Mystery Girl

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As I walked into the room I curiously eyed the girl. Yep. It was definitely her. She looked up and my eyes instantly snapped down to her open file. Suicide Attempt. The words kept jumping out at me. I've had patients in this situation before. Why should this be an different? Because you've been dreaming about her, a voice in the back of my mind said. I erased the thought from my mind and introduced myself.

"Hi, I'm Mr Blemmings. But please, call me River."

"River? What kind of a name is that? Ehh. Whatever. Hi, I'm Alana."

As I went to sit down in the chair next to her bed I noticed the book she had been reading, "Calling Mr Lonely Heart"

"Calling Mr Lonely Heart? Tell me about it."

"Are you supposed to be a counselor or my English teacher?" Alana gave me a flat look and I kind of felt hurt.

"Alana, I want to help you." I told her in a gentle tone.

"More like you want to get in my head." she muttered under her breath. "The book's about 3 girls. They sort of are interested in all that witchcraft sort of stuff as kids. And I guess after years it all catches up to them"

"Look Alana, I'm not hear to get into your head. I'm here to help you see reason."

"And tell me, River," she questioned, emphasizing my name, "what if I don't want to see reason? What if there is no compromise for me?"

"There's always reason Alana. And I don't care if it takes me years to help you see it. I'm going to do it."

"Yeah. You mean you'll keep listening to me for years and keep taking my parent's money? Yeah right."

"Alana. Your parents aren't paying me anything. I get a fixed pay from the hospital. No more. No less. No matter how many patients I have."

She looked down. Sort of embarrassed, but still not look like she wanted to open up.

"Look River. I know that you want to help, but there's no way of helping me."

I gently picked up one of her hands and saw that tears were threatening to break through. With my other hand I moved her face to make her look at me. I looked her in the eye. Seeing all the hurt in her eyes.

"There's always a way."

I let go of her hand with a gentle squeeze and glanced at my watch. 11:30 already?

I got up and started on my way out. Alana's eyes followed me to the door. As I was about to open the door, I heard Alana ask me a question.

"River, where are you going? You've only been here for half an hour. I though you were supposed to be er for a full hour."

I turned around and looked at her.

"Yes well I have another patient and since this is short notice, we don't have timetable for you yet. So I'm going down now to make one for you. So then you and I both know when I'm coming in to see you. Ohh yeah, how many times would you like me in, a week?"

"How many do the rest of your patients get?"

"Depends on their situation, but usually 3 or 4 times a week."

"3 times is fine."

"Ok. If you decide later on that you want more days, I'll adjust. Bye Alana."

"Bye River."

And with that I exited the room an made my way to Georgia.

She greeted me cheerfully when I arrived, "Hey River. Let's book that girl in. Shall we?"

"Hey Georgia. Yeah. 3 times a week. Where an I fir her in?"

"Well your schedule is pretty tight but I can get her in at 11:30 am, Mondays. So After Johnny. 12:30 Wednesdays and 1:30 Fridays. Is that okay?"

"Yeah that's fine. Can you have that timetable sent to her room, please?"

"Yeah sure. See you later River."

"Later Georgia."

*

After that the day went by pretty fast. After Alana I only had 3 more patients so out of there by 3.

I kept thinking about Alana. How could I help her? Obliviously I needed to help her, but how? Even if I have dealt with patients in the same situation before, every on of them was different. Everyone's brain worked differently. And with Alana, I think my biggest challenge was helping her see that there was another way. I need too. I had to help her. I just had to, and for the rest of the night that's all I could think about. Helping Alana.