Chapter 6

 

Chapter 6: The Search Begins

The next morning, Becky woke up before the sun. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the soft hum of the heater. Today was the day.

She climbed out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Nico, and tiptoed to her backpack. Pulling out her diary, she flipped to a fresh page and wrote:

“Dear Diary,
Today, I’m going to the hospital to find out what happened to Mommy. Someone there must know where she is. I don’t know what I’ll say, but I have to try. I have to do something.”

She closed the diary and hugged it to her chest.

The Ride to the Hospital

Tía Rosa held Becky’s hand tightly as they walked out to the car. The morning air was crisp, the sky still streaked with pink and orange.

“Are you sure you want to come, mi amor?” Tía Rosa asked gently.

Becky nodded. “I need to.”

The drive was quiet. Becky stared out the window, watching people go about their morning routines—walking their dogs, rushing to work, sipping coffee at bus stops. To them, today was just another day.

To Becky, it was everything.

At the Hospital

The moment they stepped into the hospital lobby, Becky’s heart pounded. Everything looked the same—nurses in scrubs walking briskly, doctors checking charts, the beeping of machines in the distance.

Her mother had walked these halls just yesterday.

Now she was gone.

Tía Rosa led her to the front desk, where a receptionist with short curly hair and kind eyes greeted them.

“Hola, ¿cómo puedo ayudarles?” (Hello, how can I help you?)

Tía Rosa took a deep breath. “We’re looking for information about a nurse who works here—worked here. Rosa Hernández. She was taken yesterday.”

The receptionist’s smile faded. “Oh…” She glanced around and lowered her voice. “I heard about what happened. They came in early, checking IDs. A few workers were taken. I don’t know where they are now.”

Becky’s hands balled into fists. “But she didn’t do anything wrong!” she blurted out.

The receptionist’s face softened. “I know, sweetheart. She was a good nurse. A lot of people here are upset.” She hesitated. “You might want to talk to Dr. Patel. He was close with your mom. Maybe he knows something.”

Tía Rosa nodded. “Where can we find him?”

“He’s on the third floor.”

Becky felt a flicker of hope.

Meeting Dr. Patel

The third floor smelled like disinfectant and coffee. Nurses moved quickly from room to room, tending to patients.

Then, Becky spotted him—a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair, reading over a clipboard.

“Dr. Patel!” Tía Rosa called.

He looked up, confused at first, but then his expression changed when he saw Becky. His face softened. “Becky… I’m so sorry.”

Becky’s throat tightened. “Do you know where my mom is?”

Dr. Patel sighed and knelt in front of her. “I wish I did, mija. They took her so fast… no one here knew what was happening until it was over.”

Tears burned in Becky’s eyes. “It’s not fair,” she whispered.

Dr. Patel nodded. “You’re right. It’s not.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out something small—a folded-up note.

“Before she was taken, she managed to slip this to one of the nurses. I don’t know what it says, but it’s from her.”

Becky’s hands trembled as she took the note.

The Note

She unfolded the crumpled paper carefully.

“Mi amor,
I don’t know what’s going to happen. Please take care of Nico. I love you both more than anything. Be strong.
Mamá.”

Becky’s tears spilled onto the page.

She clutched the note to her chest.

Her mother was out there. Somewhere.

And Becky wasn’t going to stop until she found her.

As they left the hospital, Becky felt something she hadn’t felt since yesterday.

Determination.

Her mom had written to her. That meant she hadn’t given up.

And neither would Becky.