The two of them entered the room. Alma was very weak, but when she saw her brother, she stretched out her little arms. Santiago ran to hug her and carefully climbed onto the bed.
“I missed you so much, Alma.
” “Me too,” the little girl murmured, her voice barely audible.
Tomás came over and stroked their heads.
“You’re going to be alright. I promise.”
Hours later, Tomás’s cell phone rang. It was an unknown number, but he answered it right away.
“Hello?
” “Mr. Tomás Gutiérrez?
” “This is he.
” “We’re calling from the General Hospital. Mrs. Leticia Vargas has woken up. She was asking about you and the children. Would you like to come over?”
Tomás stared at his sons for a moment.
“I’m coming over.”
Before leaving, he bent down and spoke to Santiago.
“I’m going to see your mom. I’ll be right back. Take good care of Alma, okay?
” “Is she alright?”
“I don’t know, son. I’ll find out.”
Tomás left the children’s hospital and drove in silence. When he arrived at the general hospital, he was given directions and went up to the third floor. Leticia was in a shared room, her face bruised and her left arm in a cast. When she saw him enter, she lowered her gaze.
“The children are alive.
” “Yes.
” “What did you do, Leticia?
” She took a while to answer.
“I thought nothing was going to happen. I just went to a party. I wanted to clear my head for a while. He told me we wouldn’t be long.
” “You left them alone for three days. The little girl almost died.”
Leticia closed her eyes. Two tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I know. I don’t know what to tell you.”
Tomás approached her, but not willingly.
“This is going to change. I’m keeping the children, and this time you won’t be able to do anything to stop it.
” “Are you going to take them away from me?” Leticia asked, her voice breaking.
“It’s not a punishment, Leticia. It’s what has to be done. I can’t let this happen again.”
“I was so tired, Tomás. You don’t understand. I’m alone with them all the time. I have no one to help me. I have no life.
” “And that justifies leaving them locked up for three days? Without food, with fevers, terrified, not knowing if you were coming back?”
Leticia lowered her gaze. Her hands trembled on the sheet. She didn’t say a word.
“You thought it was easier to go off and clear your head, and you almost killed them.
” “I already cut him off,” she said, barely audible.
“Cut off who?
” “Ricardo. The one who was with me in the car. He started yelling at me, grabbing me. I wanted to go back home, and we were fighting in the car. After that, I don’t remember anything.”
“He left you there on the side of the road and ran off. And you expect me to trust you again?
” “I’m not asking for that. Just tell me how the kids are.”
Tomás crossed his arms.
“Alma’s awake now. She’s weak, but she’s stable. Santiago acted like a real man. He talked to me, he took care of his little sister. He was more responsible than you were.”
Leticia let out a long sigh, as if the air were heavy.
“I don’t deserve to be their mother.”
“Honestly, I don’t know, Leticia. That’s not for me to decide right now. But I will do everything in my power to protect them. I’ve already spoken with my lawyer. The process is underway.
” “Won’t I be able to see them?”
“When the judge gives the green light, and with someone supervising. You’re going to have to show that you really want to make a real effort to change.”
Leticia didn’t answer him. She closed her eyes and let the tears flow silently. Tomás stared at her for a few more seconds and then left the room without saying goodbye.
Back at the children’s hospital, Santiago and Alma were watching cartoons on a tablet borrowed from the medical staff. Alma had an IV in her arm and a doll on her lap. Santiago turned when he saw his dad come in.
“Did you go see my mom?
” “Yes. She’s okay. She’s a little bruised, but she’s awake now.
” “Is she coming to get us?”
Tomás sat on the edge of the bed.
“Not right now. You’re coming with me. We’ll be together.”
Santiago nodded. He didn’t look sad; rather, he seemed relieved.
“Are we going back to the big house?
” “Yes, son. I’ll take care of you there.
” “And my mom?”
Tomás looked at him calmly.
“Your mom needs time. She has to get better. When the doctor and the judge say she’s ready, she’ll be able to see you.”
