"Don't you know that your life is God's greatest gift?" she said.
Ariana bit her tongue to hold back a flare of anger. Of course she knew that. Of course she did. That was what all this was about. It was the assholes who ran this place who didn't seem to understand how precious her life was. She turned her face away from Colleen as if shamed by her words, when, in fact, she was trying to hide the ire in her eyes.
There was a quick rap on the door. Ariana glanced up as Colleen went to answer it. She caught a glimpse of Dr. Meloni's profile, framed by the high, square window in the door.
Just what Ariana had been dreading. Her hands curled into fists beneath the thick straps. She straightened her head on the thin pillow and stared up at the ceiling.
One last time. Just one last time...
As the door opened and Dr. Meloni stepped inside, Ariana breathed in and out deliberately.
In... one... two... three...
Out... one... two... three...
She could do this. She could deal with him. One last time.
"Hello there, Ariana," he said stepping into view at the side of her bed. He looked at the restraints on her wrists and smirked. "Comfy?"
"Why am I tied up?" She wished her voice didn't sound so uneven,
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so weak. She tried to make up for it with her eyes. Tried to stare right through him.
"You attempted to take your own life," he said, a teasing lilt to his voice. "This is standard procedure. We can't risk that you might try to harm yours
elf again. Or others."
He glanced over his shoulder. Nurse Colleen was still in the hallway, chatting with one of the orderlies. Dr. Meloni leaned in toward Ariana's ear. So close she could smell his disgustingly spicy aftershave, see the spot he'd missed on his neck while shaving. Ariana had to force herself not to squirm in her restraints.
"But here's the thing, Ariana. You didn't take enough pills to do any kind of damage. And do you know what I think?" He looked into her eyes. "I think you knew that. I think this whole thing was a farce. I think you're just a pathetic, spoiled little brat who couldn't get her way and wanted to get my attention."
Ariana pressed her lips together as a hot fury bubbled up inside of her. Of course she had known she wasn't taking enough pills to actually kill herself, but she hated that he had figured that out so easily. Not that she would ever admit it.
"I told you I just wanted it to be over," she said, looking him in the eye. "You didn't listen."
Meloni snorted a laugh. "Fine. You want it to be over so badly, then I have just one thing to say to you, Ariana," Dr. Meloni continued, standing up straight now. "Next time, try harder."
Ariana blinked. As much as she detested this man, as awful as she knew he was, this was a new level of sadism.
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"Fine," she said through her teeth. "I will."
The door opened and Dr. Meloni lifted Ariana's chart from the end of her bed, pretending he had been going over it the whole time--faking it for Colleen. Ariana hated him more than ever in that moment. He was the doctor, the one in charge. He didn't have to mug for the nurse. This little charade did nothing but display his inner weakness. Ariana had always known it was there, but seeing it so plainly disgusted her.
"Just get some rest, Miss Osgood," Meloni said in a bright tone. "We'll have a nice, long session once you're off suicide watch. Talk all this through."
Or so you think, Ariana thought.
He dropped the chart and started for the door. Colleen held it open for him, but he paused.
"Put her on watch for seventy-two hours," he said.
Ariana's pulse all but stopped. She felt as if the restraints were tightening around her. Cutting into her skin. Pulling her down into some deep, dark abyss. She strained her neck to lift her head, chin to chest, so she could see them.
No. Not possible. Not acceptable. She had to be out by the morning of the fourth. Everything hinged on that date. Everything.