Devoted to Emotional Turmoil

Xavier tried to apologize, sit down, look calm…

But the doctor only wanted to focus on the ghosts- thinly veiling off hand comments designed to get him to admit he was completely delusional, utterly insane and saw ghosts.

It was irritating but it also freaked him out. Why were they so dead set on the idea he had to be crazy?

He was used to people thinking the worst of him. In fact, in recent years he had begun to lean into the persona: grunge clothing, skipping class, some light drug use and a devil-may-care attitude.

It hurt less to be undervalued if he intentionally invited it the judgement.

So yeah, strangers and acquaintances jumped to conclusions about him all the time. But this- this was new- he wasn’t used to preconceived notions of insanity.

Were they really trying to trick him into admitting? Why wouldn’t they just take his answers at face value?

They had already made up their opinions, just like the kids at school and every single one of his teachers. They were treating this like an interrogation where he would eventually crack and they would be proven right.

They would trust the sheriff. His son was just an unreliable, delusional problem.

So he tried his best not to give the doctor anything he could sink his claws into.

---

That night, he slept because of whatever they gave him at bedtime. So hard in fact that he only woke up twelve hours later to someone nudging him and calling his name loudly.

”-Xaiver-“

He was bleary and confused. Above him was a nurse, orderly and a different man in a white coat.

“Good morning, Xavier, your dad is here to see you.”

That woke him up quickly. His dad was here- he’d take him home now. He'd talk to him. He would tell him they were drugging him. His dad would want him out of here and forget it ever happened.

Thank fucking god.

He wrenched himself up but then the orderly was already putting a hand on his chest- “Just a minute, first, take this-"

Xavier looked at the little pot the nurse was holding forward, then to the new doctor and the orderly. Why did he have to take something if he was leaving?

They all stared, “As soon as you take it, you can go see your dad.”

Xavier tamped down the growing feeling of dread in his stomach and nodded, then swallowed the cupful in one go.

See, he was of sound mind, compliant and polite.

”Good job.” The new doctor said, his eyes warm.

The doctor and the orderly walked him to a therapy room, he had to enter first. It seemed the new doctor was just the one on shift today. On the way there he assured Xavier that he had read all of the notes and spoken to the others. Xavier didn’t feel comforted by that.

His dad was already sitting in one of the three chairs in the plain shoe box sized room. His eyes flit up to see Xaiver but he didn’t look relieved to see his only child.

The orderly pulled out a chair that Xavier was obviously meant to sit in. Then the doctor sat in the remaining chair.

Oh so it was going to be one of those kinds of meetings- like a parent teacher.

Those had never gone well for him.

“Sheriff Baxter, I am glad you could make it.”

Xavier’s Dad only nodded, eyes hard, like he didn’t want to be here.

Then the doctor looked back to him, “Xavier, we like to have group meetings like this with the patient and family so that everyone is included and everyone can have an input in the patient’s care-“

Xavier nodded, posture unsually straight and stiff. He just need to talk to his dad.

“So, Xavier, how are you feeling today?”

It took him a second to recognize that he had asked the question, he was too focused on what he wanted to say to his dad.

"Uh- fine. Can I just talk to my dad for a second?"

"This is a group conversation, Xavier."

He glanced between the two of them, uncomfortable but he spoke anyway, "Dad- I am really feeling fine. I think i was tired the other night or something. My head's feeling a lot better."

His dad's forehead was creased and he looked down.

"Look- Dad, listen to me. They've been drugging me. I need you to take me home. This place is freaky. I promise I am fine-" His voice rose just a little. His dad didn't want to be here.

That freaked Xavier out further. Hopefully he would sign the papers and they would just go home and never talk about this never again.

The doctor and his dad shared a millisecond long look.

“Xavier, we are going to talk about next steps-"

He looked at both of them, dread pooling and then replied as neutrally as he could, “… Okay?”

“The other clinicians and I have reviewed your case carefully. We took many things into consideration, like what your dad told us, your behavior while here, what you’ve shared- …. And it is our recommendation that you continue in-patient treatment for a little while longer.”

Xavier looked at his Dad then the doctor again, “-Continue?” He was dumbstruck, “I told you- I told everyone- I am not crazy, I don’t believe in fucking ghosts-”

His dad looked like he was in pain but still didn’t speak. The doctor continued, unphased, “I know this might seem overwhelming, maybe frustrating- but we all just want what is best for you- and right now that’s giving you the care you need.”

