Love In Rehab

Chapter 1

No one's POV

Terrence walked into the rehab center with a mix of nerves and excitement. He had spent the previous day meeting the staff—Morris, the seasoned counselor with a dry wit; Lauren, the lively social worker who had an answer for everything; Janet, the empathetic listener; Darryl, the quiet but observant behavioral therapist; Nurse Jackie, the no-nonsense nurse with a heart of gold; Doctor Figgs, the stoic yet caring psychiatrist; Junie, the medical assistant who was always running around; Idris, the Director of Rehabilitation who carried the weight of the center on his shoulders; and Gavin, the President of Rehabilitation, who exuded authority with a warm smile.

He was ready for his first day, prepared to make a difference. As he walked through the halls, greeting the familiar faces of the staff, he felt a sense of belonging. But as he turned the corner, a loud commotion broke the calm atmosphere.

"Let go of me! Don't touch me or my baby!" a woman's voice echoed down the hallway, filled with anger and fear.

Terrence's heart raced as he saw several doctors and nurses struggling to calm down a pregnant woman. She was screaming, cursing, and throwing anything she could get her hands on. Her face was red with fury, her eyes wild with panic. The staff seemed overwhelmed, unsure of how to manage her.

It was Taraji, a patient Terrence had heard about during his orientation. She was known for her outbursts, one of the most challenging patients in the center. But something in her desperation called out to Terrence.

Without thinking, he ran toward the commotion. As he approached, he noticed a scalpel in her hand. The situation had quickly escalated to something dangerous.

"Hey, relax," Terrence said calmly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Listen, I get it—you're upset. But let's calm down, okay? You don't want your son to get hurt right now, do you?"

Taraji's anger faltered, replaced by a flicker of vulnerability. "No," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Okay, then. Let's keep him safe. Can you give me the scalpel?" Terrence's voice was steady, soothing, like a lifeline in the storm of her emotions.

Slowly, Taraji's grip on the scalpel loosened. She walked toward Terrence, her body trembling with exhaustion and emotion. When she was close enough, she handed him the scalpel, her eyes pleading for some kind of comfort. Without hesitation, Terrence pulled her into a hug. It wasn't a professional move, but it was a human one. Taraji collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably as they both sank to the floor.

"Shhh, I know, I know. Relax," Terrence whispered, gently rubbing her back as she cried into his shoulder.

Morris and Lauren arrived just in time to witness the scene. They exchanged glances, both shocked and impressed.

"Wow, T, you're a miracle worker," Morris said, shaking his head in disbelief. "It usually takes five of us and some sleepy medicine to get her to calm down."

"Shit, I just bribe her with Chipotle," Lauren added, trying to lighten the mood.

"As a therapist, when your patient is in distress, the best thing to do is to get them to calm down. The more you force, the more irritated they get," Terrence explained, his focus still on Taraji as he continued to comfort her.

Lauren peered closer. "Looks like you put her to sleep. She's out cold."

"Yeah, that pregnancy has her off the walls," Morris said, nodding in agreement.

"You want me to call the nurses to take her to her room?" Lauren offered.

"Nah, I got it. I'll take her," Terrence said, carefully lifting Taraji in his arms.