The EpiPen Was Missing—and My Stepmother Had One Terrifying Explanation

Dad stared at his phone for so long that I thought the screen had frozen.

“Daniel?”” Melissa asked.

He didn't answer long that I thought the screen had frozen.

“Daniel?”” Melissa asked.

He didn't answer.

She took a cautious step toward him.

“What are you looking at?””

He lifted his.

She took a cautious step toward him.

“What are you looking at?””

He lifted his eyes.

“Something you sent me.””

Her face changed.

“What?””

“A message from eyes.

“Something you sent me.””

Her face changed.

“What?””

“A message from several weeks ago.””

She swallowed.

“I send you messages every day.””

“This one is several weeks ago.””

She swallowed.

“I send you messages every day.””

“This one is about Jaden.””

She glanced at me, then back at the phone.

“I don't about Jaden.””

She glanced at me, then back at the phone.

“I don't know what you're talking about.””

Dad read the date aloud.

“October 10.””

Melissa went completely silent.

Nurse know what you're talking about.””

Dad read the date aloud.

“October 10.””

Melissa went completely silent.

Nurse Patel stood near the counter, finishing her documentation.

The hospital Patel stood near the counter, finishing her documentation.

The hospital nurse had stepped out to speak with the doctor nurse had stepped out to speak with the doctor.

For a moment, the only sound was the monitor beside my bed.

Dad scrolled through the message.

Then he began reading.

For a moment, the only sound was the monitor beside my bed.

Dad scrolled through the message.

Then he began reading.

We need to talk about how much time and attention Jaden's allergies areWe need to talk about how much time and attention Jaden's allergies are taking from our lives. I don't think we can keep organizing everything around him forever taking from our lives. I don't think we can keep organizing everything around him forever.

He stopped.

I stared at him.

Melissa's face flushed.

“That message was taken out of context.””

Dad continued reading.*

He stopped.

I stared at him.

Melissa's face flushed.

“That message was taken out of context.””

Dad continued reading.

*He needs to learn that he can't expect everyone to drop everything whenever he feels uncomfortable. We need to stop encouraging.

He needs to learn that he can't expect everyone to drop everything whenever he feels uncomfortable. We need to stop encouraging that behavior.

My stomach tightened.

I remembered that week that behavior.*

My stomach tightened.

I remembered that week.

I had refused to eat a dessert at a school event because I couldn't confirm its.

I had refused to eat a dessert at a school event because I couldn't confirm its ingredients.

Melissa had been annoyed.

She said I was embarrassing her by ingredients.

Melissa had been annoyed.

She said I was embarrassing her by making the other parents think our family was difficult.

Dad had making the other parents think our family was difficult.

Dad had been working late, so I hadn't told him what happened.

He had simply asked why been working late, so I hadn't told him what happened.

He had simply asked why I looked upset when he came home.

I'd said I was tired.

Now, listening to those words, I realized I looked upset when he came home.

I'd said I was tired.

Now, listening to those words, I realized she had been talking about that kind of situation.

The moments when I was afraid to eat something she had been talking about that kind of situation.

The moments when I was afraid to eat something because I didn't know whether it was safe.

The moments when I asked for help because I was worried about an allergic reaction.

The moments when I wanted an adult to take because I didn't know whether it was safe.

The moments when I asked for help because I was worried about an allergic reaction.

The moments when I wanted an adult to take my concerns seriously.

Melissa had described those moments as behavior she wanted to discourage my concerns seriously.

Melissa had described those moments as behavior she wanted to discourage.

Dad read the final line.

*I need you to support me on this. Otherwise, nothing.

Dad read the final line.

I need you to support me on this. Otherwise, nothing in this house will ever change.

He lowered the phone.

“What exactly did you want to change?””

Melissa folded her arms.

“Our routine in this house will ever change.*

He lowered the phone.

“What exactly did you want to change?””

Melissa folded her arms.

“Our routine.””

“What part of our routine?””

“You know what I mean.””

“No, I don't.””

She.””

“What part of our routine?””

“You know what I mean.””

“No, I don't.””

She looked toward the door.

“Daniel, this isn't the time.””

“When is looked toward the door.

“Daniel, this isn't the time.””

“When is the time?””

“Not here.””

“You've had weeks to talk to me about this.””

“I did talk to the time?””

“Not here.””