Xavier kept his tone low and slow hoping his voice wouldn’t shake, “Dad- come on- this is crazy- bat shit.”

The sheriff finally looked back at him, “Xavier- I agree with the doctors, and I think we gotta let them do their jobs and help you.”

“What do I have to say to get you all to get it- What will get through to you?! Is this about the upcoming election?!”

The fucking sheriff's election. A son accused of murdering his girlfriend was a very inconvenient line on voter's ticket.

”Xavier there is no right answer here, only next steps we can take to help you-“

Xavier’s mouth hung open- as if he was waiting for something-anything to reply with. But he was at a loss. Holy shit, they were doing this. Was this his Dad’s solution for his disappointing fuck up of a son? Or was he actually scared?

The doctor forged ahead, taking advantage of his patient’s momentary silence, “Greenbrook is a great facility. They focus on kids, kids like you- it’s really the ideal situation.”

A lump formed in Xavier’s throat and the stunned sensation pervading every sense kept all words back.

“And just your luck, they happen to have a bed available. Some of their staff are on their way over to help you transfer.” The doctor's expression was opaquely optimistic.

Xavier could only stare at the man, unable to conceive of a way out of this.

“Once you’ve settled in, your dad can visit you there and in no time you’ll have a solid plan of treatment to help get you back to the Xavier you want to be.”

The doctor clapped him on the back as he stood up. Another set of hands helping him out of his chair. His dad was finally speaking but he wasn’t hearing words as they guided him mute and dazed out of the room.

Then it was a surreal blur.

They put restraints- restraints- on him, the kind where two soft canvas loops held his wrists to a belt around his waist. They made him swallow a fresh dose of pills. Orderlies escorted him out of a side hospital entrance.

He had looked around. Looking for his dad at first.

For a brief moment as he looked all around him, some stupid, childlike hope that Simon or Claire would be there- maybe coming to the hospital to see if he was there- and would save him.

But no one was there but an off duty nurse smoking a cigarette, a white passenger van and two men in different uniforms.

They warmly greeted him by name. It sounded so wrong while he was in restraints and getting pulled in against his will. They buckled him into a seat and the door clicked shut.

His friends would think he had abandoned them.

He nodded off during the drive and only woke to someone jolting him into consciousness as they loudly called his name. Whatever they had given him had definitely been another sedative.

The blur continued, a mix of sickening shame and confusiun.

More cheery people led him into a building with long halls and none of the monotonous hospital colored features registered.

He kept stumbling but they held him up as they walked.

"Yep, they gave a hefty dose of diazepam before the transfer, elopement risk. By the looks of it, the doc will have to wait till he’s settled for a few hours to interview.”

”He’s assigned B16, you can take him on down and get him changed for now. He won't be due for meds till noon.”

At one point hands were removing the restraints and then lifting his shirt. In his fog he clumsily backed away, alarmed.

”It’s okay Xavier, we’re just helping you change. Would you like to do it yourself?” The voice was loud and slow- as if he was an idiot… and five.

Blinking hard and his head ringing he grabbed the light green cotton scrubs. He almost fell twice, hands kept materializing to keep him upright. He was so focused on the task that he wasn’t as embarrassed as he should have been to be changing in a room of strangers.

Then he was alone, and lying on a rubber coated mattress.

His head spinned and he closed his eyes.

Welcome to Greenbrook.

It took him uncomfortably long to speak as Xavier waited, leaned forward at the linoleum table in their kitchen. Long enough for a distinctive feeling of shame to settle in Xavier's chest.

“…Look… Xavier…” He grimaced, “I know it’s been tough for you- the accident- your classmates posting online that you did something to Maddie… now her being back- it’s a lot…” his voice was so tender. Xavier felt a chill go down his spine. This wasn’t what he had meant-

“Dad- I’m okay- I’m just telling you the truth- why I’ve been out so much- I know it sounds crazy at first but I can prove it to you- didn’t you want the truth?“

“Xavier. You’re tired. And you’re still healing. Maybe we should get you seen by the doctor again.”

The chill settled in a cold lump in Xavier’s stomach. His dad didn’t believe him- of course he didn’t. He thought his already fucked up burden of a son was crazy.

Xavier stood up, alarm and shame growing in him.

“Xavier- stop- where are you going-“

Xavier slammed his bedroom door shut. He wanted to take back every word of the last ten minutes. Such an idiot. Such a fucking idiot.

