Crystal sat silently by her sister's hospital bed, the sterile odor of antiseptic mingling with the soft hum of medical equipment. Ruby lay comatose, her face pale and fragile against the stark white sheets. Shaggy and Peridot stood nearby, their expressions a mix of anxiety and exhaustion. The past few days replayed in Crystal's mind like a haunting nightmare.
Three Days Ago:
It was Saturday morning, and Crystal sat at a small coffee shop table, her hands wrapped around a warm cup of chamomile tea. The buzz of conversation and the sweet fragrance of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Across from her, Peridot, her ex-boyfriend, shifted nervously in his seat, his eyes flicking between Crystal and the bustling coffeehouse.
Peridot took a deep breath. "Crystal, there's something I need to tell you. I'm not here to win you back or anything. I came to Earth to get away from my toxic family. They'd never think to look for me here," he explained, nervously playing with his dark purple ponytail.
Crystal's jaw dropped. "Go on," she said gently, now thoroughly intrigued.
Peridot hesitated, then continued. "My family was abusive and neglectful. Growing up was a nightmare. They never cared about me, never supported me. It was all about control. My sister Kyawthuite was the golden child. My parents, Painite and Taaffeite, adored her and saw me as a nuisance. Even when I got seriously sick, they didn't care."
Crystal's heart ached as she listened. "I'm so sorry, Peridot," she apologized softly. "I shouldn't have assumed you were here to hurt me or my loved ones. But what do you mean by seriously sick? You weren't ill when I last saw you."
Peridot gave a weak smile. "I developed an acute form of cancer and had to go to another planet for treatment because my family didn't care. They just wanted to be rid of me," he explained, tears rolling down his face.
"What?! How could anyone allow that to happen?" she demanded furiously. "That goes against everything our civilization stands for!"
"No one sees what goes on behind closed doors, Crystal. Others choose to ignore it. We're as flawed as the humans around us," he sighed.
She sipped her tea. "It must have taken a lot of courage to leave and start over on a new planet."
"Yes, it did. I'm in therapy now, dealing with everything, including extreme PTSD. But I'm fighting, Crystal," Peridot said, his voice trembling. "I'm fighting."
Crystal reached across the table and placed a comforting hand on his. "You're courageous for seeking help and opening up about this."
Peridot smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Crystal. I hope we can become friends again. I could use a support system and always looked up to you."
Crystal squeezed his hand. "Of course, Peridot. I'm here for you, and we'll get through this together. Again, I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. My family will also help you through this."
Peridot's eyes filled with tears of relief. "Thank you, Crystal. That means more to me than you know."
Monday: Lunch Hour:
The middle school cafeteria buzzed with the usual lunchtime chatter. Ruby sat at a table with her friends, carefully unpacking her lunch. She always brought her own food to avoid potential health risks, as her species had both celiac and diabetes—or at least, by human standards, they did.
"I can't wait to enjoy what my sister and her boyfriend made for me. It's so nice that he understands our dietary needs and is beyond careful when making meals," Ruby remarked with a smile. Today's lunch included quinoa, fresh blueberries, an orange, and homemade vegetable juice.
Her friends chatted happily about their upcoming class project when Venus sauntered over to their table, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Hey, Ruby. Looks like you're having the same old bland food again. What, are you afraid to have sweets? You really should gain some weight since you're so ugly! You might look prettier if you were a fat pig instead of a stupid twig!" she ridiculed, smirking.
Ruby tried to ignore her and focus on her meal. "It's not boring if it keeps me healthy. Didn't you pay attention in health class yesterday? Considering your grades, you should've been paying close attention if you want to avoid summer school!" Ruby snapped back.
"I've better things to do than listen to the rambling of idiots and stupid diets!" Venus smirked, rolling her eyes before walking away.
Once Venus left, the group returned to eating their lunches in peace. However, Ruby immediately felt something was off when she took her first bite. The taste was different, and a strange feeling of dread washed over her. "Something's wrong..." she murmured, alarmed.
Cornelia quickly noticed Ruby's distress and checked the food. "Ruby, stop eating! This isn't your safe food!"
But it was too late. Ruby's body began to react violently. She clutched her stomach in pain, her vision blurring. "We need to get help now!" Chrissy cried out in panic.
"We'll get Principal Vandom!" both boys shouted, running to find help. By now, the whole school noticed what was happening, and some were already using their smartphones to call 911.
The two girls remained by Ruby's side, trying to keep her conscious. "Hang in there, Ruby. Help is coming," they reassured her, though panic tinged their voices.
Principal Vandom arrived, horror-struck by the scene. "Page Nurse Thompson and call the medics. Now!" he ordered. Half the student body replied they'd already called 911, and the teachers were trying to get the school nurse.
Peridot rushed to Ruby's side. He'd already explained his past relationship with her sister to the principal and how they'd made up. He also told Principal Vandom he'd promised Crystal to watch out for Ruby at school.
"I will call her sister to meet us at the hospital. Please let me go with the ambulance," Peridot insisted. He phoned Crystal and Shaggy, telling them which hospital to meet them at.
School at present time.
While Ruby fought to stay alive, the atmosphere back at the school was tense. The entire staff meticulously reviewed every detail to understand how this had happened. Nurse Ella Thompson, a slightly plump woman in her early fifties with graying red hair, light green eyes, and glasses, hurried to the office of the school bookkeeper, Ms. Bridget Daniels.
Bridget, a meticulous and organized woman in her early thirties with neatly styled dark hair and blue eyes, was already at her desk, poring over student records. She looked up as the nurse entered, her expression concerned.
"Ella, Ruby's file is missing," Bridget said, her voice strained. "I've looked everywhere. How could this happen? I've never misplaced anything before. Especially when it comes to a student's special needs!"
Ella frowned, her heart sinking. Bridget was known for being beyond organized and always quadruple-checking everything. Each student file contained vital information, including medical needs, dietary restrictions, learning accommodations, and preferred pronouns. It seemed impossible that Ruby's file could just disappear. "We need to locate it immediately! Her medical history is crucial, especially now. Let's retrace our steps and see if we can figure out how this happened," Ella suggested.
The two women scoured the office, checking drawers, filing cabinets, and trash bins. A sinking feeling grew in Ella's chest as they searched. "Bridget," she said quietly, "what if someone took it on purpose? Ruby's condition is serious, and someone knowing her dietary restrictions could... do something terrible."
Bridget's eyes widened in realization. "You think this was intentional?" The shocking possibility of someone intentionally harming Ruby jolted their senses.
Ella nodded grimly. "It's possible. And we need to get to the bottom of it."
Their search continued, urgency pulsating through their veins. The missing file and the gravity of Ruby's condition weighed heavily on their minds. They had to find out who was responsible and ensure that Ruby received the care she needed.
Hospital Present Time:
Crystal sighed, the memory weighing heavily on her heart. She gently squeezed Ruby's hand, praying for her sister to wake up soon.
"You're going to be okay, Ruby. We're here for you," she whispered softly.
Shaggy placed a reassuring hand on Crystal's shoulder while Peridot, standing quietly by the window, whispered a silent prayer for Ruby's recovery. The room was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor, a constant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring strength of family.