Mentions of self-mutilation and suicidal tendencies.
The Wedding Guest
Chapter 13
Mike was still trying to figure out how to talk to Hannah a week later. He understood Christine's logic but it was a hard conversation to have, nonetheless. He was clearing up garbage one day when the bag from Hannah's bedroom spilled out and several bloody tissues spilled out. He cleaned everything up but his mind was going to the worst place. Once the trash was taken out, he walked into Hannah's room without knocking; to find her with a razor to her forearm.
"Hannah…what are you doing?" Mike said, gently taking the razor out of her hand.
"Uh…" Hannah replied. She had already made a few slash marks. He grabbed a few tissues and put pressure on the wounds.
"Actually, I know what you were doing. I just don't know why. I've tried to be gentle when I talked to you, but that has to end now. Now, I have to get answers." Mike replied.
"Are you going to tell Mom?" Hannah asked.
"Yes, now talk." Mike said.
"I know it is stupid. I guess I thought if I hurt myself
enough, it might make it worth it." Hannah said.
"Worth what?" Mike asked.
"Lucas dying." Hannah answered.
"Honey…you hurting yourself is not going to bring Lucas back and it is not going to help you find a meaning for your brother's death. What it can and will do, is make it to where you could endanger your life." Mike said. He sat down on the bed next to Hannah, knowing he had to watch the bleeding.
"And if I want to?" Hannah asked.
"Endanger your life?" Mike asked and Hannah nodded.
"Then I am having you admitted on a psych hold. I cannot help you. Frankly, I am too damaged myself to help you, so the one way I can help you is to make sure you receive the help you need. C'mon." Mike said.
"Now?" Hannah asked.
"Yes." Mike said. He stood up and gestured at Hannah to follow him.
"What about Mom and Katie?" Hannah asked.
"I will explain but we are going now." Mike said. He grabbed Hannah's hand and pulled her with him. He couldn't trust her long enough to get a suitcase to pack so he was just going to take her to the nearby hospital. He'd have hell to pay later with Christine for not calling her first but she would agree, Hannah needed help. More help than either of them could give her.
The entire drive, Hannah never said a word. She was admitted pretty much immediately and before she was taken up to the psych unit, after Mike had signed all the paperwork; he leaned down and kissed Hannah's forehead.
"At the minimum, its seventy-two hours. After that, we can take you home or you can continue getting help in-patient. At that point, if you need to stay; your mom and I can visit. I know you are really unhappy with me and someday you will understand why I am doing this. My goal is that you have a someday. You are stuck in yesterday, and I am here today, making sure you have a someday." Mike said. Hannah turned her head away. He looked up at the nurse.
"We'll take good care of her. You're doing the right thing, even if it doesn't seem like it. And as you said, someday; she'll understand." The nurse replied.
"Will we be able to call and speak with her? Her mom won't like how quickly this came up." Mike asked.
"You can call and check on her, but not speak to her. After the seventy-two hours; that will be relaxed." She answered.
"Alright. Hannah; please know I love you very much and so does your mom." Mike said, kissing the top of her head again.
"We'd better go. They won't reserve her bed forever." The nurse said. Mike nodded. He watched the nurse roll Hannah's wheelchair away. It was incredibly hard.
As expected, Christine was beyond miffed that he had not called her first, but ultimately agreed with the decision. Katie didn't seem to give it much thought. The next day; Mike went through Hannah's room and found three more razors and a file. It was disappointing. When Christine got home from work; he showed them to her and even she shook her head.
"I wonder how long she's been doing it?" Christine remarked.
"I didn't find them when we changed her room around. But she might have hid them or something." Mike replied.
"It does explain why she never wanted to wear short sleeves." Christine said as she took a sip of water.
"I should have seen it." Mike remarked.
"Mike, how? I have barely been away from her a day of her life. I didn't see it. You are a good dad and what you did yesterday showed that you love Hannah very deeply." Christine said.
"I didn't know how else to help her." Mike replied.
"I agree with what you did. Just not sure I agree with how." Christine said as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Even though she never made a lot of noise; it seemed unusually quiet." Mike said.
"It does feel weird here without her. But, it's seventy-two hours and we are twenty-four in. Unless she stays." Christine said.
"I figured we'd call and try to talk to her doctor later. I checked on her but that was it." Mike said. Christine grabbed her phone off the counter and punched in the number. Within a few minutes they were connected with Hannah's doctor who wouldn't give a lot of details. He just said Hannah was still fairly angry but was coming around. She was talking a little. After he hung up,Christine pulled Mike into a hug.
"She'll be okay and she'll come around." Christine said.
"I just hope I didn't fracture my relationship with her." Mike remarked.
"Hannah is the more forgiving of them. It might take her a bit of time, but she really does love you a whole lot. Just hang onto that." Christine replied before pulling him into a hug.