Why would his dad ever believe him? What evidence from his entire life with the man would support that expectation?

The heat of shame flushed his neck and face. He had let his guard down. He was such a fucking idiot, delusional to think his Dad would believe anything he would say- his Dad hadn’t even believed his own son when he swore he didn’t hurt Maddie.

He needed to redirect, distract himself- He threw himself onto his bed and opened his phone. For a brief second he considered texting Simon… but he didn’t want to admit to him that he was dumb enough to tell his dad. Simon would laugh at him for being a complete idiot or be irritated and berate him. He didn’t know which would make him feel worse.

So instead he opened a dumb game he had downloaded before Maddie ever disappeared. It was better than punching a hole in his wall and he had deleted his instagram the day he had left Maddie's vigil in the back of a cop car.

It had been about 10 minutes since he shut himself in his room when he heard another voice outside his bedroom… He sat up quickly- it wasn’t just his dads voice…

He was only just registering this when the door cracked open, no knock, revealing his dad and… one of his deputies.

“Xavier-“ his dad was speaking softly- gently. Very much not like his dad, “I think we need to take you back to get checked out by the doctor again- Williams is going to drive.”

Xavier's mind had gone blank- or rather a loud buzzing sound filled it so thoroughly that no other thoughts surfaced.

“Yeah-" his dad was already taking him by the arm and getting him off the bed, “You know- With the hit and run- just good to be safe-"

Xavier had no words, only disbelief and confusion.

His dad steered him out of the house with a tight grip. The deputy trotted ahead a few steps and opened the back door of the squad car. Through the deadening hum it occurred to him that at least it was dark this time. No flashing lights this time unlike at Maddie’s vigil when the whole school saw him driven away in the back of the locked car.

When his dad closed the car door on him, he was finally snapped out of his loss for words “-Dad!” He said it hoarsely, but the men hadn’t opened their doors yet.

The two men got into their seats and Xavier started speak again, his voice firmer, “Dad- I’m fine- we don’t need to go back-“.

Xavier spine was cold. Why- couldn’t a check up with the doctor wait till the morning?

And why- more to the point, had he called his deputy?

“I just want to be careful Xavier- you had a serious accident- I just think we need to get you checked out again.“ his dad was speaking so… softly- like he was coaxing a timid animal.

After that no one spoke. The deputy turned on the radio for the last few minutes it took to get to the Split River hospital.

When they arrived neither man spoke but they had clearly agreed on a plan- because his dad got out and without looking back, walked into the hospital. As Xavier watched the glass door close behind him in confusion, a hand closed around his upper arm. He hadn’t even noticed the deputy opening the backseat door.

“Let’s go Xavier, we’ll meet him inside. He’s just letting them know we’re here.”

“Letting them know?” He echoed dumbly, they were expecting him?

The sheriff always got first priority treatment. When he had needed his appendix out in the sixth grade Xaiver had thought it was kind of cool. He had felt like a VIP. Now it didn't feel like a good thing.

Sure enough the deputy took him past the check in desk where everyone else had to sign in. A middle aged nurse greeted them but didn't stop them from continuing all the way to a ready ER room with just a bed and broken shades. He was told to sit and they would sort this all out in no time.

They closed the door and Xavier anxiously watched through the window as a doctor greeted his dad outside and they began to speak.

He couldn’t hear them but his dad was frowning and rubbing his forehead. The doctor glanced in at him and then back at his dad nodding his head. After what felt much too long the door to his room clicked open.

“Hi Xavier, I’m Dr. Dryer, how are you feeling?” The man posed gently.

Xavier paused for a moment, his mouth open before he spoke.

“I’m fine- I’m not sure why my dad thinks I need to be looked at again- everything’s alright- no pain really-“ He felt weirdly skittish, all he wanted to do was bolt.

The doctor smiled gently, “Your dad told me you had been having some unusual thoughts, ghosts? Thing like that?”

His pulse felt too loud in his ears, “Oh no- that was just- it wasn’t-"

Shit he was terrible at lying when it actually mattered.

“You know Xavier, what you’ve been through the last few weeks, its not unusual to develop coping mechanisms-“

“I’m coping- I mean im not that way- and what? Are dumb ghost stories illegal?" His attempt at stabilizing the imbalance was weak and he knew it.

