"Did she quit her medications?" Dr. Eleanor's question threw Elle quite off balance.
Last night was pure hell!
Elle even had to lie beside Ashley yet that didn't take away the apprehension completely; Ashley still cowered in fear, unable to relax. Elle only managed to quell her nerves the next morning following Dr. Eleanor's arrival. She'd invited the family doctor over as early as possible.
The fact that Ashley was immune to sedatives made it necessary to knock her out completely. Currently, a drug was being infused into Ashley's unconscious body lying in bed through an IV line. Her vitals were examined, and in time her condition stabilized.
"Her medications were quit, right?" Dr. Eleanor asked again, breaking the silence as the duo emerged from Ashley's room together.
Elle wasn't quick to respond. Yes, Ashley quit taking her medications. But that was also on the prescription of another medical personnel. Were they conflicting with themselves or what? "Yes, she did." She gave her curt, yet discreet reply.
"Why is that?"
"They weren't helping matters, Doctor. Her condition showed no improvement." She tried to defend.
"And is her condition showing any improvement now?"
Silence…
'Her therapist asked her to quit' Elle wanted to blurt but figured that would be unnecessary. The doctor was right. Maybe all she needed was to give it time to fix her up again.
"Please make sure she resumes her medications."
Elle nodded.
"I already administered some drugs. Here are a few others you should get later," she concluded, stretching forth a sheet of paper with scribbles on it.
"Thank you so much, Doctor." Elle took hold of it. "Let me see you off."
Elle saw the doctor off.
She walked to the kitchen afterward.
"Were you keeping an eye on Ashley last night?" Elle questioned Emerson in the middle of preparing breakfast.
She turned away from what she was doing and bowed her head slightly before Elle with hands crossed in front of her, assuming an apologetic stance. She knew all she needed to do was leave once her business in the Sinclair house was done yet she violated that rule and hung around Ashley's bedroom instead. She meant no harm. Still, she braced up for the worst.
"Thank you."
Her eyes widened in shock. 'Did she just thank me?' Carefully she unburied her head to meet Elle's eyes brimming with intense gratitude. No matter what the situation was, that didn't change the fact that Emerson saved the night.
"Pardon?" She still struggled to believe her ears.
Elle minimized their distance before rephrasing: "Thank you so much for last night. I appreciate your concern."
Emerson was flummoxed but still managed a brief awkward smile.
"You can bring your things to stay with us if you like. Make sure my breakfast is served soonest. I'm heading out," Elle instructed, walking out on a puzzled Emerson left with no time to process her first sentence.
"Did she say I could move in?" Emerson whispered rhetorically.
Elle had questions. And she needed answers…urgent answers. And right now, there was only one person who could give her those answers – Miss Antonia. So she set up a meeting with her.
In the restaurant…
Elle was currently sitting across Miss Antonia.
"What would you like?" she asked, scanning the menu placed on the table.
"Cut to the chase." Elle lifted her eyes to her. "I know you didn't call me out for a meal," Antonia added with a serious expression on.
"You're quick. I like that." She kept the menu aside and faced her directly.
"Ashley had a terrible episode last night," she started.
Antonia gave her time to finish her sentence but she said nothing more. "And?"
"And I called the doctor over this morning."
Okay, this was getting weird for Antonia. "And?"
"And she asked me why Ashley had to quit her medications."
"And?"
"And that's exactly what I want to ask you. Why did you ask to quit her medications?"
"It's simple. Ashley doesn't need those." Her reply was too simple and Elle didn't appreciate how casually she treated the issue, especially after last night's incident.
"Oh really? So tell me why my daughter was acting insane last night?"
"Your daughter is fine." Elle's eyelids went the farthest they could from each other.
"My daughter is fine?! Ashley is fine?! Care to explain what happened last night then?" She asked, almost scolding her audience.
"Look." Antonia adjusted, leaning in with both forearms placed across the table. "Only physically sick people need drugs. Ashley isn't physically but mind-sick. She doesn't need those drugs to get better."
The only thing keeping her from snapping at the ignorant lady spewing trash in her face was the fact that they were in a public setting and she wouldn't want to draw attention. How could she even make such baseless theory when she had to make Ashley unconscious to get her acts together? All she ever did was meet with Ashley on scheduled occasions; she didn't have the right to make judgments concerning Ashley's health the way she comfortably was. She was too flummoxed that all she could afford to let out were scoffs.
"If you're going to entrust your child to me then you'll have to trust me completely. The doctor only advised you from her standpoint. And I'm telling you right now as Ashley's therapist that those drugs would only worsen your child's ca…"
"Excuse you?!" Elle interrupted, clearly pissed. "My baby is suffering and you tell me to keep her away from her medications?"
"Do you wish to see your child suicidal?"
The furrows resting on Elle's brows deepened, giving her the evil eye. Now she was livid. How could she even ask such?
"You should be lucky Ashley doesn't attempt to take her own life. But if you wish to let go of such luxury, resume administering those drugs and watch how slowly your daughter loses herself completely." Antonia deadpanned. "If you don't mind, I have a couple of other things to do today. Do have a great day, "she excused herself courteously and left.
She sure had a way with words. She didn't need to talk much to make her point crystal clear. Now Elle was left with a choice. This isn't what she imagined when she set up this meeting. She'd thought to make Antonia regret her actions and have a rethink. But at the end of the day, she was left holding that end of the rope. How could she remain resolute in her resolve, causing Elle's to grovel before it in the long run?
It took Elle one whole minute to make the slightest movement after Antonia exited the table. By the time she realized herself, she was long gone. She flickered her eyelids while coughing in disbelief. What just happened was not only unheard of but simply surreal. 'Isn't Antonia supposed to try and gain favor?' Too bad she did not live to please others. Her staunch ideologies set her apart from her contemporaries. That was one quality that mandated Ashley's admiration. She was just… unique.