The first minutes were ordinary.
Pots moving.
Gloria complaining.
Walter coughing.
My voice saying:
“Maybe we should use less salt.”
Then Gloria’s tone changed.
“You think you know better than me?”
“I’m only thinking about Walter’s doctor.”
“You always have an answer.”
Then Nathan arrived.
The recording captured the argument.
The impact.
My scream.
My breathing.
Gloria saying:
“Maybe now she’ll remember her place.”
Then Nathan.
Leave her there.
The broken leg will be her punishment for not knowing how to obey.
Rebecca stopped the recording.
Her face had gone completely still.
“Rachel.”
“Yes?”
“This is extremely serious.”
“I know.”
“No.”
She said.
“I need you to understand.”
“This is not a bad family argument.”
“This is evidence.”
She resumed the audio.
We listened to Walter ask whether they should call an ambulance.
Then Nathan answered.