“Xavier, it’s good you shared with your dad. It’s important to trust your parents. Your dad filled me in a little and from my perspective, there are two reasons why this might be happening. Either stress is making it hard to handle everything. Sometimes our brains come up with ways to make it a little easier, manage things- or there’s a head injury we didn’t catch before."

“No- I-"

The doctor continued, cutting him off, “-Regardless I think it’s best you stay with us a for a day or two so we can monitor you- just to make sure everything’s alright-“

A day or two? He didn’t have that kind of time, Maddie didn’t have that kind of time- “No- I have school. I have a bio test on tomorrow-“

“You don’t need to worry about that right now- right now our focus is on you and that’s alright.”

“No- really. I feel fine- I think-“

“Xavier, staying for a night at least is nonnegotiable, your Dad agrees. We all just want to make sure you’re alright.” His Dad was watching the conversation behind the window like he was observing an interrogation, face focused but flat.

Xavier had gotten off the bed and was looking beyond the doctor to the hallway where he saw the deputy still stationed and then two men in scrubs. He didn’t think he could outrun Deputy Williams. It was alright though- he could sneak out later.

“This is nothing to be embarrassed about- no one at school needs to know. Ted and Jared will escort you over there and you can get settled in.”

“Over where? I can’t stay here?” His voice was rising with panic. He had stayed in the ER before, no need to go anywhere else.

“The ER needs the bed space, but there’s a spot in behavioral health. They’re all ready for you.”

Behavioral health- like psychiatric? Xavier looked at the sleepy emergency department, he saw plenty of beds. It was practically empty.

The men were in the room then, as if summoned by sense. Xavier was backing into the corner.

“No- seriously I don’t need this- it was just a misunderstanding-" he wilted when the men took his arms. He didn't resist and when they started guiding him out of the room.

“Don’t worry Xavier, it will be a nice break, a few days without homework-“ the doctor smiled and nodded to the men.

His Dad suddenly wasn’t there when they led him out of the ER, disappeared to who knows where. Panic constricted Xavier’s throat as they stood in a group of three in the elevator.

”My sister was in a car accident last year, she has the worst anxiety now-“ The man had let go of his arm once the elevator doors closed.

Xavier broke out of his consuming fear for a second confused, then a few beats too late he nodded his head in understanding to be polite, he still didn’t understand.

“Anyway, it’s good you’ll get this sorted out. It will probably only be 48 hours.”

Xavier couldn’t disguise his immediate surprise, ”Forty eight hours?!”

“Enjoy some pudding cups, watch some cartoons, get to skip school, not too bad.”

The other man chuckled a little. Xavier did his best to awkwardly acknowledge the comment in another nod as he tried to regain his external composure. He had no idea how to respond while internally panicking.

Oh god, he had to tell Simon. He needed to text him.

The elevator doors opened and there was a hand on his back gently nudging him forward as he reached into his jeans.

But suddenly there was a hand on his hand and his phone was gone. Xavier looked up in confusion which quickly hardened into annoyance.

“Sorry bud, once you enter this wing the doctor has to approve devices.”

”No- give it back-“ He swatted his arm out to get it back back the orderly was too quick, keeping it out of his grasp.

The other man reached for his arm and held it again. A warning?

Xavier realized he needed to bargain, “I’m sorry- I just need to text my friend. Thats it and then I’ll hand it over.”

“No can do kid, rules are rules,” His tone wasn’t unkind, “- Oh Hey Nancy, this is Xavier Baxter, coming up from the ED.”

Xavier’s eyes darted over to a woman in pink scrubs with a cheery smile on her face, “Hi Xavier, we were expecting you.”

Again a chill traveled down his spine.

”I hear Todd was explaining the phone rule. It’s standard procedure in the first few days, if things go well we can talk about phone privileges after the first 48 hours.”

Xavier didn’t know what to say to this pink perky woman. He wanted to argue but realized being rude to a lady wouldn't help his current predicament.

”But right now its late and everyone is in bed. We will do a quick intake tonight, get you settled in and then in the morning the doctor will be by to see you."

”Dr. Dryer?”

She looked back at him pausing for a moment before saying, “Oh- no. Dr. Kent or Dr. Graham.”

In a matter of minutes Xavier had no shoelaces or belt and was in a plain room with a bizarre block like mattress on the floor and feeling dazed and alone.

How had this happened?

