32. Chapter 32
Chapter thirty-two
‘Lias
"Good mornin'."
A honey sweet voice sing-songs at the door. Barely opening my eyes, years of being alert and ready long gone, I see a fuzzy navy-blue figure standing near the computer inside of the room. Golden hair, a stethoscope, badge, and a warm smile finally come into focus as the seconds pass.
Aiming for the lever that reclines the chair I fell asleep in, I push it into the down position and use my legs to help move it along.
"Morning," I growl.
The nurse spins around, hearing me as I sit up.
"Well, hello there. Decide to join the land of the livin'?" Her accent caresses her words. The speed tells me she's from the South and has been there her whole life.
"Wasn't my decision. Big man upstairs keeps my feet planted here."
"Thank the lord for that. I'm Daisy, Sadie's new nurse. Got some good news this mornin'. Reckon you ready to hear it, or shall we wait for Miss Priss to rise and shine?"
Daisy.
A room full of doom and gloom, and the universe sends in a damn flower of a woman. There's a joke in there somewhere, I just can't be assed to find it.
"Hit me. No use in waking her up. She doesn't get much sleep as it is."
"Alrighty. In that case. The doc’s releasing her today. Full pharmaceutical workup, but there’s rules and expectations."
"Of course there is. Go on then. What's the brief?"
"One sec." Daisy abandons the computer and steps out.
Finding my feet, every joint snaps and pops, protesting from night after night on a block of stone when I should be prone with my woman.
Cuddled under blankets and holding Sadie as close to me as I can so she can't run away anymore. There’s not giving up, not even on the days when we’re fighting each other.
The sun is giving its all, trying to bathe the room in warmth and good tidings but it sticks to the walls while faux blinds keep it at bay. Creating a glow that's calming and intrusive at the same time.
Approaching Sadie’s side, I see peace in her face for the first time in a long time.
The tension has disappeared, the color's come back to her cheeks, and I'm thankful she's breathing and I'm not staring down at her on a metal slab.
The thought churns in my stomach, picturing the world without her, a lifetime absent of her smart mouth and defiance.
She doesn't think someone can love her, but I'll be blunt—fuck what she thinks.
"Alrighty, here we go. The doc will be by shortly to do a final assessment but he's ready to discharge her.
Before that can happen, due to her psychological evaluation she cannot leave on her own nor can she return to a residence where she does not have twenty-four-hour care.
" Daisy straightens a stack of papers, setting stapled packs down one by one as she reviews the information in bulk.
"She’ll have to be released to the care of someone eighteen or older, which I'm assuming you're far beyond that. No offense."
"None taken. Comes with the gray."
She smiles but I give her nothing in return.
"Will she be returning to her parents’ home? The state requires us to document the data for psychiatric releases and their care team.”
"No. She'll be at her apartment."
"Sir, I…, we can't release her to—"
"Didn't say she'd be alone. I'll sign whatever documentation you need. She's going to her home, not her parents. They're expecting their second child and don’t have the capacity to care for Sadie right now."
The second hand of a clock halfway across the room ticks in the uncomfortable silence between Daisy and I. Ambient beeping of monitors down the hall and Sadie's soft breaths are the only noise for several painstaking seconds.
"Very well. I'll grab the extra paperwork for you to sign before you leave. Give the doc 'bout an hour and we’ll get you two out of here. Before you leave, I'll swing back by with the affidavits and legal work."
"All that for a psyche hold?"
"Yes sir. With her history of self-harm and medications, we have to take all liability precautions."
That’s code for ‘we don't want to be responsible for releasing a self-harming violent woman into the wild all because we need her room right now and have nowhere else to put her.’
"Fine."
Daisy nods, finishes up at the computer, and lets herself out.
I fucking hate hospitals.
Forty-two minutes later, a pair of knuckles strike the door with a snap. Sadie still isn't awake; she can sleep until we get home for all I care. I'll carry her out if necessary, they'll kick her out either way.
"It's open."
I picked her hand up after Daisy left fifteen minutes ago. Now that we have company, I have to let her go to sign the droves of incoming paperwork. Which reminds me, I’ll need to take my laptop in when we get to the apartment—have some of my own paperwork to file.
In walks the doc, a tall Asian man. Hair slicked with a part that lines perfectly with the outer corner of his left eye, clean shaven face, comfortable shoes instead of those fancy things pig-headed docs like to wear, and a customary white coat.
