Page 73 of The Family Man

“See I know you would never hit me.” Emily smiles in her mad delirium.

“No, he won’t but I fucking will.” I pull my fist back and sock her right in the eyes “Don’t ever touch my babies again.”

I jump on her and she’s tugging hard at my hair, and I am at her throat.

My body is lifted into the air. I turn to the side, and I see a police officer hauling me away.

He drops me next to Zac who is explaining everything to an officer.

“They already started the search for Nik.”

Poppy is being examined by the paramedics, her eyes never leaving her father.

Daire comes up to us with flashlights. “Go join in the search. Nik couldn’t have gotten far. I will stay with Poppy.”

“I will go to the left near the bamboo, you can take the right side.” I take a flashlight from Daire.

Zac places his hand on his hips and looks up into the sky. I turn to him and rub his back.

“We will find him, Zac. He will be okay,” I try to comfort him.

He shakes in agreement. “Let’s go.”

After an hour of combing through bamboo I begin to wonder if she is hurt.

I think I am lost. Why would someone plant all this bamboo? “Nik, it’s Sage. Baby make some noise, laugh, scream or talk?”

“Please, baby, talk this once. I just need to find you.” I may not be his mother, but my heart hurts like I am.

I hear a shift, and I stop. “Baby?”

The sound is strained and husky. “Sage?”

I hear it and I turn around with my flashlight. “Call me one more time.”

“Sage?” Nik’s little voice groans out.

I follow his voice and run to him as I scream Zac’s name. Flashlight beams flicker through the bamboo following my voice. My light finds him on the ground, with blood on his head.

“Oh Nicky.” I rush forward, coming to my knees. I drop the flashlight as I touch his face, wiping away the blood with my t-shirt. He fidgets, trying to get up.

“Stay still baby.”

“Sage, Am I going to die like my mommy?” His question makes my heart bleed. His lips tremble as if he wants to cry.

“No baby you are going to grow big and strong like your daddy. I promise.”

Zac runs in front of the men coming to us.

He slides next to me “Son, lie down its ok we—”

“Daddy, where is Poppy?” Nik asks.

Zac gapes at Nik, his expression is blank “What’s that son?”

“Where is Poppy?”

Zac looks up to the sky and takes in a breath.

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