***

Xavier didn’t sleep like they told him to. Not really. Mostly he paced. His head did hurt now. Minutes turned into exceedingly slow hours that were only occasionally punctured but a cough or semi conscious cries in neighboring rooms which freaked him out even more.

He didn't have much of a plan. All he knew was that he needed to get ahold of Simon, Claire, or hell even, Nicole.

He knew this was all a big misunderstanding but the only ones that did understand needed him. He couldn’t just disappear.

He didn’t know what hour it was when the lights in his spartan room clicked on but had felt like the longest night of his life. He stood immediately as his door clicked open.

”Xavier, good morning,”

It was weird how everyone was saying his name like they knew him, like they were familiar friends.

The man in front of him was about 55, grey hair and a cardigan that bunched awkwardly from too many times in the wash cycle.

”Im Dr. Kent. I am here to have a chat with you and see how things are going.”

”I’m not supposed to be here.”

He had rehearsed it all night long in the synthetic light glow: I’m not supposed to be here, im not supposed to be here, im not suppposed to be here.

“Okay, well I am here to help sort everything out. Take a seat and we can get to the bottom of this together.”

Xavier complied and sat back onto the mattress without looking back at it. He was all too familiar with the small room after the last few long hours.

“Xavier, do you know what brought you here then?”

“It was a misunderstanding, I had an accident recently- got hit by a car. I guess my dads worried about my head but this-“ he used his hands to gesture to the room, “-is crazy.”

”Oh yes, I read about the hit and run, that sounded pretty scary.”

”I’m okay.” He responded defensively and straightened his shirt, “My head's alright and I don’t need to be here.”

”Ah, well, now that you are here, we will have you for 48 hours regardless. It’s not a big deal, just a valuable opportunity to make sure everything is alright.”

"I’m not staying for 48 hours, I am not staying for another hour. I need my phone back.”

”They probably explained the phone procedure to you last night, no phones for the first 48.”

”You can’t keep me from contacting anyone. I am not staying here, my friends-“ He stumbled and backtracked, “-I need to talk to a lawyer or something. I am fine. What do I need to say to show I am definitely not crazy-“

The doctor nodded gently and his pleasant expression remained, “Xavier, I’ll explain the hold a little better to you- you being here isn’t optional, your dad expressed serious concern for you and it was enough for a 51-50 hold. This means that legally you have to be observed for the forty-eight hour period, no exceptions.”

Xavier opened his mouth, ready to argue with the man but the doctor continued, “This might feel overwhelming but I promise it is because everyone in your life cares about you and wants to keep you safe.”

Xavier’s eyebrows furrowed, being here was not safe, not for him, not for Maddie, Claire, Simon or Nicole. Hell maybe the whole school was in trouble? He didn’t fucking know.

”Now I wanna talk about what’s been going on with you- I have some notes here on a conversation you had with your dad- it was last night right?”

Xavier’s face flushed in shame, he was honest, really truly honest with his dad and now his dad was telling complete strangers he was crazy.

He wasn’t, he knew it, but it felt like his dad had betrayed him. Well- He did.

”You mentioned to him that you were seeing things other people aren’t- and that you were worried about your friend, Maddie? That someone had taken her body- a ghost?”

God, it sounded so off-the-deep-end coming from this bland man holding a clip board.

His only logical defense was to deny, deny, deny, "No- no- I didn’t say that-“

”You know, I think my house has ghosts.” Dr. Hunt smiled.

Xavier blinked, heart leaping for a fraction of a second.

"In our house- its old you know, and my wife is always swearing she hears footsteps in the attic even when no one else is home, doors unlatched when she knew left them closed- you know. Spooky, I think some spirits from old owners.”

His chest tightened, the man was sharing a ghost story you tell during a dinner party, fun, harmless, a little in jest.

Xavier shook his head, “I don’t- I don’t believe in ghosts.”

“Xavier, you aren’t in trouble- what you told your dad, it’s not a bad thing. Sometimes our brains do things we don’t fully understand, it doesn’t mean its something to be ashamed of.”

Anger sparked in Xavier, this man- using his name like he knew him- and acting like Xavier was confused and helpless and worst of all- insane.

”No. I told you- how many times do I have to tell you all?! I'm not hearing voices, I'm not seeing things- this was a mistake!”

Suddenly there was another man in the room- big and in scrubs. Xavier had stood up without realizing and his heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest.

