"Doc's not here to judge you or make assumptions.I know you're tired and want to be alone, but this has to happen.Do you want me to answer when you can't?"
"Mr.Sulli—"
I almost give myself whiplash when I jerk my head towards the doc.
"Do you want answers or not?"
"Yes, however, I need her to—"
"Shit out of luck, Doc.If she doesn't feel comfortable, then you'll have to settle with me."
"Mr.Sullivan, I must in—"
"No!"I bite, in the same tone I use when neck-deep in operations.Squeezing Sadie's hand, I steamroll forward.
"It's becoming a normal occurrence, yes.Several months ago, she was able to recall all events.I've recorded a few episodes where she had no recollection."
She scribbles notes down on her paper and bristles—like I give a shit.
"Do you hear or see things that are not there?"
"Yes, no.I...maybe?They've been there almost all my life.”Sadie responds as fast as I about bit the woman's head off.It catches me by surprise—she acknowledged that they may not be real.
"When you hear or see these things, do they tell you to do bad things to yourself or people around you?"Doc moves on, not dwelling.
"Yes."
"Have you ever hurt someone other than yourself?"
The momentum fades again but I pick up the slack.Technically, the assault is an active investigation and she's not supposed to talk about it.Good girl.
"You'll need to speak with her lawyer about that."
"Why's that?"A light-colored brow lifts.
"Active investigation."
"Alright.What about yourself, do you have thoughts of hurting yourself more often than not?"
"Mostly."
"Do you have a plan?"
"A plan for what?"Sadie comes back sharply, only to realize what she asked."No."
She scrawls more notes along the printed lines of her fancy paper while a run-of-the-mill hospital exists outside of the room.First, it's Sadie's heart monitor I hear, then a metallic whine of cart wheels rolling down the hallway.Somewhere else beyond the door, phones ring off the hook, an elevator chimes, and nurses laugh at their computers.
A normal day's work.Patients and family, diagnoses and med pass as Sadie and I sit in here with this strange woman, exposing her rawness and making her relive how her world has crumbled.
"Sorry about that.Let's move on.When you're home, do you have a support system?"
"Uhm, no."
"What do you mean?Mr.Sullivan is here with you.Is he not normally?"
Sadie tenses, then tries to pull her hand from mine, but I hold tight."He is.The voices hate him though."
"Why is that?"
