Locked Away

Chapter Four

By the third day in detox, I was bored to tears - quite literally, actually. A small portion of my days were spent eating the food that was brought to me and having my cuts checked. But the vast majority of the time I was alone. Honestly, it was kind of cool being free of homework, despite the knowledge that it would all still be waiting for me if I ever got out of here.
I don't know what time it had been, but at some point several hours after the nurses had left me, I managed to fall asleep. In having absolutely nothing to do the past few days, I'd spent hours on that bed trying to sleep, but it alluded me.
It would have been nice, being able to sleep, but I know I hadn't been asleep for long when it happened. It also wasn't the first time I'd experienced it.
I felt like I had been suffocating in my sleep. I didn't know what caused it - I never did. But I woke up short of breath and gasping for air.
I shot up into a sitting position, and, using one hand to support me, tried to slow my breathing and make sure enough oxygen was getting to my brain. But my breathing grew shallow and harder to control.
Then, thankfully, two nurses rushed through the door. I never thought I'd be happy to see a nurse, but in this case I was just thankful I wouldn't be suffocating in a mental hospital.
An oxygen mask was placed on me, and, surprisingly, it helped. One nurse was checking my pulse and blood pressure and such, while another kneeled down beside me, whispering assuring things to help me calm down.
Afterwards, when the older Jamacian woman asked me what had happened, I said it was a bad dream. That I was into horror movies and they freaked me out a bit.
The lie came naturally and without thought. I was a pathological liar. Typically the first thing that came out of my mouth was a lie. I'd feel bad about it sometimes, sure, but it helped keep people from knowing too much, too. Usually when I lied to my parents, friends, or teachers, I felt a tiny page of regret. This time, I didn't feel bad about lying to the nurse. If I told them everything I'd never get out of here.