He moved toward one of the cabinets along the wall and opened it. The sound was soft, like everything in the house was. He reached inside, shifting something, papers maybe, until he found what he was looking for. A thick folder. He stood there for a second with it in his hand, too long for it to just be aboutgrabbing something. Then he turned back and walked towards me again. I stayed where I was, still close enough that if I moved just a little more, it would’ve changed the entire distance between us.
He stopped at the table and sat the folder down between us. His hand rested on top of it for a second, then he looked at me again.
“Maybe…”he started, then adjusted it, lowering his tone.
“Maybe it’s better if you see it for yourself.”
He didn’t push it toward me, didn’t open it, just left it there. Close enough that I could reach it without standing, or close enough that I didn’t have to reach for anything else.
The Inescapable
Chapter 30
Wojewódzki Szpital dla Nerwowo i Psychicznie Chorych w Lubiazu
(Voivodeship Hospital for Nervous and Mentally Ill in Lubiaz)
Psychiatric Inpatient Record - Closed Ward
(Translated from original Polish documentation)
Patient Name:Magdalena [Surname redacted]
Age:24 years
Sex:Female
Gestational Age:Approx. 32–34 weeks
Mode of Admission:Emergency admission following suicide attempt
Legal Status:Involuntary admission under psychiatric hold
Reason for Admission
Patient admitted following a suicide attempt and ongoing risk of harm to self and unborn child.
Prior to admission, patient reportedly engaged in repeated attempts to terminate pregnancy through self-inflicted means, resulting in multiple internal injuries requiring gynecological evaluation.
Initial Presentation
Upon arrival, patient was highly agitated, disorganized, and resistant to examination.
Observed:
Loud, pressured speech
Episodes of screaming and crying
Rapid shifts between agitation and withdrawal
Refusal of physical contact, followed by sudden aggressive outbursts
Patient required physical and pharmacological restraint upon admission due to risk posed to herself and staff.
Mental Status Examination
Appearance:Disheveled, poor self-care
