Chapter 38
Thirty-Eight
Brittney
Standing in the corner, I watch Jackie administer Valerie’s medicine. She’s not doing well, alarmingly so. Over the course of the day Valerie’s health has declined rapidly. Jackie hasn’t left her side.
The medicine kicks in almost instantly, and Valerie falls asleep.
As Jackie notes the dose and time in her laptop, she says, “Where is your report?”
I blink. Report? I assumed since she’s been here most of the day, I didn’t need to be leaving an hourly report.
“Um—I, I was just about to do that.”
“But you didn’t.” Jackie slides me the side eye. “Fine. Just update me now.”
I clear my throat. “Valerie has been talking a lot of gibberish.”
Jackie’s pen freezes mid-air. She looks over her shoulder. “She’s been speaking to you?”
“Yes—kind of.”
“What has she been saying?”
“Mostly weird things that don’t make sense.”
Jackie nods. “That’s congruent with what Mr. Stone reports. It’s likely her new medication. Just respond to her in kind, and make sure she feels heard and safe and?—”
Just then, Valerie opens her eyes, clutches her chest, and doubles over in pain.