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“Yes, I’m sure she did.”
He rubs his finger along his chin, “Perhaps the panic attack was physiological? She’s going to definitely need to see a specialist. I’m afraid that her release back into the world is going to be hard on her.”
“Whatever needs to be done, I can handle it. I just want to help her.”
Dr. Hunter pats my shoulder, “I’m sure you do, but sometimes these things don’t happen overnight. She might not be the same Raya you knew six years ago.”
“Even if she’s changed, I can bring her back.”
Melanie stands next to me and grabs my hand, “We will both bring her back.”
I turn to her and smile, “How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?”
She giggles, “It’s not luck—I choose to be here.”
For the next week, Melanie and I take turns watching over Raya. Her lung has healed, thankfully, and her bruises have even gone down. However, a few days ago she started having flu-like symptoms and vomited. One day, she even woke in a brutal sweat. Her entire body was wet with sweat and Melanie had to help the nurses change her clothing.
After several tests, Dr. Hunter advised that Raya was going through withdrawal. Her moods have become erratic, she has the sweats, and she even has difficulty breathing at some. We have to keep her under tight surveillance just in case she vomits so she doesn’t choke on it. Seeing her in pain kills me; I wish I could take it all away. To watch her suffer, day after day, is not an easy task. They start detox medications on her which make matters worse because she’s still healing from the surgery. She has to endure the pain of her physical wounds on top of the pains from the withdrawal.
Melanie glances at me, “Why don’t you take a break? Grab a bite to eat. I can watch her.”
I shake my head, “No, I don’t want to leave her.”
“Duke, we’ll be fine. Trust me, I’m a nurse, remember?”
I sigh, “Fine. Do you want anything?”
“Nope, I’m good.”
“Okay, I’ll be back in a bit.”
I leave the room only to run into a cop standing outside her door.
“Oh, excuse me, officer.”
“Are you Duke Grayson?”
I hesitate, “Yes?”
He takes out his badge to verify his identity, “I’m Officer Whitmore. I’ve been assigned to Miss Winters’s case.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, “Did you guys find Derrick? Is that why you’re here?”
“No, I’m here to ask you a few questions about Mr. Anderson. Have you met him before?”
“Technically no, I’ve never met him, but he knows her step-father, Craig Willis. Craig is currently incarcerated at Auburn Correctional Facility in New York.”
“Do you know how Miss Winters and Mr. Anderson came to know each other?”
“No, I do not. However, I suspect they may have met at the gym. He’s a kickboxing instructor.”
Officer Whitmore continues to ask me several questions about Derrick and my involvement in the case. There’s nothing new that I can really offer, so the conversation ends quickly and he returns to the station.
As I walk to the cafeteria, I grab my phone out of my pocket and dial Rob’s number.
On the third ring he answers, “Hey, how is she?”
“Ehh, not good. She’s still going through the withdrawal.”
