e’s

to eat something other than

ver for my dinner on the bedside table

cops

in my lap placed there m

gs gave way under me, I realized running wasn’t going to be in my near future. If she had

ries, not moving for a week

ine drip needle stuck in the back of my hand, which isn’t a problem, but the cops are going to notice the b

them, and everyone kno

the hospital has pushed to know my name or what happened on the

of ketchup

interrupts. “Back again, I see. Is

ll hurt, I’m almost positive I’m on at least the fifth floor since my only view is of tall buildings in th

from moving the tray to the s

ctor, just stopping by on

outside. What do I do? Throw

sorry

h

Doe from t

second…” Paper rustles and

not this one who's already stopped by to increase my pain meds after the

Sorry, it’s been a long day. These twe

r. So, the girl…” When a heavy tread moves in my direction,

o the neurologist

tray and stare a

and he said nothing

ying to the

gist. Soun

like that can do damage

hen you’ll

belie

He’s a doctor. What cop is going t

welcome to stop by again. O

h, we’ll be back. A cou

rhear your conversation about hotdogs. You must be talking abou

ying to tell him that…” The voices move away from my room and

ould make a run for it now, but Dr. Trevor has just boug

cops, and I have a question for him, one

the plastic tray in front of me, much as I have since Dr.

er of yogurt are easy enough to identify. The b

Did my internship at a h

e I don’t see how where he grew up is i

lded over his chest, he looks relaxed. At ease. “In New Jersey,

e my h

u know how many people were pulled from it an

shake m

k, suddenly they think they can swim even if they’ve never swum a day in their lives. I’ve been a resident here for fi

’s going with this. I

t’s never b

brown stew and try to figure out whether

your back, neck, and wrists te

overed by a bandage that goes up almost to my forearm, but

ify. But I’d guess it was from a handcuff or some kind of rest

t say

om anyone who’s come in before. Especially if you were with someone who wasn’t a friend. But that doesn’t mean I agree with it. There are always other options. We have

ers in the world and once they’ve made up their mind to keep you, there’s only one way t

n’t tell the officers y

nt to know why. He should

ld pain creeping into his eyes. “Not all people in this world are good people. Re

what I thin

my breath as I wai

htens fro

ing onto my fork before it can go th

rs aren’t immune, either,” he says

nk. “

it too long. But it’s Salisbury steak, and you’ll find mashed potatoes buried ben

door. At the entryway, he pauses his back

alking abo

him I stare after him, and try to work out whi

, reminding me I’ve gone far too long without a d

atoes buried under the gravy. I spoon up some

y is a little salty, but it’s not bad, so I scoop another mo