“The only one I’m a danger to is the man who tried to kill me.”And maybe Mrs.Reed, if she dared to follow through with her threat and appear here at Longview.
“Well, he won’t be trying again any time soon.He’s in the hospital with a great deal of blood loss, and the risk of infection in his wound is high.He may well die from your attack, and yet I sense no remorse for your actions.”
“I would never wish for anyone to die because of my hand, but I feel no guilt for defending myself.He would have killed me had I not acted.He is the guilty party, not I.”
He shook his head.“This is not a court where we determine guilt or innocence.”
Really?You could have fooled me.
“We are a hospital for the mentally ill, and I am afraid you are very sick through no fault of your own.Your mother has brought this upon you with all her talk of a man pursuing you, but I do not believe you are as far gone as she.There is hope for your healing if you will allow us to help.”
“I don’t know what kind of help you think you provide here, but I’ve not seen any improvements in Mum to believe your methods successful.”
He sighed and leaned back in his chair.“I know we have not seen eye to eye on your mother’s treatments, but I truly do have both of your best interests in mind.Your mother is a chronic sufferer, and the best we can do at this stage is to keep her calm and quiet so she is not a danger to herself or others.”
“Calm?You mean sedated.”
“For now, yes.You are not aware, but after you left on Tuesday, she attacked a visitor because she believed him to be Winston coming after you.”
The announcement was both horrifying and hopeful.“Were there witnesses?Someone who could go to the hospital and verify he is the same man who attacked me?”
His lips firmed, and it was a moment before he spoke.“Miss Davis, you attacked the man, not the other way around.Until you can accept the truth, you’ll be like your mother, trapped in a web of fear that leaves you incapable of functioning in society.Is that what you want?You are young and vibrant.It would be a shame for you to wither away here.You deserve to have a life outside of these walls.You deserve to have a husband and a family.Certainly there is a young man you wish to get better for?”
What would Ezekiel think of all this?He wouldn’t blame her, but if she wasn’t released, there could never be a future for them.Once a week supervised visits split between her and his mum were no way to form a lasting relationship.And if she were released, enough witnesses who believed Mrs.Reed’s story existed to make the stench of insanity cling so tightly to her that they’d be shunned as a couple.Would he want that shame while presenting himself as a respected composer?
And what of the Guardians?Sure, one of their ideals was loyalty, but would an oath made during their school days hold against such a reputation?Lydia was marrying a detective, Flossie was starting a business, and Theresa’s grandfather would be vehemently opposed to their friendship.Could any of them, for the sakes of their families or businesses, afford to be associated with her?
And what about Father?He’d been upset at Nora’s arrest, but he hadn’t denied the possibility she was insane.Would he abandon her like he had Mum?What if, when she finally gained her freedom, no one remained in her life?Or worse, what if she never gained her freedom?Was Mrs.Reed’s threat idle and meant to keep Nora afraidand seeing enemies?Or was it real and Mrs.Reed would appear with whatever she planned next?What a cunning and devious woman.No matter what happened to Nora from here, her life would be forever changed.
Please, God.I don’t know what to expect.Should I be vigilant against attack, or should I ignore any attempts to make me appear crazy?
The old bands tightened around her chest.
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”The verse, now familiar thanks to Ezekiel, settled over her.It wasn’t her power that loosened the bands, but God’s.His power.His love.All so she could have a sound mind.Peace, regardless of whatever Mrs.Reed meant.
She might be stuck here for now, but that didn’t mean it was forever.She could endure whatever Dr.Chalfant considered the proper treatment for her ailment.She glanced at his handwriting, thankful for the years of reading Lydia’s upside down.Acute violent paroxysmal mania.Acute was good.That meant he truly believed her stay would be of short duration.
“And what treatment do you suggest for my bout of mania?”
Dr.Chalfant smiled at his apparent victory.“We want you to feel comfortable and safe here.We’ll start with removing your restraints.”He nodded to the police officer in the corner.
The poor man did his job so efficiently, he almost fell backward in his attempt to scurry out of arm’s reach.He probably expected her to spring at him and claw his face.
“Nurse Rhodes will take you for a warm bath, some clean clothing, and a hot meal.I often find when patients arrive that they are suffering from dyspepsia.We’ll do a few rounds of purgatives, ensure a diet encouraging healthy and frequent movements, and include plenty of exercise.I’d like you to spend the first few days resting though.”
What a polite way to say she would be sedated.Nora clenched her jaw to keep from arguing.
“It will calm any lingering cerebral excitement.We’ll provide you with a Bible to meditate on when you feel up to it.I believe it will help quiet your spirit and perhaps correct the moral direction your soul is taking.”
He had no right to assume he knew the moral direction of her soul, and what audacity to providehera Bible but not a priest to Mum.Whose moral compass was more misdirected?It certainly wasn’t hers.She kept the thoughts to herself.If she wanted a chance at freedom, she’d have to behave.
“I’m glad we’ve come to an agreement, Miss Davis.Nurse Rhodes will see to your needs, then escort you to your room to rest.”
A pock-faced girl took Nora by the arm.“This way.By the time we get you tucked in bed, you’ll be so relaxed not a single unpleasant thought will bother you.”
But Nora should have known Dr.Chalfant’s description of her treatment would be as true as a wooden nickel.Oh, the bath was nice enough, but everything declined from there.The brown gown she was given to wear was as drafty as a broken window and itched with the promise of fleas.The hot meal was watery gruel, tepid milk, a handful of pills, and two tinctures Nurse Rhodes refused to name.For all Nora knew, she’d been poisoned and was being led to the dead room, where they would store her body after she succumbed.
An unearthly haze clouded her mind and caused her steps to stumble.Nothing about the building was welcoming beyond the rooms meant for the public, but the atmosphere grew increasingly disconcerting the deeper into the belly of Longview they walked.Doors changed from the normal solid wood to metal ones with bars for windows.The stench of unemptied chamber pots wrinkled her nose.Whimpers, moans, and unintelligible cries joined with the shadows to form a setting ripe for one of Lydia’s crime novels.
