Chapter One
Dr. Grey sat down in the chair and rolled it up to the bed. “I am just simply here to talk about what happened the other night, it’s only procedure to evaluate because of the high levels of chemicals in your system. We just want to make sure that it wasn’t a suicidal attempt or any sort of self inflicted self injurious behavior. It’s also up to you if you would like your parents here with you during this or if you would rather have them wait in the waiting room.”
Kelsey, not really feeling up to talking about herself or what happened, accepted the fact that she had no choice and opted that she would rather talk alone first. “Mom, Dad, I would like to talk to the doctor alone please.”
Her parents nodded, although offended, and made their way out the door.
“Kelsey, can you please tell me what happened the other night? Remember I am only here to help you.” Dr. Grey started.
“Umm, I guess I just had a bad night. I remember getting off work at my bartending job and sitting down to just have a few drinks with my regulars.” She said softly.
“Can I ask what you were drinking?” Dr. Grey questioned.
“Just my usual, Captain Morgan and Diet Pepsi.” She answered.
“Your usual? How often do you do drink?” The doctor asked.
“I don’t know, I work a lot, and all my jobs involve handling alcohol, so it’s easy to drink more often for me.”
“Do you feel there is a problem with your drinking, Kelsey?” He asked.
“No, I can stop after one or a couple, it’s just the way that I happen to, I don’t know, hang out I guess.” Kelsey lied.
“So you sat down to have a few alcoholic drinks, and then what?” He asked.
“Well I struggle with depression I think so sometimes it makes me happier. So after 2 drinks I decided that I should probably stop and head home. I left the bar and drove home. After I got there I decided to have a few more drinks there. My roommates were gone for the weekend and so I was alone. Like usual my mind began racing and I started feeling really sad. One of my room mates has depression as well and so the bathroom is full of pills for anxiety and sadness and so on. I figured maybe if I took some I would feel better.” She said slowly.
“What was the medication you took and how much?” He inquired.
“I don’t remember the name, just some little white pills, and I took 2 of them and went back to the computer room. They didn’t really do much at first, but then I felt so relaxed and more depressed at the same time. So I took some more, and then I had the urge to take them all and I did. I didn’t do it to commit suicide though, just curiousity.” She lied again. Then when I started feeling really weird I got scared and decided to drive to the ER in case I maybe took too much. I knew that I shouldn’t drive because I had so much to drink as well, but I didn’t want to call anyone. I figured I would be ok." Kelsey finished.
“I see,” Dr. Grey said as he went on writing notes, “Kelsey, the levels in your system were extremely high, fatal. They tested out as Benzotropines. These drugs are given to patients with high levels of anxiety, they can be very dangerous. The fact that you took so many looks to us as an intentional overdose. With those and your alcohol level at almost a .23 is even more dangerous. Can you tell me a little about your depression you mentioned?”
“There’s not much really to say, I just get sad, like everyone else in this world,” she said, hoping she could make it sound better than it was.
The doctor nodded. He leaned over turning Kelsey’s palms up. “Can you explain these scars and recent wounds on your arms?”
Kelsey looked down, she had been a cutter for probably the last 10 years. “It’s nothing, just some cuts. I have done this for a long time, it’s under control.”
“Some of these scars show some severely deep wounds Kelsey. That’s nothing? Tell me more about it.” He asked curiously.
“I don’t really want to talk about them, they are not like suicide attempts, just a way to relieve pain sometimes.” She said.
“Kelsey, I am going to be honest with you. This whole situation is quite serious. I really feel that it would be safer if you stayed here for few days. Not here in the ER, but on our psychiatric unit. I feel I have no other choice than to put you under a 72 hour hold. I don’t feel that you are safe otherwise.”
Kelsey’s eyes got wide, “No, please, really I am ok. It’s not a big deal. I am safe. I can’t miss work right now. I have too many things that I have to do. I promise it’s ok.”
“Kelsey, I can’t let you leave. There are too many red flags here and I feel this is the best option right now. Anne will be in after awhile to bring you up to the unit. Let me make a suggestion, with 72 hours you have a chance to hopefully straighten some things out. There are groups and very nice nurses that you can talk to up there. Make the best of it. After 72 hours you will be eligible to go back home, but it also depends on what the doctors and nurses feel is safe as well.” With that, Dr. Grey stood up and walked out.
Kelsey’s parents came back into the room. “Honey are you ok? How long are they keeping you here?” Her mother asked.
“The fuckers put me on some stupid hold. This is bull, I want to go home.” Kelsey growled. “They can’t do this!”
Steve sat down next to Kelsey, “What happened Kelsey?” He looked at her arms and then at her sympathetically. “Were you drinking again?”
Kelsey looking away ashamed and guilty, “I just had a few too many drinks and I took a couple pills to feel better, that’s all!”
Jackie looked at her daughter, she wanted to just pull her close and tell her everything would be ok. That would be a lie though. She knew that Kelsey drank too much, and she knew that Kelsey had cut back in high school, but never this bad. She never knew that it was still a problem.
“Sweetheart, the doctors know what they are doing. Maybe this will be a good thing for you.” Jackie consoled.
Kelsey, annoyed with the concern and attention, turned her head away, “I just want to be alone right now. I’ll call you guys later. Just go home and worry about the other kids.” Kelsey had 3 other siblings, all younger. She was the oldest at 23, and her sister 16, and then there was her two brothers who were 12 and 9.
Her parents quietly left after saying goodbye. Kelsey waited for Anne to come back. Maybe she could talk her into believing she would be ok. She did not want to stay here, especially with New Years coming soon. She had one of the best shifts that night. She would be off by 10pm, and have made excellent tip money to spend on drinks and shots until the New Year. She was craving a cigarette and a Jag bomb right now. It would ease all the tension she was feeling. She closed her eyes and tried to get comfortable, despite all the pain. Her leg was broken and casted and she also had a broken rib that made it almost impossible to get relaxed. Her head was pounding and the stitched cut across her forehead was pulsing with her heartbeat.
Treatment? Chapter One
Haha… thanks for catching that. THat is what I meant!
Treatment? Chapter One
The broken bones were kinda just chucked in there at the end. You might want to expand on their genesis a little. Otherwise, I’ll wait til the next couple to pass judgement. Clearer spacing would be good though.