No One Believed Me—Until It Was Too Late / Chapter 6: The Cost of Doing Nothing
No One Believed Me—Until It Was Too Late

No One Believed Me—Until It Was Too Late

Author: Anna Miller

Chapter 6: The Cost of Doing Nothing

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After getting my reply, Mrs. Ramirez kept thanking me.

She sent a flood of grateful messages, her relief almost overwhelming.

She sent over a dozen videos in just a few minutes, repeatedly asking if there was a snake.

I watched each one, scanning for any sign of danger. Nothing yet.

Later, she asked if her mother-in-law could add me so I could keep a video call open and watch the baby.

That’s not me. The request made my skin crawl. I wasn’t ready to be anyone’s lifeline.

How could someone be so pushy?

I shook my head, feeling both guilty and annoyed.

I refused and told her, if she was really worried, to contact management and 911.

I typed out a firm reply: "Call 911. Keep the door locked. I can’t help from here."

Where the hell were they? And why hadn’t animal control or the fire department arrived yet?

I checked the time, anxiety spiking. Where were they?

It had already been over twenty minutes.

Time crawled. The wait felt endless. Every second stretched on forever.

Suddenly, Mrs. Ramirez sent me a message: "My mother-in-law was bitten! Please help her!"

My heart dropped. I read the message twice, hoping I’d misunderstood.

No way. How could that be?

I replayed the videos in my mind. There hadn’t been any sign of the snake.

I’d carefully checked the doors, windows, and rooms in the video. There was definitely no snake.

Had it been hiding? Waiting for the right moment?

Mrs. Ramirez sent a tearful voice message apologizing: "My mother-in-law said the baby kept crying, so I thought, since the snake was in the apartment, it was even more dangerous. I told her to take the baby upstairs to find you. As soon as she went out, she was bitten by the snake."

Too late now. Her words were choked with guilt. I felt a wave of helpless anger—at her, at the situation, at myself for not doing more.

If it weren’t for the innocent child, I would have blocked her already.

The thought crossed my mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Wasn’t this just asking for trouble?

I wanted to scream. Why hadn’t she listened?

"My mother-in-law is still breathing. She used all her strength to crawl back home with the baby. Please save her! You know about snakes—you must know how to treat snakebites, right?"

I’m not a doctor. I’m barely holding it together. I shook my head, tears pricking my eyes.

My hands shook as I typed: "Keep her calm. Don’t move her. Wait for the ambulance."

All she could do now was hope for the ambulance.

I whispered a prayer for them, feeling more helpless than ever.

Great. Just great. Mrs. Ramirez sobbed even harder. "There’s a city marathon today, all the roads are closed. Not even ambulances can get onto our street."

The realization hit me like a punch. The timing couldn’t have been worse.

No wonder animal control hadn’t come.

I cursed under my breath. Of all the days for a marathon, why today?

But why did it have to be today?

I stared out the window, watching the distant crowds and barricades. The city felt a million miles away.

Mrs. Ramirez then sent me a screenshot from a video call.

My hands trembled as I opened the image.

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