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“Unicorn horse and popcorn guns shells and bow ties Texas?”
“Oh my gosh, are you even speaking English? What language is that? Can you just please do a collect call to Doctor Shelby Bow in Tyler, Texas?”
“Locker shells bow ties Texas?”
“Call the number,” Lena begged, crying and feeling overwhelmed, before another voice answered the phone.
“Dr. Bow’s office, this is Hillary – can I help you?”
“Hillary – I need to talk to my sister, and I am in really bad shape. Some weird robot voice keeps talking about unicorns, lockers, and bowties, and I need someone to get Shelby. Can you get Shelby for me? Please. I need help.”
Lena sat there, eyes closed, not sure if anyone heard her or understood, but the game show music playing on the phone sounded so soothing. Was it game show music or the music from Tetris? She used to love that game and always changed it over to the Russian melody because it was so calming.
Bum-ba-bum-bum-bum-bum-da-da-da-da-dummm… dum, dum…
Lena hummed, waving her finger in the air, laying her head on the table, and holding the receiver to her ear, content for the moment, only to hear a voice interrupt the pretty music.
“Hello?”
“Shelby, I’m so sorry…” Lena instantly began, recognizing that she was slurring her words and could barely get it out. Yes, she was still higher than a kite and had fallen for all the stupid words once more.
Here, Lena, it will make you feel good…
Take this - and you are one of us…
Be my sweet girl and hang out with us for a bit…
Don’t you want to hang out with us?
“Lena, what is going on?” Shelby said impatiently, and Lena felt something give within her, knowing just how bad this was and how broken she felt. What was wrong with her that only the losers came around and talked to her? Every time they talked her into doing stuff she didn’t want, convinced her that she was loved and their friend… but they weren’t her friends.
They’d left her in the grass, unconscious.
“I need help,” Lena whispered, sobbing. “I don’t know what to do, and I’m scared.”
“Lena, it’s okay. Tell me what’s going on?”
“I lost my job at the grocery…”
“So get another one.”
“I can’t pass a drug test,” Lena wept. “I can’t stay here. I can’t do this anymore. There’s too much going on around me, and every time I turn around, I’ve got pills being shoved in my hand.”
“What’d you take this time?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t know. I can’t remember the last day, and the police picked me up near the wishing well. They took me to the clinic to make sure I was okay and let me sleep it off here. I’ve never had this happen and…”
“Okay, breathe,” Shelby interrupted, sounding so frustrated, and for a moment, Lena was afraid that she wouldn’t come this time. “I’ll figure this out and…”
“I don’t want to be alone while I detox. What if I can’t stop? I’m scared, really scared this time, please, Shelby. I need someone to be with me, and I can’t tell Mom. She’ll insist on rehab and lock me away somewhere,” Lena begged tearfully. “I’ve got enough money saved to pay the rent for this month, but if I can’t get a job, then…”
“Lena, we’ll figure this out. I do not want you talking to anyone, okay? Not Davy, not Jorge, not even Mike. Mike isnotyour friend.”
“I know… Mike is the one who gave me this last pill.”
“I want you to tell the police everything – and I’m coming. I’ve got one patient left to see before I can leave, if I can get a flight out tonight. I’ll rent a car and be there late; but do not talk to anyone. I’m serious. Go straight home after you tell the police about Mike giving you the drugs.”
“I need to get some Gatorade… or…” Lena began, knowing just how bad detox could be – and she had never been this far gone before. It was kind of terrifying to think about what the withdrawal could be like and…
