VALERIE

Nineteen

"Valerie you look absolutely awful." Emily, Valerie's mother commented, the broad smile on Valerie's face faded before she reluctantly shook off her mother's comment.

"Mom, I've been doing so good in here, I have lots of new friends and the doctor says I'm getting better." Valerie mentioned changing the subject in the hopes that her mother would be proud of her for making progress.

"Oh honey, these people aren't your friends, you don't need any crazy friends you're already sick."

"Mom stop." Grace interjected, she hated when her mother would talk down to Valerie for her mania or others with mental disorders, but the verbal abuse was constant when it came from Emily, so it really came to no surprise to anyone.

"I'm proud of you sweetheart." George, Valerie's father tussled his youngest daughters hair only to contribute to making it messier, Valerie who was seated beside her father lowered her head onto the table.

With Grace tapping the plastic table with her fingertips the rest of the family stayed quiet with only the noise of another's patients two kids arguing about toys in the background.

"I sure hope the other loonies are locked up where they can't get to me."

"Mom there not crazy." Valerie spoke up lifting her head she glared at her mother who had a shocked expression on her recently botoxed face.

"Valerie of course they are, why else would they be in a mental hospital?" Emily whispered so only her family could hear.

"Because they need help and reassurance to get better and people like you don't help at all." Valerie spoke with such bitterness,

"Girls calm down." George interrupted his wife and daughter, he looked over at Grace for help who did nothing but give a mere shrug.

"She's talking to me as if she was an adult George, I'm her mother and she needs to respect me."

"There is nothing to respect about a woman like you." Valerie shot back calmly as she stood up slowly from the table.

"And what is that supposed to mean young lady?"

"Nothing." Valerie murmured under her breath,

"That's right nothing, you must be out of your mind to think I'll let you talk to me in such a tone I am your mother and you're mental I just want what's best for you."

Sighing Valerie sat back down.

She smiled widely at her mother who had a confused expression ridden all over her face.

"Mom I don't respect you because, well, you are a 45 year old opiate loving bitch who's been married a total of 3 times to 3 different rich men, you have had more than 100 Botox shots in your face over the last 2 years, don't even remind me that you prefer to go shopping and clubbing then to spend a night with your own family-"

"Valerie that's enough." Her father said sternly interrupting her meltdown.

"No dad, I'm just getting started on this washed up piece of Kmart brand clothing, you came from nothing. You have always been nothing. You may dress in Vera Wang, Valentino, Balanciega but nothing will ever change the fact that," Valerie paused, "That you're a southern gal from Louisiana." She said making a stereotypical southern accent, speaking in her regular voice she continued, "You judge and chastise your own daughters, and yet you still have the fucking audacity to call yourself a mother? Got me fucked up." Valerie concluded once more standing up from her seat, a victorious look on her face.

Standing up from her own seat Emily stared directly at her daughter who had a smug face on, Valerie crossed her arms and swayed about.

Before she knew it Emily's hand harshly struck her on her cheek,

"Ma'am, is there a problem here?" Two nurses approached the family's visiting table,

"Yes," Emily said tucking in a stray piece of her blonde hair behind her ear, standing up straight to compose herself both nurses grabbed Valerie by her arms, "My daughter isn't ready to come home today. I believed she would of been happy once we told her the news but she's said she just still feels suicidal, which is why I slapped her." She justified, "She's so ungrateful."

The stinging pulsating throughout her cheek made Valerie smile, "Hey mom I'm crazy huh?" Valerie chuckled,

"Valerie stop stressing yourself out and lets go to your room." One of the nurses said as they began to lead Valerie towards the large metal doors.

"Yes sweetheart you are crazy, and that's why you're in here for another month." Emily replied,

"Just one more thing." Valerie said to the nurses lowly,

"Valerie just go inside or we'll call to stabilize you." The stronger nurse said.

"Please."

"Fine." The nurses replied in unison as they all stopped in front of the doors that would lead Valerie back into the institution.

"Hey mom," Valerie called back out as she turned her head back, "Why don't you tell dad you're cheating on him with your tennis instructor?"

Grace and George both stood up quickly, Valerie let out a maniac laugh as the two nurses escorted her through the doors.

Guilt, shame, and anger were all clearly displayed over Emily's face. The heavy gaze of her husband and oldest daughter along with some of the other patients and visitors in the waiting room landed on Emily.

"Emily is this true?" George asked his wife with a hushed tone.

Grace stared at her mother in confusion, but knew by the silence and look on her face that it was true.

"George you can't believe that girl she's mentally insane." Emily scoffed changing her attitude so that she'd be more believable.

"Cut the bullshit. Valerie is bipolar she's not a fucking pathological liar." Grace told her mother, taking a stand by her father she fought back the tears.

"So it is, isn't it." George scoffed lowly, "I can't do this. Not right now, not in public." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his leather wallet and opened it, he pulled out his credit card and handed it to Grace, "I need time to think and I know you do to."

"Dad no let me go with you." Grace shoved the money back into his chest.

"I promised I'd take you shopping after this but I have to be alone Grace." Shoving the card back towards his daughter he walked away. Broken. Shattered. Confused. George Laurent had always been a family man, he never wronged anyone his only crime was working too much but when he could he'd spend his spare time with his family. Yet in just a few words he felt his world was collapsing.

Grace stood silent in front of her mother who had no words of explanation just a tear stained face with running mascara.

"You're the sick one, mommy." Grace scoffed turning around to also leave.

Standing alone in the clinic Emily brushed the thought of checking herself in, she couldn't bare the sight of her ungrateful daughter. Instead she left and headed home.