The Patient

Chapter One

Jane listened carefully, staying as still as possible as the doctor updated her parents on her situation. She didn't want anyone to bother her, in fact, she wouldn't even be in this situation if people weren't so bothersome. That's what she figured but it didn't stop her from pretending to be asleep all while listening in. She needed to know what they were saying about her. By barely opening her eyes, she could make out her mother holding on tightly to her stepfather, who, likewise, had a firm grip around her. The doctor remained calm. "Right now she has low blood pressure due to the wounds she received on her body. They appear to be self-injurious and I noticed past scar marks on her arms and legs. May I ask how long this has been occurring?"          

Her mother took a deep sigh, "Around a year or so. She's been to a therapist to address it and some other things and she was doing really well! I just...I don't know. It's never gotten this bad before. She just started back up again and won't tell us what's been going on." Jane wanted to roll her eyes. Her mother had it way off. First, it's been a year and a half and secondly...She felt a pit in her stomach and she squeezed the blanket. It occupies my brain. I should be over it but I'm not.

"She uh..." her stepfather leaned in closer to the doctor. "We try not to pressure her to talk about it but Jane just won't let us in. We've told you before, but when she was younger..." His voice started to drag on out and Jane closed her eyes fully. I can't let you two see it again. It's too painful. Jane entered a state of relaxation but was quickly stirred up when she heard the doctor say the words "inpatient treatment." Internally she groaned. Anything but that please. She knew her parents were going to choose that option. But it's not fair. It was the beginning of summer and she literally finished her freshman year a week ago. Her parents' decision was reaffirmed when she heard the door open and felt her mother's hand rub her back. In a gentle whisper, her mother said, "Sweetie...Your dad and I are gonna step out and bring you some of your things. When you wake up, we'll be right there. Don't worry."

Despite all that was going on, she was comforted by those words. She was always comforted by her mother's words. She was just so angry at the situation. Her parents walked away with the doctor and Jane felt a tear roll down her face but she was not the only one crying. Her parents walked past another couple where the mother was loudly weeping. Her husband had a grim expression on his face as both another doctor and police officer spoke to them. She felt sorry for them but slowly the woman's weeping drowned out and sleep took over Jane.

A loud thud hit Jane's door and she shot up, her heart beating just as loudly as the thud. She whipped her head around towards the door. In her dark room, a shadow could be made out from the well lit hallway behind the door. "M-mom?" Jane said, slowly getting up. Instantly feeling woozy, she grabbed a hold of the bed frame. She looked around the room. "I'm still in the same room?" It was now dark outside when Jane pulled the curtain back. "Where's my mom?" She searched for a clock as panic set inside her body. Surely her parents didn't leave her, she thought. Again, a loud thud hit the door. "Who is it?" Jane stammered.

Walking closer to the door, the sounds didn't stop and kept becoming more frequent and louder in intensity. Fear settled deeper in Jane and she shouted, "Leave me alone or I'll call security!" Nonetheless, the sounds didn't stop and Jane hit the call button. She ran back to her bed and hugged her knees. "I have to be in the psych ward! My parents placed me here while I was asleep. That must be it..." She wanted to keep telling herself that but she was still in the same room from earlier. In fact, the room was just the same as when her parents left. "Where are they?" she asked herself, now covering her ears to escape the persistent banging. She hit the call button again and then again and again. Each panicked click of the button grew more frequent as the thudding increased.

The thudding stopped by an equally louder thud. Jane jolted. Was it over? She tiptoed to the door, placing her ear next to it. She could hear a faint voice and she couldn't make out what they were saying. One statement she did hear was "It's time for your medicine." Jane squeezed her eyes tightly. She wanted to know what was happening but her gut was telling her not to open the door. Nonetheless, she needed to erase the panic inside her by knowing the situation was taken care of. She gulped and cracked the door open.