The Accident: Based On A True Story

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Having your stomach pumped is brutal. They stick a tube down your throat and suck out basically everything inside. Your stomach hurts, your throat hurts, nothing about it is even okay.

"Hi, Casey. My name is Dr. Lipinski. I'm here to evaluate you and find out what happen.", she said.

A psych doctor? Seriously?

"I'm fine. I just drank too much.", I answered.

"Casey, you had enough alcohol in you to kill a full grown man."

I looked at Sarah who's standing by the door.

"I'll talk to you but I don't want her in here."

"Mrs. Morgan, would you please step out?", the doctor asked.

"If I hadn't been there, you could have died.", Sarah said.

"Mrs. Morgan, please.", the doctor asked and Sarah complied.

"I have to ask, did you want to hurt yourself?"

"No.", I replied. "I just wanted to have fun."

"And the cuts on your arm, was that about having fun too?", she asked.

What do I even say to that? I've never talked to anyone about it. I haven't really talked to anyone about anything going on.

"Casey?", she spoke again.

"No... I, I don't know what I was thinking. I wasn't trying to kill myself.", I assured her.

"What were you trying to do?", she asked.

With nothing to say, she spoke again.

"How are things at home?"

"Fine I guess.", I replied. "Same as everyday."

"And what does everyday look like to you?"

"I don't know. I'm usually by myself. Look I only started doing it because I have friends who do it. I won't anymore.", I said trying to end this whole shrink session. "I'm fine."

"I've looked over your records and I see that you were in an accident recently. An accident that claimed the lives of some of your relatives."

"Yeah, and?", I asked.

"And that can be hard on adult let alone a kid.", she replied.

"I'm not a kid.", I said.

"I know. What I meant was that you've gone through something very traumatic. Have been talking to anyone about it?"

"No.", I answered.

"Not even your sister."

"... No."

"Okay. Well I think that's something we can change. Thank you for talking to me Casey."

She was nice. But I was happy when she left.

(POV SARAH)

Dr. Lipinski walked out of Casey's room. It felt like forever.

"Dr. Lipinski", I said. She turned around. " How is she?"

"I don't think this overdose was intentional.", she said. I was relieved. "But taking the drugs and alcohol was intentional. Just as the cutting is. She's hurting Mrs. Morgan."

"I know. We all are.", I replied.

"I don't believe Casey is suicidal. Not yet anyways. She needs help. She needs someone to talk to. Can I ask, how often do you work?"

Suddenly I got angry. Issue implying that this is all my doing?

"I don't think that's any of your business doctor.", I replied.

"I'm not trying to anger you. My concern is Casey.", she said.

"And you don't think she's my concern? I lost my daughter and my other sister in that accident.", I angrily snapped back.

"I know. It's why I think it would benefit both of you to come see me."

"Yeah, well.. We'll be fine. Thank you.", I said as I walked away from her. 

I wasn't trying to be rude. I was mad that I felt like a failure. Failing not only myself, Summer and Ryan but failing the two people still left here with me. The two people still here that I love more than life and I know love me just as much. But with Casey, it's harder than being around David and not because she's acting out or is a bad kid, because she's not. 

(END POV)

Sarah walked back into my room, shutting the door behind her. To be honest, I just wanted her to leave. Seeing her and talking to her was the last thing I had wanted to do. But my throat was too sore to try and fight it about it.

She sat down in the chair, about five feet from me and dropped her head into her hands.

"What happened?", she said calmly but never looking at me.

"I was stupid.", I responded.

"You think?", she said sarcastically. "What did you take at the party?"

Do I tell her? I wondered if she could just pull it up on the computer during work or something. But before I answered she said,

"Don't think about lying to me. Your toxicology report is going to come back."

"Just alcohol and some coke... And I guess a couple pills.", I replied.

You could tell she didn't know what to say but to figure out exactly what she was feeling was hard. She looked out the window and didn't say anything for a moment. 

"What pills?", she asked.

"I don't know.", I said shamefully. 

"I'm taking some time off of work. David is coming home in a couple days and we can figure out where to go from there. Until then, I'm going to ask to the doctors to keep you here."

She was calm. Angry, annoyed, probably a lot of things, but calm. But it still didn't change how I feel about her or how she feels about me. Who knows, maybe she wants to try now but it's too late. I get that I need to be more careful but I don't see her and I ever being how we used to be ever again. I can't change what happened and I certainly can't change how she sees me now.