“You've had weeks to talk to me about this.””

“I did talk to you!””

“You sent me a message saying our son needed to stop expecting people to help him when he was uncomfortable.””

“That isn't what I meant!””

Dad you!””

“You sent me a message saying our son needed to stop expecting people to help him when he was uncomfortable.””

“That isn't what I meant!””

Dad held up the phone.

“Those are your words.””

“I was frustrated.””

“With held up the phone.

“Those are your words.””

“I was frustrated.””

“With what?””

“With everything!””

Her voice cracked.

“The constant appointments what?””

“With everything!””

Her voice cracked.

“The constant appointments. The special food. The school calling. The doctors.

The planning. The special food. The school calling. The doctors.

The planning. Every time we go somewhere, we have to consider what Jaden can eat, where. Every time we go somewhere, we have to consider what Jaden can eat, where we can sit, whether there's something dangerous nearby.

I can't even relax in my own home without worrying about doing something we can sit, whether there's something dangerous nearby. I can't even relax in my own home without worrying about doing something wrong!””

Dad looked at her for several seconds.

Then he said, “You were worried about doing something wrong, so you removed the medication that was supposed to protect him?””

Melissa's face cr wrong!””

Dad looked at her for several seconds.

Then he said, “You were worried about doing something wrong, so you removed the medication that was supposed to protect him?””

Melissa's face crumpled.

“I didn't think he would have a reaction today.””

The words came out before she could stop them.

Dad didn't move.

Neither didumpled.

“I didn't think he would have a reaction today.””

The words came out before she could stop them.

Dad didn't move.

Neither did Nurse Patel.

I could hear my own heartbeat in the monitor.

My Nurse Patel.

I could hear my own heartbeat in the monitor.

My father spoke very quietly.

“You knew he could have father spoke very quietly.

“You knew he could have a reaction.””

Melissa covered her mouth.

“I didn't mean—”

“You knew.””

“I was frustrated!””

“And you decided to take his medication away?””

a reaction.””

Melissa covered her mouth.

“I didn't mean—”

“You knew.””

“I was frustrated!””

“And you decided to take his medication away?””

She began crying harder.

“I thought he was becoming too dependent on it!””

TheShe began crying harder.

“I thought he was becoming too dependent on it!””

The doctor had just returned to the doorway.

He stopped when he heard her doctor had just returned to the doorway.

He stopped when he heard her.

Dad turned toward him briefly, then back to Melissa.

“Too dependent on what? His prescribed.

Dad turned toward him briefly, then back to Melissa.

“Too dependent on what? His prescribed emergency medication?””

“I didn't mean the medication itself!””

“Then what did you mean?””

She shook her head desperately.

“I wanted him to stop emergency medication?””

“I didn't mean the medication itself!””

“Then what did you mean?””

She shook her head desperately.

“I wanted him to stop being afraid of everything!””

Dad's expression became one of absolute disbelief.

“He has a serious allergy being afraid of everything!””

Dad's expression became one of absolute disbelief.

“He has a serious allergy. The medication exists because the danger is real.””

“But he worries about it constantly!””

“Because he knows. The medication exists because the danger is real.””

“But he worries about it constantly!””

“Because he knows what can happen!””

Melissa looked at me.

“Jaden, you know I never what can happen!””

Melissa looked at me.

“Jaden, you know I never wanted you to get hurt.””

I couldn't answer.

I didn't know what I believed anymore.

I remembered her helping me with homework when wanted you to get hurt.””

I couldn't answer.

I didn't know what I believed anymore.

I remembered her helping me with homework when Dad was working late.

I remembered the birthday cake she'd ordered Dad was working late.

I remembered the birthday cake she'd ordered for me the year I turned nine.

I remembered the way she sometimes sat beside me when I couldn't sleep.

Those for me the year I turned nine.

I remembered the way she sometimes sat beside me when I couldn't sleep.

Those memories were real.

But so were the mornings when she told me I was making memories were real.

But so were the mornings when she told me I was making life difficult.

So were the times she dismissed my fears.

And so was the blue pouch on life difficult.

So were the times she dismissed my fears.

And so was the blue pouch on the hospital counter.

My father stepped between us.

“Don't ask him to make you feel better about this.””

Melissa recoiled the hospital counter.

My father stepped between us.

“Don't ask him to make you feel better about this.””

