Chapter 3 - THE PUSH ON THE MARBLE FLOORMy right heel slipped.
The chandelier became a streak of gold.
Then my body struck the marble.
Pain moved through my hip and shoulder.
The impact forced air from my lungs.
For several seconds, I could not inhale.
A woman screamed.
“Oh my God! She pushed her!”
Madeline stood above me.
Her hands remained raised.
Guests stared.
Grace ran toward me.
“Someone help her, please!”
She dropped to her knees.
“Sophia, can you hear me?”
I nodded.
No air.
My chest tightened.
I had experienced severe asthma since childhood.
Stress could trigger it.
So could impact.
My inhaler was inside my handbag.
I reached toward the entrance.
“Bag.”
Grace looked around.
My handbag was gone.
Madeline held nothing.
“It was on her shoulder,” Grace said.
Madeline stepped backward.
“I don’t know where she put it.”
A guest pointed.
“You took it.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“I saw you pull it away before you pushed her.”
Madeline’s face hardened.
“I was trying to stop her from swinging it at me.”
I had not swung anything.
Grace placed one hand behind my shoulders.
“Slow breath.”
I tried.
My lungs answered with a thin, painful sound.
“Her inhaler,” Grace called. “Find her inhaler!”
Guests searched near the floor.
Nothing.
Madeline moved toward the interior hallway.
Grace saw her.
“Where are you going?”
“To call the doctor.”
“Use your phone.”
“I left it in my office.”
The front doors opened.
Cold evening air entered the grand hall.
Nathan stood in the doorway.
Navy designer suit.
White shirt.
Dark-brown hair slightly disordered as if he had run from the car.
He saw the guests.
Grace on the floor.
Then me.
His expression changed instantly.
“Sophia!”
He rushed across the marble.
I tried to say his name.
Only a whisper came.
“Nathan.”
He dropped beside me.
“I’ve got you.”
He placed one arm behind my back and helped me sit upright.
“Where is your inhaler?”
I pointed weakly toward Madeline.
She had stopped beside the office hallway.
Nathan looked at her.
“What happened?”
Madeline opened her mouth.
The guest with the phone answered first.
“She pushed her.”
Nathan’s face became cold.
Madeline shook her head.
“It was an accident.”
I caught Nathan’s sleeve.
“I can’t breathe.”
Fear broke through his anger.
He held my face gently.
“Look at me. Stay with me.”
May you like
Then he turned toward the guests.
“Call the police. Now.”
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