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Drew
“Take a seat.”The therapist motioned to the chair on the other side of thedesk.
I pretty much loathed all the therapy sessions…group and individual. “Sure.” I sank into the chair and crossed my legs, propping my ankle on my knee while trying to appear at ease. My ninety-day stint at rehab was nearly up. If all went as planned, I should be leaving in the next few days. I’d be free by theweekend.
“Would it be an accurate assessment to suggest you’re simply playing the game here, Mr. Morgan?” Her brow arched and her annoyance was nearly palpable. After all, she had to be pushing retirement and the patients here must’ve put her through the ringer. I know Iwas.
I licked my lips and leaned forward on my knees. “I don’t think that’s really a fair question, Jackie. Do you?” Then I stared across the desk at her, waiting for a response. When she crossed her hands on the desk and returned my look with her own, I grew flustered. “This wasn’t my idea. It’s not like I woke up one day, decided I had a problem, and soughthelp.”
“Right. You woke up one night, decided you hated being in a hospital, and broke out.” She tilted her head and waited for me to continue thestory.
“Have you ever stayed in a hospital?” I grimaced. “The food is lousy. The beds are incredibly uncomfortable. The television, which is practically from the dark ages, has all of three channels. Why would Istay?”
“Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do. We don’t always have choices. Didn’t anyone ever tell you this?” Jackie frowned, which only accentuated her wrinkledface.
I shrugged. “My nanny tried that once. I told her to shut the fuck up. When she didn’t, I told my parents and she wasfired.”
Her eyes closed for a moment. I knew frustration when I saw it. Given my past experience, I felt reasonably confident I could wear her down. Then I’d be free to do what I wanted all over again. I leaned back in my seat and struggled to hide mysmile.
“I know you’ve been spoiled your whole life, but it needs to stop. Here. Now.” She sighed deeply. “You need one person in your life who isn’t going to kowtow to you, isn’t going to placate you, and might just stand up toyou.”
I scratched at my chin. There was no hiding my Cheshire cat grin. “Yeah, I don’t see that happening. Know what I do seehappening?”
“Your ninety days being up. You getting released. You continuing on with your worthless life.” She pursed herlips.
“I think someone’s a little used to having her way, Jackie.” I laughed. “You can’t win them all. And good news! You don’t have to treat me. We’re about done here,right?”
“You haven’t changed at all.” She leaned closer on the desk. “Here’s the thing. When you leave in a few days, I’m not even going to saygoodbye.”
“You hate me that much?” I interjected, my hand laid on my chest in mockhorror.
She shook her head. “Not at all. I feel sorry for you. As much as you claim to hate this place, you seem pretty determined to keep comingback.”
“I haven’t come back.” I rolled my eyes. “This is my firsttime.”
“True. This is your first timehere.” Jackie stared at mepointedly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I scowled, but inside, I could feel my heartracing.
“Do you think I didn’t know? Did it never occur to you we’d have all your past medical history?” She laced her gnarled fingers and waited for myresponse.
I stared down at the carpet a moment. It was this boring brown commercial stuff. “I don’t have a problem,” Imumbled.
“Are you sure about that?” She eyed me curiously. “For someone who doesn’t have a problem, you’ve spent an awful lot of time in rehabs.” She frowned. “And yet your parents never came to visit you, didthey?”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “My father works longhours.”
“And yourmother?”
“She has a lot of responsibilities.” I shrugged. “I’m a grown man. I can take care ofmyself.”
“If that was true, you wouldn’t be here.” Jackie sighed. “You seem determined not tochange.”
“Well, I don’t believe in fixing what works.” Ijoked.
“Newsflash, Mr. Morgan: this isn’t working.” She pointed at myforearms.
