Stockholm Syndrome

The Doctor

2016

"Mom, I'm gonna go wait in the car," I tell her. She hands me her keys as I exit the bank. I look down at my phone as the name of my best friend pops across the screen. I swipe to answer and hold the phone up to my ear.

"Hiya Dean," I say to him as I continue towards my car.

"Hey Lane, are we still good for dinner tonight?" I start to say yes, but am interrupted by the loud crack of a gunshot.

"Delaney?? Are you okay?" Dean asks nervously.

"Um, I think someone just shot a gun, um, I'm scared."

Before I can move, I hear another crack before a hot burning sensation runs through my shoulder. I take a deep breath before looking down to see the warm, almost black liquid oozing from my shoulder. My arm goes numb and the pressure of the wound builds and all at once my legs wobble and my vision blurs. I hit the ground hard and lay there, semi conscious for what feels like hours. I cry out in a voice that doesn't sound like mine as I feel myself being lifted, bridal style from the ground. I open my eyes slightly and see the man that is now shoving me into a black van.

Mr. Walker.

2018

I shoot up off of the ground, breathing heavy.

"Delaney? Delaney? Oh my god," I hear Michele screaming from inside the room and I rub my shoulder where my scar is.

"Um, I'm out here," I shout into the room. I hear Michele breathe out a sigh of relief as she opens the doors to the balcony. She looks slightly disturbed.

"What are you doing out here kiddo?" She asks hesitantly.

"I was having a hard time sleeping," I lie, "I came out here to get some fresh air, I must have fallen asleep." I feel a pang in my stomach as the lie slips through my lips. Proverbs 12:22: The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. Lying is 10 lashes in the Walker home. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before smiling tightly at Michele.

"Well we have an appointment at 11, I will leave you to get ready," she says before leaving the room.

When I am finally dressed and ready, I leave the room as well, descending the stairs towards Michele. We hop in to the car and drive towards Summerview Mercy Memorial Hospital. I clasp my hands together, rubbing my right thumb up and down the left, trying to focus. Memories flash before me as Michele parks the car. I don't want to be here, I never want to be here again, but I don't have much of a choice. We enter through the left side entrance and walk to the registration desk.

"We have an appointment with Dr. Mayes today," Michele says to the short plump woman behind the desk. She eyes us up and down, a look of disgust crosses her face.

"Name?" She says with a little too much aggression in her voice.

"Um Delaney," Michele falters, "Delaney Carter." The woman behind the desk nods towards the waiting room, handing Michele a clipboard with paperwork to fill out. My mind wanders back to Dr. Mayes. I wonder if he is going to tell Mr. Walker that I have drifted from the correct path. I wonder if he is going to tell me that Mr. Walker gave up on me. My thoughts are interrupted as the door to my right opens.

"Delaney Carter?" A nurse yells through the waiting room. Michele and I stand up and walk through the double doors and down the long hallway. She leads me to a scale and height rod to start my vitals.

"Step up on the scale please dear," the nurse says softly. I watch the numbers rise. 121.3 pounds. I have gained quite a bit of weight in the past few weeks, but I still have not reached the average.

"Ahh, very good dear, you are gaining weight again, very healthy." I step of the scale and walk to the height rod. 5'1 as expected. My blood pressure is 150/90, still very high, but better than it was. Temp was normal so we moved in to the doctor's office. I bounce my leg nervously and rub my fingers together.

"Are you okay hun?"

"Um, just nervous," I confide in her. She nods, acting as if she understood, but how could she? How could anyone know how I feel? In just a matter of 2 months my whole life was ripped away right from under my feet. My thoughts are interrupted as the handle of the door started to turn, and in walks David Mayes. He looks at Michele with a tight smile, then back to me with softer eyes.

"How are you feeling Margaret?" He asks me, but before I could answer, Michele piped in.

"Her name is Delaney sir," she said respectfully. He rolls his eyes, shuts them, and takes a deep breath in and finally exhales.

"I will address my patient as she wishes to be addressed Ms. Carter." He says aggressively. Michele looks at him with wide eyes, speechless.

"And, for your information, according to her birth certificate, her name is Margaret Anne," with those words, he thrusts a paper at Michele. She stares down with a blank expression on her face. As she looks longer, her eyes become sharper, filled with hated.

"This isn't real and you know it," she says to him, spewing venom with every word, "who's side are you on?" she rips the certificate in half letting it fall to the floor in pieces.

"I'm doing what's best for my patient," he glares are her as he speaks.

"Come on Delaney, we're leaving," she says, grabbing my hand and dragging me from the room. Before we are completely out of the door, I feel him grab my arm.

"Get your hands off of my daughter," Michele screams, but Dr. Mayes just responds with a wicked smile.

"She's not your daughter anymore." And with that, we are out the door and back in the car, driving home.

Anymore. She's not your daughter anymore.

"Michele?" I say quietly. She sighs before responding.

"I'm so sorry you had to see that dear," she shakes her head and her grip tightens around the steering wheel. My head spins with emotions. What did he mean when he said anymore? Did Michele put me up for adoption? That doesn't make any sense, she wouldn't do that and then fight so hard to get me back.

"It's okay," I say, biting my lip before I continue, finally opening up to her, "I just, I just, I'm so confused," I start as the tears start pouring down my face.

"I mean, a few months ago I was with my family, I hadn't left the house in years and my only goal was to follow God. And now? Now I'm with people who, with all logic are strangers, yet it feels so right with you guys and my heart is telling me I belong with you. How do you explain what is happening to me? I would never just forget my family. Th-That's impossible!" By the end of my speech, I am crying too hard to breathe. Michele pulls into an empty parking lot, tears streaming down her face as well.

"Oh sweetheart," she says pulling me into her. For the first time since I met her, I don't shy away from her hug but rather wrap my arms around her neck.

"I know it's hard, I really do. It's hard for me too. You're my baby and you don't even remember me, but we will get to the bottom of this, I promise." She strokes my hair until I calm down.

For the first time since all of this started, I believe her, and I know that I will be okay.

.