"Good morning, Mr. Sullivan. I'm Doctor Tian, the hospitalist for today. It appears Miss Wilson is ready to be released. I need to do a quick assessment before signing off on her discharge. Would you like to answer a few questions for me, or would you prefer to wake her up?"
"I'll answer." My words come out quick and short. The only person disturbing her sleep is herself.
"Very well. Will she have someone eighteen or older present at her discharge?”
"Yes."
"Upon discharge, does Miss Wilson have a safe home to return to where she will not be alone?"
"Yes."
"Are there children in the home?"
"No."
"Other than kitchen utensils, are there any weapons in the home?"
"No."
"Will Miss Wilson have adequate transportation?"
"Yes."
"Is Miss Wilson still a patient of Mr. Kensington?"
"Unfortunately."
He arches a brow, taking a few seconds before he glances at me versus the paperwork he’s reading from, and documenting my answers upon.
"Mr. Sullivan, it's vital she continues to see a licensed psychiatrist."
"I'm aware."
The doc stares a moment longer before he flips through the pages and scrawls his signature on them.
The scratchy glide of his ink pen pisses me off for some reason. That's a lie. I know why. It's the tangible sound of them writing Sadie off as if she doesn't deserve to stay here and to keep getting better.
"Mr. Sullivan, if you would. I have some documentation for you to sign."
Daisy pops through the door without knocking, handing over more which he adds at the bottom of the pile.
"Standard discharge custody and liability paperwork.
Should something happen, the hospital is not liable for any adverse reactions or complications.
In the event something transpires, I advise you and Miss Wilson to seek psychiatric care from her psychologist. Any medical emergencies, please return as soon as possible.
If you would, initial in these two spots and sign at the bottom. "
Page after page, line after line, I scribble my name, tying myself to her. Selfishly writing my relationship to her with a force that threatens to tear through the page.
"This is the last one. Under normal circumstances, this documentation is signed in the presence of the patient but considering her psychological incompetence, we have a witness and a notary here to legitimize the process. Miss Daisy, if you'd please."
"Yes, Doctor."
Daisy lets in an older woman wearing a pair of dark slacks, a deep purple blouse, and silver jewelry that matches her white hair.
"Hello, I'm Rozella, the hospital chaplain and on-call notary. Doctor Tian asked for me to be here for some legal paperwork."
I can't help the way my eyes narrow on her. This whole interaction feels like we’re boxing Sadie in to cast her out, and since she can’t defend herself, I’m on the verge of baring my teeth and biting as if they’re pushing a feral animal into a corner.
"This is to file for power of attorney. Do you know what that is, Mr. Sullivan?" she asks while isolating one of the packets Daisy put together earlier.
"Yes."
"Are you willing and of sound mind to sign this paperwork and assume the responsibilities outlined in the documentation and what we discussed?"
"Yes." My tone sharpens.
Absolutely. There's not a single doubt in my mind.
"Very well. Go ahead and sign here, here, and here," she instructs, marking each spot with a bright yellow marker. As if I'd miss them.
Taking her pen, my name's scrawled across the highlighted portions and back in her possession within seconds. Hers follow, then a stamp is placed beneath her signature to officiate it.
"That's it, easy peasy. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. If you or Miss Wilson ever need—"
"We'll manage," I cut her off. Last thing we need is her religious spiel. I rather get my girl home without some anointing oil and promises from false prophets setting her off.
Doctor Tian takes over. "Everything looks good. Miss Wilson will need to follow up with her psychiatrist within three days to maintain her medication regimen. I advise a very strict routine. Missing a single dose may result in another episode and a visit back to the emergency department."
"I'm aware."
I get it. Eyes and ears, twenty-four seven. Three sixty-five. They won't take any accountability for releasing an unstable patient before she's capable of caring for herself.
Thankfully, the doctor lets himself and the chaplain out without another word. I've had about all I can take for the day. Daisy leaves next, en route to grab a wheel chair for Sunshine and I. Hospital policy.
At her bedside, I ease onto the empty space next to her. She still looks peaceful. I hate having to wake her after surviving a manic episode, but it’s time to leave and go back to what we know.
Gently brushing a lock of her hair out of her face, I pin it behind her ear. If only Sadie could see herself the way I do. Wild thing hung the moon with railroad ties and spite. An unforgivable force to be reckoned with.
Daisy returns with her hot wheels, as eager to see us escape as I am.