Santiago lay down next to his little sister. He didn’t ask any more questions. He just took her little hand and closed his eyes. Tomás watched them. He started thinking about everything that had happened in just three days, how close he’d come to losing them, and the huge challenge he was getting himself into to learn how to be a full-time dad. But he was determined, because this time he wasn’t going to let go of their hands for anything in the world.
The first night at the house was rough. Alma didn’t want to sleep alone, and Santiago woke up crying twice. Tomás didn’t know what to do. He’d never managed more than two days straight with the two of them together. And now it was full-time: cooking, bathing, calming them down, listening to them, cuddling them.
The next day, a child psychologist from the hospital visited them. She spoke with Tomás first.
“We need to start providing them with support. Both children are showing clear signs of stress. Especially Santiago; he feels responsible for everything that happened.
” “He only did what he could. He saved his little sister’s life.
” “Yes. But now he also has the mental burden of having to look after her all the time, and that’s not good for a six-year-old. And Alma… she’s very defensive. She doesn’t want to leave her brother’s side at all, but she doesn’t trust adults either. It’s going to be difficult for her.”
Tomás nodded, memorizing everything.
“What do I have to do?
” “What you’re already doing: be there for them, establish a routine, don’t yell. Explain what’s going to happen, but don’t promise them things you can’t deliver.”
Later, the psychologist spoke privately with Santiago in the garden. Meanwhile, Tomás took the opportunity to do laundry and prepare something for them to eat. He wasn’t exactly feeling like dad of the year, but he was trying his best. After the conversation, Santiago went into the kitchen.
“Dad, the lady told me I can tell you if I’m scared of something.
” “You can always tell me what you’re feeling, champ.
” “What if my mom doesn’t change?”
Tomás crouched down to his level.
“That’s not up to you or me, but we’ll be okay, no matter what.
” “Really?
” “And if she really tries and changes, then we’ll sort it out with the doctors and the judge. What matters here is that you’re safe and at peace.”
Santiago nodded. Then he went to check on Alma, who was asleep on the couch hugging her doll.
Later, Tomás received a call from the General Hospital.
“Mr. Gutiérrez, Mrs. Vargas requested to begin therapy. She said she wants to cooperate fully with the judge’s requests.”
“And what does the medical report say?”
“She’s recovering well. She’ll soon be able to walk without assistance. The psychiatrist has already examined her and says she’s ready to begin psychological treatment. Can I put you through to her?”
“Of course, if you give the go-ahead, she’s awake and willing.”
Tomás hesitated for a moment.
“I’ll go tomorrow, but don’t tell the children yet.”
That night, Tomás sat alone in the dining room. He didn’t turn on the TV; he just listened to the hum of the refrigerator. He was afraid. Afraid of messing things up, afraid of not knowing how to handle the whole situation. But he also felt something different, as if he were finally doing things right. He checked the time. It was late. He got up, went to the children’s room, and saw them sleeping together. Santiago was holding Alma, as if he still couldn’t believe they were safe. Tomás gently stroked their heads. “No one is going to leave you alone again. That’s it . “
The next day, Tomás arrived at the general hospital with a strange feeling. It wasn’t anger, nor was it pity. It was something in between, somewhere between distrust and duty. He knew that seeing Leticia wouldn’t be easy, but he had to do it. He found her sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a hospital gown, her hair tied back. Her gaze was fixed on the floor. When she saw him come in, she barely glanced up.
“Thank you for coming,” she said, her voice very subdued.
“I’m not doing this for you, I’m doing it for my children.”
“I know. And you’re absolutely right.”
An awkward silence fell. Tomás crossed his arms.
“I heard you’re starting therapy.
” “Yes. I know it doesn’t erase what I did, but I need to get my life back on track. I’ve felt like I’m drowning for months.
” “That doesn’t excuse what happened.
” “I’m not trying to excuse it. I just want to be honest with you. I lost myself, Tomás. Between the grind of work, the kids, the guilt… and that idiot, I became a different person.
” “That idiot who abandoned your children and left you bleeding out on the side of the road.”
“I don’t even want to talk about him anymore. I blocked him everywhere. I don’t want to know anything about him.”
Tomás took a deep breath.
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