“Emma, stop making a scene,” the man snapped impatiently. “We’re going home. Right now.”
A nurse quickly stepped between them.
“Sir, please calm down. We need to understand what’s going on before anyone leaves.”
Emma shook her head desperately, clutching the hem of her small shirt. Her lips trembled.
“My mom is here,” she whispered so softly it was barely audible.
The hospital social worker, Sarah Mitchell, knelt down beside her.
“Your mom is here in the hospital?” she asked gently.
Emma nodded quickly.
“She’s going to save me.”
The man let out a frustrated sigh.
“Don’t listen to her. She makes things up all the time. Emma, come here now.”
He tried to step closer, but Emma curled tighter into herself.
“I don’t want to… I don’t want to go.”
Sarah stood up immediately.
“She’s not leaving until we understand what’s happening.”
The man clenched his jaw.
“I’m her father.”
“We’ll verify that,” Sarah replied calmly.
He scoffed and glanced around the hospital lobby.
“You don’t have any right to keep her here.”
“Yes,” Sarah said firmly, crossing her arms. “Actually, we do.”
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
At that moment, Dr. Michael Carter walked in holding a tablet.