A Little Bit Stronger

Chapter Eighteen

     There were mumbles all around me as I slowly opened my eyes and groaned. Looking around I saw that I was in a room with out windows and only one heavy door. After taking a minute to process my surroundings I looked to the only person in the room with me, Parker.

     "Thank God you're awake," he said with relief in his voice. "You had me scared shitless, Lacey,"

     "What's going on? Where am I?" I asked, only vaguely remembering what had happened, what I had done.

     "Well, I went to your house to see if you were okay. When I went up to your room you were on the ground and bleeding. So I called an ambulance and went to the hospital. They gave you stitches and some other stuff. Now we have to wait for a doctor because they are admitting you to the psych ward," Parker explained, maybe I was seeing things, but it looked like there were tears welling up in his eyes. "What the hell is going on Lacey?"  

     "There's a lot you don't know, Parker. I'm beyond help," I refused to look at him as I said this. 

     "Just talk to me. I want to help you, Lacey. No one should ever have to feel like this. Just let me in'" Parker was pleading now. 

     "Its years worth of pain that I've kept bottled up inside. There's no way I can get it all to come out right away," I wanted to keep the tears from welling up in my eyes but I couldn't. 

     "It doesn't have to be today. It doesn't have to be tomorrow. I don't care when it is Lacey, but I care about you. I want to help you," Tears were pushing to the brim of his eyes. His voice began to catch on his words, it was obvious in the way he trailed off that he wanted to say more but couldn't. 

     "Okay, Parker... I'll try. But I can't promise anything," I knew he wanted to help and I couldn't stand to see him so worked up over me. I had to let someone in eventually.

     Parker opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted by a knock on the door. A young woman, maybe mid twenties, came into the room.

     "Lacey?"

     "Um yeah," I responded, sitting up on the bed.

     "I'm one of the ER nurses. I'm here to wheel you down to the hospital," she explained, then looking at Parker said, "That means you have to go now, Hun. I can walk you to the exit if you would like. Oh, and you may want this," she handed him a piece of paper with times on it, "The visiting hours for the hospital," she explained. 

     "I can show myself out, thank you," he said in reference to the paper." looking at me he smiled slightly "See you tomorrow, Lacey," and with that he was gone. 

     The nurse handed me the bag with my belongings in it and had me sit in a wheelchair. I closed my eyes and sighed. It was going to be a long night.