I Wish

Lover's Affair

Sam got used to the long group sessions that took place every two days. There were certain things that she had taken for granted at these group meetings, like Nora's sass and mumbling, Courtney's timidness, and the boys' affection for each other. Clarification: Jasper and Zach's affection for each other. Those two were at it non-stop. PDA was not a thing to be ignored in their case. They were constantly at it with hand holding, linked arms, and the occasional kiss. Sam found their affection endearing, but it made her ache for an easy love like theirs.  Sam was currently in her first civilized meeting with the doctor after the pencil incident to discuss her "case".   This was really a time when you had to sit through a doctor spit out long words, and attempt to understand what the heck you were ailing with.   Sam knew how these meetings went, and how to act during them.   She was wheeled into the room, as her feet were still tender, and parked in front of the large oak desk.   Now that she wasn't red hot with rage, she could see that he was a kindly man, not one to fight, but stern none the less.  Sam immediately regretted stabbing this man with a pencil.  Though that may be his tactic, she mused,  every shrink has one, and his just comes naturally.   Sam decided that she was going to humor the old man with a good attitude, as she still felt a little guilty about the whole stabbing him thing.  "Morning Miss Sam! How are the feet doing?" he said.  He had a rather jovial tone that was hard to hate.  Any pretense Sam was going to use with this man melted off as she relaxed instantaneously.  "Don't have any pencils stashed up you sleeve do you?" he continued with a low chuckle.  Sam forced a smile, and said, "Well if I did, I could give you a matching mark on the other side.  You could go for a Frankenstein sort of look." She raised her hands and made a small frame with her fingers as if measuring the angle that she would need to make that mark.  He smiled a little, and said, "Well, enough chatter for now Miss Sam, time to get down to business.   My name is John, and I am in charge of the ward here at New Hope Hospital." Sam puled a face at the name.  Quite cookie cutter.   John let out a small noise between a cough and a laugh, "I know, I know.   I didn't pick the name.   It's quite..." He paused to search for a word and Sam offered, "cookie cutter?" This time John did laugh, and he said, "Yes, cookie cutter is quite an excellent way to put it." Sam smiled, and he sobered up a little as he said, " Now we really must get down to business as we only have 20 minutes left in the session.  Now, before I explain about you, I have to explain Rose.  I'm sure you've been craving information since that fall, and I intend to give you some." Sam perked up at the mention of Rose and information.  She had, admittedly been a bit confused at how a simple fall had resulted in such a disastrous outcome.  "You know that Rose fell down in the gym.  You weren't wrong that she fell on her racket, but you were wrong about what hit the ground first."  Sam stiffened up, fearing for the worst.  "When Rose fell, the initial point of contact was the side of her head.  That means that all of the force of her lunge, and her body hitting the ground was focused onto that one point. "  Sam began to get an inkling of a thought of what had exactly happened.  And she did not like what she was thinking.   John continued, "All of that force was driven into that small point, and through the skull to her brain.  This caused the brain to swell, and reach an abnormal size.  This put pressure on Rose's skull causing brain damage.  We aren't sure of the extent of the damage, or the severity yet, but we decided we were going to try and let the swelling go down naturally.  That hasn't worked, and we're considering drilling a hole to relieve some of the pressure on her skull. Do you understand?" Sam nodded, finally understanding what had happened with clarity.  She had heard of cases like this, and most turned out well.  John paused, and looked up at Sam for her consent to continue, she gave a small nod, and willed him to go on.  John adjusted his spectacles, and ran a hand through his iron grey hair before continuing.  "Now you know what happened to Rose, so we're going to focus on you.  More specifically, your reaction to Rose's condition in the hospital." Sam looked down, and blushed. "You seem to have anger management issues, as well as difficulty dealing with grief.  You're depressed, and seem to have some difficulty expressing your emotions in extreme events."  Give it to me straight doc, would ya'?  She thought, a bit sarcastically.  "Now, we have started you on several medications already,  and they seem to be working so far.  However, you need to participate in more social interactions.  Your social skills can be improved with group activities, and I expect to hear of your cooperation.  Do you hear?" He gave her a grandfatherly look, and waited for an answer.  "I guess I could try and participate." Sam mumbled.  "Good.", he responded, and ruffled her hair.  He looked at the time, and stood to wheel Sam out.  "John," Sam said, hesitating a bit, "I really am sorry about the neck you know."  John finished standing, and walked behind her chair, "I know dear.", he said, and wheeled her out the door.  She was then taken by a nurse, and wheeled into her room for quiet hour.  Sam sat, and thought about the session when she was finally alone in her room.  He really does seem like a nice guy.... I hope I didn't offend him too much...  She was still in thought five minutes later, when a voice behind her said, "The old marshmallow didn't get to you did he?" Sam started, and craned her neck behind her to see who had spoken.  When she saw, she let a relieved smile creep onto her face.  Nora stepped out from the shadows, a small smile on her face, "He does have the tendency to gain peoples trust you know."