Dr. Kent had stepped back a step and the new guy had his head slightly cocked to the side, watching him.

"Xavier, buddy, it’s alright- let’s bring this down a notch- do you want to sit back down?” God. The guy was an orderly. Because they needed those guys in places like this.

Again Xavier’s face burned, he was just trying to defend himself. He was exhausted and frustrated, didn’t they get that?

But self conscious, he sat down again.

"That’s good- I’m going to say we put this conversation on pause for a bit- give you some more time to settle. Dana will come by in a few minutes with breakfast.”

Dr. Kent filed out and then the orderly firmly closed the door with a click.

Xavier’s head was spinning. He thought it would be simple to talk to a doctor and sort it out, go back to school by lunch and pretend this never happened.

…. But it was like they weren’t even listening to him… Only what his dad had said.

His dad, the sheriff, measured, respected… of course they were going to take his word over his son’s.

The door clicked again, then open, “Hey hun, I brought breakfast!” Another cheery lady, this time Tom and Jerry scrubs.

She placed the tray on his sheet-less mattress. His eyes slid quickly over it and nearly back to her but then reversed.

There was a little paper pot resting in between the carton of orange juice and something that was probably supposed to be eggs.

”What’s that?” His voice came out rough and lower than he meant.

”The doctor thought you could use a little help settling in- getting some rest. You didn’t sleep at all last night!”

They had watched him? He looked up at the corners of the room, looking for cameras he had missed.

"Uh- no thanks, I don’t need anything-"

"Doctors orders, Xavier, I need to see you take them.”

"What?” he responded blankly.

“The doctor prescribed them because they might help you. Now you need to take the medication or we will have to give it to you another way. But take it from me- this-“ she gestured at the paper pot, “Is much better.”

His throat felt like it was full of glass, “So you're drugging me against my will then?”

“It is just a light sedative, nothing major.”

He took the cup, inside it was two tiny white pills. Then holding back tears of shame he swallowed.

”That’s the spirit. Well done Xavier. Now you’ll have your breakfast in your room and after that someone will be back to take you into the common room.”

He had stopped looking at her. She left, the door clicked closed.

It didn’t take long for whatever he had swallowed to being working, at first he hoped it was in his head. The louder tinny noise like his ears were ringing, his limbs felt heavy and clumsy and his heart felt loud and slow.

He didn’t even fully recognize when someone came back into the room, they said something to him but he didn’t understand. Hands guided him up and out of the room, then settled him in to a thick vinyl covered arm chair. He couldn’t track what was happening- morning sun, a tv going, conversations. He vaguely knew he was trying to cling to the present but also too far away. It was a lost cause.

At some point someone must’ve moved him again because he woke up back in the room they had given him. It took him awhile to get his bearings, but once he did, he got up to test the door. Locked.

The locked door invited a dark pitted feeling in his stomach. They thought he was crazy… did they think he was crazy and dangerous? It sure seemed like it. Why else would they drug him and lock him in? Everyone knew about Maddie and everyone liked to have someone to blame.

He took the drugs earlier because he thought it would show he was reasonable… cooperative. But it was some kind of cruel joke to give him so much he basically passed out. He did not like this doctor. Not at all.

He needed his dad to come back, he could try to talk to him again. After all the doctors would listen to his dad, all he had to do was convince him.

He banged on the door and yelled out a hey, hoping someone would come.

About 30 seconds later a woman with a man, nurse and orderly showed up. The woman was holding another paper pot.

He stepped away from the door so they could open it. He stumbled, the drug they forced on him was still in his system.

”Ss- I need-“ Xavier paused for a moment confused, he was slurring his words. He didn’t understand why he would when he thought he was thinking clearly.

”Honey - don’t worry, that's the diazepam, that’ll wear off soon. Did you get a good nap?”

Xavier’s brows furrowed and he concentrated on each syllable to ensure his tongue followed his commands, “I- I need to talk to my-dad.”

The nurse’s smile didn’t waver, “In the chart it says he is planning on visiting you tomorrow, he wanted to give you today to adjust.”

”What time issit?”

”Six pm, you slept completely through lunch!”

”So he’ll come in the morning to take m’home?”

"The decision of what you do will be made by the doctor tomorrow, but your dad said he will come visit regardless.”

"Regardless?”

The nurse exchanged a glance with the orderly, “Let’s not worry about that yet. How about dinner hm? Then the doctor wants another chat when you’re ready.”