Melissa recoiled.

“I am his stepmother!””

“And that means he should have been able to trust.

“I am his stepmother!””

“And that means he should have been able to trust you.””

She began shaking her head.

“You're acting like I wanted this to happen.””

“I'm asking why you.””

She began shaking her head.

“You're acting like I wanted this to happen.””

“I'm asking why you made a decision that left him without his medication.””

“I thought I could prove that he didn't you made a decision that left him without his medication.””

“I thought I could prove that he didn't need it every second!””

The room went silent.

Even Melissa need it every second!””

The room went silent.

Even Melissa stopped crying for a moment.

Dad stared at her.

“Prove it?””

She pressed her stopped crying for a moment.

Dad stared at her.

“Prove it?””

She pressed her hands against her face.

“I thought he was exaggerating how scared he was. I thought if he stopped carrying it everywhere, he would stop thinking about it constantly.””

The doctor stepped forward.

“Mrs hands against her face.

“I thought he was exaggerating how scared he was. I thought if he stopped carrying it everywhere, he would stop thinking about it constantly.””

The doctor stepped forward.

“Mrs. Carter, a child should never be used to test whether a prescribed emergency medication is necessary. That decision belongs with his prescribing clinician, not a family member acting on frustration.””

Melissa. Carter, a child should never be used to test whether a prescribed emergency medication is necessary. That decision belongs with his prescribing clinician, not a family member acting on frustration.””

Melissa lowered her hands.

“I wasn't testing him.””

“Then what were you doing?””

She looked at Dad.

“I lowered her hands.

“I wasn't testing him.””

“Then what were you doing?””

She looked at Dad.

“I wanted things to be normal.””

My father closed his eyes.

When he opened them, wanted things to be normal.””

My father closed his eyes.

When he opened them, his expression was harder than before.

“Normal for whom?””

She didn't his expression was harder than before.

“Normal for whom?””

She didn't respond.

He continued.

“You wanted him to stop asking questions. You wanted him to stop reminding you that he has an allergy. You wanted school to stop calling. You wanted me to stop worrying.””

He respond.

He continued.

“You wanted him to stop asking questions. You wanted him to stop reminding you that he has an allergy. You wanted school to stop calling. You wanted me to stop worrying.””

He gestured toward my bed.

“And today, he nearly lost the ability to ask any gestured toward my bed.

“And today, he nearly lost the ability to ask any of us for help because you decided his fear was inconvenient.””

Melissa sank into the chair.

For several seconds, she appeared too of us for help because you decided his fear was inconvenient.””

Melissa sank into the chair.

For several seconds, she appeared too exhausted to speak.

Then she whispered, “I made a mistake.””

Dad looked at her.

“You exhausted to speak.

Then she whispered, “I made a mistake.””

Dad looked at her.

“You made a decision.””

“Please don't do this.””

“What do you want made a decision.””

“Please don't do this.””

“What do you want me to do, Melissa? Pretend I didn't hear you?””

She started crying again.

“I love you.””

He looked down at his me to do, Melissa? Pretend I didn't hear you?””

She started crying again.

“I love you.””

He looked down at his phone.

“Then why did you ask me to stop protecting my own phone.

“Then why did you ask me to stop protecting my own child?””

“I never said that.””

“You asked me to child?””

“I never said that.””

“You asked me to support you in teaching him that he couldn't expect people to help him whenever he felt uncomfortable.””

“That was different!””

“How support you in teaching him that he couldn't expect people to help him whenever he felt uncomfortable.””

“That was different!””

“How?””

She had no answer.

The doctor quietly asked Dad to step into the corridor for a moment so they could discuss my?””

She had no answer.

The doctor quietly asked Dad to step into the corridor for a moment so they could discuss my treatment and what would need to happen before I was discharged.

Dad agreed, but before he left, he bent down beside my bed.

“I'm right treatment and what would need to happen before I was discharged.

Dad agreed, but before he left, he bent down beside my bed.

“I'm right outside, buddy.””

I nodded.

He squeezed my hand.

Then he turned to Melissa.

“You're not making any more outside, buddy.””

I nodded.

He squeezed my hand.

Then he turned to Melissa.

“You're not making any more decisions about Jaden's medication. From this moment forward, everything decisions about Jaden's medication. From this moment forward, everything goes through me and his medical team until we establish a safe plan.””

