Drowning In Betrayal: Watch Me Shine Now

The cold liquid from the IV drip traveled down the plastic tube and bit into Amanda's vein. She pulled her knees to her chest on the narrow emergency room bed. Her stomach contracted violently. A fresh layer of cold sweat broke out across her forehead.

The noise from the family in the next curtained cubicle drilled into her head. She reached down with her free hand and pulled the thin white hospital blanket up to her chin. The movement tugged the needle taped to the back of her right hand. A sharp sting shot up her arm.

She reached into her coat pocket with her left hand and pulled out her phone. The screen lit up. The notification center was completely empty. Not a single text message. Not even a generic 'Happy Birthday' from a distant relative. A hollow ache settled right beneath her ribs, heavier than the stomach cramps.

The phone vibrated in her palm. The screen flashed with her mother's name. Mother. Amanda stared at the bright letters for two seconds. Her stomach gave another vicious twist. She slid her thumb across the glass to answer.

Meredith did not say hello. Her voice was sharp and cold.

"Pull that needle out of your arm and get to the estate right now."

Amanda gripped the edges of the phone. Her knuckles turned white.

"I have acute gastroenteritis," Amanda said. Her voice shook from the lack of energy. "The doctor said I need to finish this bag of fluids."

A sharp, clicking sound came through the speaker. Meredith was clicking her tongue against her teeth. It was the sound she always made when Amanda disgusted her.

"You always do this," Meredith said. "You always fake an illness on Billie's important days just to steal the spotlight. It is pathetic."

Amanda stopped breathing. Her chest felt like it had been caved in by a concrete block.

A nurse walked past the curtain, carrying a tray of fresh IV bags. Amanda lowered her voice to a whisper.

"I am not faking," Amanda said. "I have been throwing up since noon."

Meredith let out a dry laugh. "If you are not at the Long Island estate in thirty minutes, I am cutting off every credit card in your name."

Amanda bit down hard on her lower lip. The metallic taste of blood coated her tongue.

"Today is my birthday too," Amanda said.

The line went completely dead for three seconds. Then Meredith's voice came back, louder and harder.

"Shut your mouth. Today is the anniversary of Billie's biological father's death. You do not get to celebrate. You do not get to make this about you."

Amanda's eyes burned. The back of her throat swelled, but she forced the tears down. She pressed her hand against her cramping stomach.

"Is Julio coming to pick me up?" Amanda asked.

"Julio has been here all afternoon," Meredith said. "He is helping Billie choose her dress for tonight."

The stomach cramp hit her so hard she folded in half. She dropped her head toward her knees and let out a dry heave.

"Stop making those disgusting noises," Meredith snapped. "Thirty minutes. Do not embarrass me."

The call disconnected. A steady beep played through the speaker. Amanda let her arm drop. The phone slipped from her fingers and hit the white hospital sheets with a dull thud.

The nurse heard the noise and stepped into the cubicle. She looked at Amanda's pale face.

"Do you need something for the pain, honey?" the nurse asked.

Amanda shook her head. The vulnerability drained out of her eyes, leaving behind a flat, dead stare.

She raised her left hand. She grabbed the edge of the medical tape on her right hand. She ripped it back in one fast motion. She pulled the needle straight out of her vein.

The nurse gasped and reached out. She immediately slammed her hand against the red emergency call button on the wall. "Honey, stop! I am calling security if you do not put that down!" the nurse yelled, her voice thick with panic. "We have a situation in cubicle three!"

Blood welled up instantly. It dripped down her skin and stained the white blanket. Amanda grabbed a handful of cotton swabs from the bedside table and pressed them hard against the puncture wound. The sharp, localized pain in her hand made her brain feel incredibly clear.

She threw the blanket off and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Her bare feet hit the cold linoleum floor. The room spun. Black spots danced in her vision. She grabbed the metal rail of the bed with both hands and locked her elbows until the dizziness passed.

The nurse handed her a thick bandage. Amanda muttered a quiet thank you. She peeled the backing off and slapped the bandage over the bleeding hole on her hand.

She picked up her phone and dialed Julio's number. The line rang. And rang. Every empty tone chipped away at the last piece of patience she had left.

The call connected.

Loud music played in the background. Then, the high-pitched, breathy laugh of a woman came through the speaker. Amanda went perfectly still. She knew Billie's voice. This was not Billie.

"What are you throwing a tantrum about now?" Julio asked. His voice was thick with annoyance.

Amanda took a deep breath. She pushed the stomach pain away.

"I am at the hospital," Amanda said. Her voice was completely flat. "Come pick me up right now."

"Traffic is terrible," Julio said. "Take a cab."

"If you are not outside this hospital in ten minutes, the engagement is over," Amanda said.

The background noise on the other end seemed to vanish. The silence stretched.

"Ten minutes," Julio hissed through his teeth. He slammed the phone down.

Amanda shoved her phone into the pocket of her wool coat. She grabbed the plastic water bottle from the tray and took a massive gulp. The ice-cold water hit her inflamed stomach lining. Her entire body shivered violently.

She walked over to the small metal locker in the corner. She pulled out her designer handbag. Her fingers brushed against the expensive leather charm hanging from the strap. Julio had given it to her last month.

A wave of pure disgust rolled through her stomach.

She gripped the charm, yanked it hard enough to snap the metal ring, and tossed it straight into the red biohazard bin next to the door.

She ran her fingers through her damp hair. She pulled her heavy coat tightly around her shoulders to hide how much her body was shaking.

She did not look back at the empty bed. She pushed the heavy double doors of the emergency room open and walked out into the corridor.