As I raced to the park, my mind spun with worst-case scenarios. What had Amber done? My anxiety was a tangled mass of fear and anger. I couldn’t wrap my head around why she would think any of this was remotely funny or acceptable. My thoughts were interrupted as the dispatcher on the line calmly assured me that help was on the way. I could barely focus on her words, my mind stuck on Caleb—my little boy.
When I screeched into the parking lot, sirens were already echoing in the distance. I spotted Lily first, standing near the swings, tears streaking her face. Caleb lay motionless on the grass, Amber standing nearby with a guilty look etched into her features. I sprinted toward him, my heart in my throat.
Dropping to my knees beside Caleb, I gently shook him, calling his name. His skin felt clammy, a stark contrast to the warm summer day. “What happened?” I demanded, panic rising in my voice.
Amber hesitated, stammering through excuses about how it was meant to be a harmless game, how she didn’t expect him to react this way. The trampoline park had been fun, she said, but then she thought it would be hilarious to pretend there was a treasure hidden under the playground equipment. She’d told Caleb to hold his breath like he was diving underwater to get it. But he must have taken her literally, and now he wasn’t responding.
I could hardly believe what I was hearing. “This was a prank? Are you out of your mind?” I shouted, my voice trembling with fury.
The paramedics arrived, efficiently moving me aside to assess Caleb’s condition. One of them spoke to him softly, checking his pulse, while another quickly administered oxygen. I watched in a daze, my hands shaking, as they worked to revive my son.
Amber was standing to the side, visibly trembling now, her earlier bravado gone. She tried to defend her actions, but her words fell flat. The police arrived shortly after, pulling her aside to get her version of events. It was clear they were as incredulous as I was.
Finally, Caleb stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. Relief washed over me, and I scooped him into my arms, holding him tightly. He was groggy and confused, but he was safe. That was all that mattered.
As we were cleared to leave for the hospital for further checks, I glanced at Amber one last time. Her face was a mixture of regret and fear. The truth was out now, her reckless actions laid bare for everyone to see. I felt a surge of vindication, knowing she’d have to face the consequences of her so-called prank.
Later, as I sat by Caleb’s hospital bed, his small hand in mine, I vowed to myself that I’d never let Amber near him again. Family ties might have kept me silent before, but they wouldn’t hold me back now. Caleb was my priority, and I’d do anything to protect him from harm—mean-spirited pranks included.