Why are you crying, Mommy?
Why are you so sad?
Let’s go for a walk, we can figure this out.
Tell me what’s wrong.
Come with me, take my hand.
We can go to the beach, our favorite place together.
Doesn’t that sound nice?
We can walk along the shore, like we always do.
I will talk and you can listen,
If that will help.
Please don’t be sad, Mommy.
Take my hand.
Mommy, why won’t you take my hand?
Don’t you see it?
Mommy, you are shaking.
You are shaking and leaning on Daddy.
I’m so proud of you for not fighting with him.
You love each other, I always knew.
It’s always so loud, Mommy.
Your fights always frighten me.
And hearing you cry makes me cry, too.
Don’t you know that?
I’m so happy that he is holding you right now,
like a husband should.
But why are you crying?
Your skin; it is cold.
Let me hug you, Mommy.
Daddy, too.
We are a family.
Mommy, what are you looking at?
Down on the floor, your eyes are set.
Your watery eyes.
Daddy has gotten the phone, he is dialing.
Who is he calling, Mommy?
Hey, this is my room.
I didn’t realize.
My desk, my dresser, my bed.
You are gazing at my bed,
but you can’t stand the sight.
Why not?
Is it the monsters underneath?
No, silly, the monsters aren’t real.
Don’t be afraid.
Here, we’ll look together.
On three, we will look at my bed.
Then you will see.
One.
Two.
Three.

Oh my.
Who is that girl, Mommy?
Why are her bed sheets so red?
Is it blood, Mommy?
Her eyes, they are open wide.
They look so empty, Mommy.
Is that a knife in her hand?
There are pills all over the floor.
I’m sorry for the mess, Mommy.
I promise I’ll clean it up.
But first we should call for help.
Don’t you think?
Wait, I hear the ambulances already.
They are in the distance.
Maybe this girl will be ok.
Please stop crying, Mommy.
I hate to see you so sad.
Remember the happy times.
Remember us eating ice cream together,
And playing with the dogs.
Those silly dogs!
Where are they, anyway?
Remember how we used to play uno together?
You always won.
But that’s ok, I let you.
I loved watching you smile.
But you are not smiling now.
You are sobbing into your hands.
You are saying my name,
and you are asking why?
Why what, Mommy?
What did I do?
I’m so sorry, Mommy.
I’m sorry you are so sad.
If only you would tell me what is wrong.
Are you too afraid to go near the girl?
Because it looks like she is losing a lot of blood.
The ambulances are coming, Daddy says.
She needs to stop bleeding, Mommy.
Or she will die.
Here, I will do it.
Watch me save this girl.
Hey, she looks kind of familiar, Mommy.
Her eyes are so brown, like her hair.
She is very beautiful, Mommy.
Her skin is so white,
except for some scars on her arms.
I wonder where she got those?
Mommy, why do you keep saying my name?
I can’t concentrate.
I’m trying to stop the blood from flooding from her wrists.
Mommy, the ambulances are outside.
The paramedics are hurrying up the stairs.
They will save her, Mommy.
Don’t worry.
What is her name? The paramedics wonder.
Gabriela, Daddy says.
I turn, and run up to Daddy.
I wrap my arms around his stomach.
I am right here, Daddy.
Does that girl have the same name as me?
Last name? the paramedic asks.
Jenkins, Daddy answers again.
No.
No, she cannot possibly have
the same name as me.
No, this cannot be happening.
I cannot be dead.
Mommy, I’m not dead, am I?
I am so scared now, Mommy.
I am crying too.
I can’t move; I just stand here and watch the paramedics.
Daddy is whispering something to you,
but I cannot hear.
Mommy, the paramedics are speaking amongst themselves.
What are they saying?
Why have they left the bed?
Mommy, they are coming toward where we stand, in this doorway.
My doorway.
Mommy, I can just barely hear them.
I can just barely make out the words:
It’s too late.