Page 2 of Losing the Rhythm

The abuse?

My job?

School had gotten tough the last couple of weeks, too. Did she want me to talk about that?

What did she want from me?

I blinked furiously, unable to hold on to any one idea. All thoughts kept slipping away from me.

“Okay, you mentioned you were referred to me by Toby. How about you tell me what led to him deciding you needed to come see me?” Dr. Arason finally asked, giving me something to grasp. And I did. Hard. The guys wanted me to talk. Fine. I was going to talk. I wasn’t one to waste money on pointless sessions.

“Beginning of the month, I was abducted by the Ryder gang. They tied me up in their basement, hurt me, and held a gun at my head. Threatened to kill me if I didn’t give them the information they decided I had. For some reason, they thought I knew where an old friend of mine was, but we had lost touch when she left. She had been their leader’s girlfriend, but he beat the shit out of her, so I helped her get away from him. The police eventually came and there was a shootout before they found me still in the basement, tied to the chair. Turned out they saw my abduction and let it go as an attempt to round everyone up. They got what they wanted and were able to arrest the majority of the Ryder gang. I was the unfortunate one forced to be bait without even knowing it. My lawyer is on a lawyer spree right now with the police department.”

If there was something Dr. Arason had expected me to say, it was most definitely not what I just unloaded on her. She blinked a few times, processing the information I’d just tossed her way. I pressed my lips together, giving her the time to let it settle in.

I’d had over a week to process, and I still needed more time.

“Since that day, how have you been coping with it?”

“Coping?”

“What measures have you taken to ensure your wellbeing?”

“I saw my doctors.”

“That’s good. And how is your body physically?”

I glanced away. “That’s a bit of a loaded question.”

“How so?”

“I wasn’t well before the incident, and I’m still not well after. Physically.”

“Would you like to expand on that?” she asked.

Not really. I sighed. “Over the summer, my mom beat the shit out of me, putting me in the hospital. I’m currently dealing with a spinal injury that’s taking its time to heal.”

“Was this a one-time event or did your mother do that to you often.”

I swallowed hard. “Often.”

“Are you still with your mother?”

“She’s at Higginham Memorial for Schizoaffective Disorder. She suffers severe depression and schizophrenia. At least that was the last diagnosis they told me.”

“You’re seventeen, correct?” At my nod, she asked, “Who are you living with now?”

“By myself. After that incident, I was able to get emancipated. Though I do have medical power of attorney for her.”

“The state gave you power of attorney for your abuser?” Dr. Arason asked, clearly surprised by that.

“Yes.”

“And if you don’t mind me asking, where is your father?”

“He left us when I was a kid. He found out Lindie was having an affair.”

“Lindie is your mother?”