"Dr. Gellar wants Megan in the hospital by this afternoon. She's in a very fragile state, Ms. Gracey. Can you bring her in around 12?" Lynn tried her best to keep her voice light, so as to not upset Anne.
"Sure. I guess so. What should I bring?" Anne picked up a pencil and paper.
"Her favorite books, stuffed animal or doll, games...and maybe a change of clothes for both of you." Anne wrote everything down.
"Thanks, Lynn. I'll see you this afternoon." Anne hung up and looked at Megan, who had finished counting the Cheerios and was now eating them one by one.
"Megan, go get Gagaroo. We're going for a drive." Megan scampered off to get her old and faded kangaroo, which she had called "gagaroo" since she first spoke. Anne walked to the back of the apartment and into her room.
She grabbed a duffle bag out of the closet and started shoving things in without even paying attention to what they were. Anne silently cursed herself for ever leaving Megan alone with Jeff. For ever thinking that he could be a mature person...for thinking that he would choose his daughter over his addiction to drugs. She suddenly let out a scream of frustration. She picked the bag up and hurled it across the room. It hit the opposite wall and fell to the ground. Anne crumpled to the hardwood floor and started crying. She couldn't take it anymore. Having to take care of Megan by herself was breaking her in so many ways. Financially, emotionally and physically. She crawled to the bathroom and kneeled on the cold tile floor. She opened a drawer and pulled out a razor. The sharp edge glinted in the light coming from the window. Anne held it to her wrist and wondered if it would hurt. How long it would take her to die. Who would find her body.... Anne immediately put the razor down. She couldn't let Megan be the one to find her. She shoved the razor into the back of the drawer and slammed the drawer shut.
She slowly stood and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She searched in her eyes for the part of her that had wanted to commit suicide. Her green eyes showed her nothing. Anne turned away and left the room. She picked up the bag and scattered its contents on the bed. Then she neatly folded a shirt and pair of jeans for herself. She left the bag unzipped as she carried it to Megan's room to get her clothes.
Anne pushed the door open and walked inside. Megan was lying on the floor,
gasping for breath. Anne dropped the bag and rushed to Megan. She picked
her up and ran to the front door, pausing only to grab her purse and open
the door. She ran to the car. Fumbled in her purse for the keys. Laid
Megan down on the back seat. Jumped in the driver's side. Put keys in the
ignition and gave them a twist, praying desperately that the car would
obey. Listened for the engine turning over. Sped out of the parking lot.
Ran three red lights on the way to the hospital. Anne didn't care if the
police started chasing her. She left her car in the pick up/drop off zone
and lifted Megan out of the front seat. She dashed to the elevator and
took it to the ER.
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