21

Medicine

Stan rubbed Richie's back gently as he clung to his favorite pillow. He was spiraling, and he was spiraling quickly. Something had been off with Richie, and not just because of everything happening with Eddie. It was almost like a switch had flipped. Richie had been getting really upset over even the small things. It was almost as if everything made him upset. He cried at the drop of a hat, and then would start laughing uncontrollably. His mood swings had never been this bad before.

"I'll be right back okay Richie?"

"Mhm."

Stanley left the room to talk to Bill in the living room.

"You were the one who had to fill out the paperwork at the hospital right?" Stanley had a feeling Bill had left something out.

"Y-yeah. Why?"

"Did you write down his mental health history? And the names of his medications?"

"Oh m-my G-god. I d-d-d-didn't." Bill started to panic, "I f-f-forgot."

Stanley wanted to be made at Bill, but he couldn't blame him. That night had been a big mess. Stanley probably would've forgotten too if it had been him filling out the hospital paperwork.

"It's ok baby. It's not your fault." Stanley grabbed Bill's hands in his own.

"I f-forgive you, you know?" Bill said looking into Stanley's eyes.

"I'm sorry, about everything. I love you Bill."

"I l-love you S-Stanley."

"Come one, we need to ask Richie about his meds."

Stan and Bill walked hand in hand to Richie's room, knocking on it before entering.

"Richie? When was the last time you took your medications?"

"What!?"

"Y-you've b-been on edge l-lately." Bill said, hoping he wasn't about to upset Richie.

"Are you accusing me of stopping my meds?" Richie was fuming now.

"We were just wondering, your not supposed to stop taking them, unless your doctor says it's ok. And we know you missed a couple of doses in the hospital. We're not accusing you of stopping on purpose." Stanley was much calmer.

"My birthday. That was the last time I took my medication." Richie was back to being quiet, he started crying again, feeling terrible for all the pain he was causing his friends.

"Wh-where are y-your p-pills R-Rich?"

"Bathroom cabinet." Richie curled up in his bed, he didn't want to take them anymore. It wasn't until now that he realized how much more alive he felt, but he couldn't keep skipping doses.

Bill handed Richie his pills and a glass of water. Richie stared at the pills in his palm.

"What are you waiting for Rich?"

"I don't like the way they make me feel. I don't like that they take away most of what I feel, I want to feel alive. Maybe it's because I've been on them for so long, but they don't work like they did when I first started taking them."

"R-Richie p-pleas? For me? W-we c-can t-take y-you t-to the clinic for an e-emergency m-med review tomorrow, but t-tonight, p-please take them?"

Richie would do anything for Bill, even if it made his emotions dull. Richie put the pills in his mouth and took a swig of water, swallowing them down.

"I think you should sleep in the living room with us tonight." Stan said.

"Why?"

"I'll worry if I can't keep an eye on you tonight. If something happened in the night I'd never forgive myself for it."