She stared at him.

“You can't be serious.””

“I have never been more serious goes through me and his medical team until we establish a safe plan.””

She stared at him.

“You can't be serious.””

“I have never been more serious about anything.””

He walked out with the doctor.

Melissa remained beside about anything.””

He walked out with the doctor.

Melissa remained beside the curtain, crying quietly.

I looked at her.

Part of me wanted to ask why the curtain, crying quietly.

I looked at her.

Part of me wanted to ask why.

Why had she thought I was exaggerating?

Why had she believed taking.

Why had she thought I was exaggerating?

Why had she believed taking away my medication would teach me something?

Why had she allowed her frustration to become more important than my safety away my medication would teach me something?

Why had she allowed her frustration to become more important than my safety?

But I was exhausted.

So I turned my face toward the window.

For a few minutes, neither of us spoke.

Then her phone vibrated.

She?

But I was exhausted.

So I turned my face toward the window.

For a few minutes, neither of us spoke.

Then her phone vibrated.

She glanced at the screen.

I saw her expression change.

The tears stopped glanced at the screen.

I saw her expression change.

The tears stopped.

She read the message, looked toward the corridor, and quickly locked her.

She read the message, looked toward the corridor, and quickly locked her phone.

“What is it?”” I asked before I could stop myself.

“Nothing.””

She put phone.

“What is it?”” I asked before I could stop myself.

“Nothing.””

She put the phone away.

But I had already noticed the name at the top of the phone away.

But I had already noticed the name at the top of the screen.

Grandma.

My father's mother.

Melissa stood and walked toward the doorway.

Before leaving, she the screen.

Grandma.

My father's mother.

Melissa stood and walked toward the doorway.

Before leaving, she looked back at me.

“Jaden, what happened today is complicated. You need to understand that adults have problems, too.””

I didn't looked back at me.

“Jaden, what happened today is complicated. You need to understand that adults have problems, too.””

I didn't answer.

She seemed to expect me to say something comforting.

When I didn't, she left.

A few minutes later, Dad returned.

He looked tired, but his answer.

She seemed to expect me to say something comforting.

When I didn't, she left.

A few minutes later, Dad returned.

He looked tired, but his voice was steady as he explained that the doctors would continue monitoring me and help make sure my medication plan was correct before I went voice was steady as he explained that the doctors would continue monitoring me and help make sure my medication plan was correct before I went home.

I asked him whether Melissa was coming back.

He sat home.

I asked him whether Melissa was coming back.

He sat beside me.

“I don't know, buddy.””

Then he hesitated.

“There is something else we need to talk about beside me.

“I don't know, buddy.””

Then he hesitated.

“There is something else we need to talk about.””

My stomach tightened.

“What?””

Dad took out his phone again.

“Your.””

My stomach tightened.

“What?””

Dad took out his phone again.

“Your grandmother just called me.””

I remembered the message Melissa had received.

“What did she say?””

Dad looked toward the grandmother just called me.””

I remembered the message Melissa had received.

“What did she say?””

Dad looked toward the doorway.

“She asked whether you were safe.””

I frowned.

“Why would she ask doorway.

“She asked whether you were safe.””

I frowned.

“Why would she ask that?””

He took a slow breath.

“Because Melissa called her this morning.””

My father's eyes met mine.

“And apparently, she told Grandma something that?””

He took a slow breath.

“Because Melissa called her this morning.””

My father's eyes met mine.

“And apparently, she told Grandma something about your medication that she never told me.””

I waited.

Dad's grip tightened about your medication that she never told me.””

I waited.

Dad's grip tightened around his phone.

“She told Grandma she was planning to keep your EpiPen away from around his phone.

“She told Grandma she was planning to keep your EpiPen away from you for a while.””

My mouth went dry.

“For how long?””

Dad shook his head.

“That's what I'm trying to find out you for a while.””

My mouth went dry.

“For how long?””

Dad shook his head.

“That's what I'm trying to find out.””

He looked down at the screen.

Then he read the final part of the message Grandma had sent him.

And suddenly.””

He looked down at the screen.

Then he read the final part of the message Grandma had sent him.

And suddenly, I understood that my grandmother might know much more about Melissa's behavior than either, I understood that my grandmother might know much more about Melissa's behavior than either of us had realized.