"She's making great progress, Mike," Drew told his boss as she they sat in the staff cafeteria eating lunch.
It had been two weeks since Karen first spoke in their sessions and she would have moments where she would come in and not say anything for the entire session and other days when she was talk the entire time. It was natural for her to relapse by shutting down so Drew never saw it as a setback.
She had been willing to talk about three of her sisters. Whenever the topic of her father or Dorinda had come up she'd shut it down or not acknowledge it. When it came to her mother, it depended on how she felt that day.
He hadn't even attempted to bring up her brother again. When Jacky had mentioned him, that was the first time he had thought of Leo in years. The look on Karen's face often replayed in his head after he brought Leo up to her and Drew felt she wasn't ready to discuss him.
"It's only been two weeks Drew," Michael said. "The nurses are still watching her carefully and the male nurses are still ordered to stand outside your door whenever she has a session."
"I know, but I can see the potential," He took a bite out of his sandwich. "There's been no repeat of those two times."
Michael shrugged, a familiar face catching his eye as he looked away from his friend. Jacky had been here day and night, working overtime and denying her days off just to ensure she could be here with her sister.
Dr. Winans could tell it was taking a toll on her. She had looked so tired and no matter how many times he told her to go home and stay home for more than a couple hours, she would not listen.
Drew followed Michael's eyes and saw his patient's sister, "How long has she been here today?"
Michael sighed, "She's been here from last night. She was off yesterday and came in almost after midnight, said she had to put her son to sleep first." He shook his head. "She's here more than she's home these days. I know she's worried about Karen since those episodes but like you said there's been no repeat."
"When's the last time she took a vacation?" Drew asked him.
"When's the last time their family visited Karen?" Michael asked rhetorically.
Drew's eyes widened, "She hasn't taken a vacation in two years?"
"She has about two months worth of vacation days," Michael shook his head. "She won't take em. If she does, Karen would be alone. She doesn't want that."
"But she needs it for herself," Drew frowned. "And for her family."
"I've tried to talk to her Drew," Michael took a bite of his salad. "She just won't listen."
Drew nodded, "Maybe I can talk to her," He took another bite. "Or I can get Karen to...somehow."
♡
"And whenever Momma was out of town, Jacky would have to whoop us herself. She would feel so bad afterwards, she'd make dinner with a special dessert" Karen fondly reminisced.
Drew nodded along, listening to another one of Karen's childhood tales. She would often focus on the good moments.
He let her speak today, but he also knew that he needed to bring up her oldest sister.
"Speaking of Jacky, I want to put some more focus on her today." Drew told his patient, who was in a seemingly talkative mood today.
Karen raised an eyebrow, "What more is there to talk about with Jacky?"
Drew sighed, "She's been taking on extra hours and coming in on days she's not even scheduled for."
Karen frowned but said nothing in response.
