Page 32 of Mine To Hunt

After a moment he looks back at me, offering a reassuring smile that doesn’t quite hide the concern beneath it.

“You ingested a significant dose of lorazepam.” He explains. “An anti-anxiety medication, from what your friend told us.”

He glances briefly toward Maddie. “We acted quickly.” His voice stays calm and matter-of-fact.

“Your stomach was pumped. We started IV fluids and administered activated charcoal to absorb what remained in your system.”

He pauses briefly, clearly choosing his next words with care. “Your bloodwork came back clean. No organ damage. Electrolytes are stable. Vitals are strong.”

The words sink in slowly.

“The medication will metabolize out of your system over the next day or two.” He continues. “You’ll probably feel foggy. Maybe a headache. Some lingering weakness.”

He gives a small reassuring nod. “But nothing permanent. You were lucky. Timing made all the difference.”

Beside me, Maddie exhales sharply. The sound comes out like she’s been holding that breath for hours. Her hand tightens around mine as she turns toward the doctor, relief and fear tangled together across her face.

“So she’s really okay?” She asks quickly. Her voice wobbles despite her attempt to keep it steady. “No long-term damage?”

She glances at me briefly before looking back at him.

“I found her and called 999 right away.” She says. “But I keep thinking… what if I’d waited?”

Her grip tightens around my fingers. “The bottle was half empty. She must’ve taken a lot.”

Dr. Thorne nods gently and rests the chart against his knee as he answers her. “You did everything right, Miss Montclair.”

His tone is calm but firm. “Quick action saved her life. No what-ifs necessary.”

Maddie visibly relaxes a fraction.

“We’ll monitor her overnight.” He continues. “If everything remains stable, we can discharge her tomorrow.”

He glances briefly at me again. “Standard protocol includes a psychiatric evaluation before discharge. Just to make sure we establish a safety plan.”

Relief washes through me slowly. I’m still here. Still breathing. But the words psychiatric evaluation stir a flicker of unease in my chest. A reminder that this isn’t really over.

The video. The stalker. The hollow ache that pushed me to swallow those pills in the first place.

“Thanks, Doctor.” I say softly.

I glance sideways at Maddie, trying to force a weak smile. “See? I’m tough.” My voice is light, though it feels forced. “We’ll laugh about this someday.”

I nod toward her. “Me raiding your medicine cabinet like a bad spy movie.”

Dr. Thorne smiles politely, but his eyes remain serious when they settle back on me.

“Tough, yes.” He says. “But even the toughest people need support after something like this.”

He leans forward slightly on the stool. “Have you considered therapy, Iris? Not just a one-time evaluation.” He continues. “Ongoing therapy.”

He gestures lightly with his hand. “Unpacking the trauma from… whatever led here.”

His gaze holds mine steadily. “An overdose usually indicates deeper distress. Addressing that directly can help prevent this from happening again.”

I shake my head almost immediately. The idea prickles under my skin like an unwelcome touch. Talking about it means reliving it.

The video. The humiliation. The feeling of being watched even when I’m alone.