“Well, Ms. Davis, it seems you overdosed.” The doctor stares at me, obviously bored by my predicament. “We pumped your stomach. Can you tell me exactly what you took?”
In this, he’s like my father—I’m just a piece of meat.
Still, I shake my head. “That’s impossible. I only took a couple Valium…”
In my mind, I attempt to retrace my steps.
Slowly, like a breeze blowing a feather, it infiltrates my brain, and I almost roll my head over the side of the bed and throw up.
The doctor leans closer to peer at me. “Ms. Davis?”
“I’m fine, just nauseated.” I groan, then I try to move my hand, but it’s got the stupid IV in it. Bruises have already started to form around the injection site.
“Yes, that’s normal. After this bag of fluids is done, you should be feeling much better. Do you have someone you can call to help you?” When I nod, he hums. “I’ll have a nurse bring you some pamphlets on substance abuse.”
“I’m not… Oh, thank you.”
The nurse moves around him to hand me a bunch of fliers. “Here you go,” she chirps.
“All my medication is prescribed,” I say, then I stop.
I fucked up.
I didn’t just take Valium; I took Percocet too.
My head pounds.
What an idiot I am. After not taking anything for months, I popped a handful of pills—God.
I’m lucky I didn’t die.
“Who brought me in?”
Flashes of dimples and blue eyes that looked at me like I was beautiful filter through the fog in my head. I really hope that wasn’t a drug-induced dream.
“I’m not sure, but we have your purse.” The nurse smiles at me as she reaches for it on the chair and sets it next to me on the table.
“Your blood work has come in, and it looks good. I’m releasing you on the premise that you’ll remain in bed until you’re feeling more settled on your feet. I need you to rest today, and please make sure that you don’t eat solid foods. Only thin liquids for you for the next twenty-four hours. You should, however, be feeling much better tomorrow.” He reaches for the tablet from the nurse standing to his right. While he taps the screen, he shoots me a disapproving glance over his glasses. “You are, Ms. Davis, however, a lucky lady. Do you have someone who can pick you up?”
“Yes, I have friends.” I clear my throat.I hope.
Jesus Christ, I derailed, like full-on spiraled. That mess at the diner… Oh, God. I’m lucky if Idohave friends after that.
For a split second, I almost beg the doctor to not discharge me, but I can’t hide here forever. Eventually, I’ll have to face my shame.Charlie’s going to kill me, and I doubt Joy will speak to me after what went down. I probably deserve it too. Now this.
What was I thinking?
“Good luck to you.” The doctor’s voice snaps me back to my horrible reality as he nods and walks away, handing the nurse the tablet.
A loud beep alerts the nurse that my IV is done. “Your personal effects are over there,” she informs me, and I reach for my purse.
“Can I call an Uber?” I watch as she starts to remove my IV, knowing she’s bound to say no, but I had to ask.
“Sorry, we need a family member or a sober friend to pick you up.”
“Okay.” I sigh and glance away, letting her do her thing while I go over my options.
Any angle I come at this from, everyone is going to know what happened. I need to just text Charlie. She’s my bestie, and as bad as all this is, at the end of the day, it’s not that big of a deal.