She's still standing.

Let's Talk

Ch. 27
At 2:00 Noah showed up just like he promised.

"Hey Shailey!" He said and put his arms up for a hug.

"Noah!" I said running to him.
He picked me up and hugged me and twirled me around.
He put me down and looked at the big guy standing in the corner.

"Uh...Shailey, who's that?" He asked frightened.

"That's my body guard." I said. "Say hi Joe."

"Hi." Said Joe. "I've heard about you."

"Nice." Said Noah. "So how've you been Shailey?" Asked Noah.

"Well, uhmm...." I started. Then Noah interrupted.

"You didn't." He said.

"I did." I said "but I'm doing much better now. I'm going to therapy and everything. That's why Joe is here."

Joe waved and said "yep. That's my job."

"Okay. Just promise me, Shailey, no more. But as long as you're in good hands. How's therapy?" Noah said.

"Okay, okay. But I can't promise. I'll do my best though." I said "And as for therapy, it's super! The therapist said I've made more progress in one class than other people have made in weeks." I smiled.

"That's fantastic Shay!" Said Noah.

"I know!" I said.
I pressed the call button so nurse Monica can come and meet Noah, and bring me a tv.

"Yes Shailey, what do you need?" Asked Monica.

"I would like you to meet Noah." I said. "And also I'd like a TV."

"Nice to meet you Noah.
But, Shailey, your call button is for emergencies." Monica said. "And I will get that for you. But if you want a TV just call from the regular phone."

"Okay...sorry." I said.

"Nice to meet you too Monica." Said Noah. "Monica seems nice." He cuddled me and kissed my forehead.

"Yeah. She's awesome! So is Joe." I said. "He's doing a great job."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Joe grin.

"Here you go Shailey. Your own flat screen. Call me back when you don't need it anymore." Said Monica.

"Thanks Monica." Noah and I said simultaneously.

We watched tv for about 1 hour then Noah had to get going. His parents would be wondering where he was.

"I've gotta go Shay. My parents don't know I'm here. So, I told them I was trying out for baseball." He said getting up.

"That's okay. I understand." I said. "Did you bring my clothes?"

"Oh yes. They're right here." He said. Going to the door to get them.

He threw them to me and came over to give me a hug and kiss goodbye.

"Bye Shay!" He said and kissed me and hugged me one more time.

"Bye Noah. Come visit me tomorrow?" I asked.

"Of course." He said.

There was 45 minutes left until my next therapy. I changed into my gray sweats and my gray sweatshirt. I almost pressed the call button but then remember what Monica said. Then I called her from the phone. And she knew exactly what I wanted.

"Want the tv taken back?" Asked Monica as she came into my room.

"Yes please." I said.

"Okay. And don't forget, 30 minutes until therapy." She said rolling the tv out the door.

I talked to Joe for a while.

"So, how'd you become a body guard?" I asked.

"My dad was a body guard."
He said. "He was always helping people, and I wanted to do that to. I wanted to protect. So, I applied for a job, and what do you know, I got it."

"That's awesome." I said.

"Come on Shailey. Time for another therapy session." Said Monica.

We walked to Mr. West's office.
"Here's Shailey." Said Monica. "Do well!"

"Hello Shailey. Have a seat." Said Mr. West.
I sat in the same chair in the same position.

"Okay for today, I'm going to ask you about your second suicide attempt." He said. "What did you try to do for this attempt?"

"I tried to take pills." I said.

"And what happened?" He asked.

"I was reaching for the pills and I slipped and hit my head." I said. "Oh and Noah was in there and called 911 right away. But that's all I can remember."

"Why was Noah in the bathroom with you?" He asked.

"Well, he wasn't in the bathroom with me, he was outside. But he came running in after I fell. It's kind of a blur. But, a couple of hours before my 2nd suicide attempt, I attempted my first. And I was just released from the hospital and Noah was making sure I didn't try to kill myself again." I said.

"Apparently that didn't work." He said.

"Well, I told him to wait outside, so he wouldn't know what I was doing. But, I slipped anyway and the attempt didn't work." I said.

He wrote down what I said. After a couple minutes of writing--

"Okay. Thank you." He said. "That's all for today."

"Okay." I said getting up. "That only took 20 minutes."

"Yep. That's why you're my favorite." He said and winked.

"Oh do you think you can come tomorrow at 8:00pm? Even though you're my scheduled to."

"Uh...sure, why so late?" I said. "I'll remind Monica to bring me."

"That's the last time I'm open tomorrow." He said.

"Okay. But why can't I just come at my regular time?" I asked very confused.

"Because I just need you to. We're doing to be doing an exercise, and its better at night." He said.

"Alright." I said.