Genevieve O'Hare The Series

INSTALLMENT #8

Genevieve turned on her back and stirred into a semi-wakeful confusion as she opened her eyes and looked around at the white walls and felt the hard hospital bed on which she was laying. Suddenly she felt a warm grasp. At that very moment she was reminded of where she was and unfortunately the reason why she was there. She looked up to meet her mother’s eyes and began to cry all over again. “It’s okay honey. It’s okay. I am so very sorry Genevieve.” said Rosetta. She cupped Genevieve’s face in both of her hands doing her best to comfort her. It was as difficult for her as it was for Genevieve; maybe even more so. “You know, when you were a little girl I used to say to you, ‘the world outside is full of dark and scary places, but this world that we have, the one just for you and mommy, that world is always sweet, and you can always come back to that world.’ Genevieve, lately there has been so much going on. This unfortunate situation just means that you will feel more secure and could get a better footing on your future in life if you would just come back home.” pleaded her mother. Genevieve rolled her eyes and tried to turn away but Rosetta wouldn’t allow it. “Darling please, just hear me out. If you come back home, you’ll have plenty of time and support to recuperate and get back on your feet. I know this is difficult for you and I just can’t bear to know that you are somewhere else going through this all alone.” said Rosetta, close to tears. “Mother, I think that you know full well that what you are saying is out of the question. I know you want me there, but you know what other troubles I have there as well. And I do remember what you used to tell me growing up. You would always tell me about our safe little world whenever someone at school had hurt me or didn’t ask me to play with them. But mother, as I got older, the wisdom that I pulled from it to me meant that I had to create my own world. I had to create a world for myself that was peaceful, beautiful, and true. Up until lately, I’ve created a world for myself but it hasn’t been a good one. I know now that I can move on and start a new chapter in my life. I can be free to let go of negative people and situations, and I can be free to think more of myself so that I’m not stuck in the past or settling for the least when I know that I deserve better. I am grieving Mother, that is the absolute truth, but I know that my little one is in heaven and later on down the road, when another life tries to reenter this world through me, I want to be able to bring it into a better situation than this one. And today is the day to begin creating that brand new world. And although it won’t be easy, I just cannot do that back in L.A. I need a place that’s all my own. Some place where I can start fresh, you know?” said Genevieve.
“I know darling, I don’t like it, but I understand.” said her mother. “But” she continued, “We do have to get you out of here by tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. That’s when the doctor is going to release you and you have to have someone to take care of you until you are well enough to get back on your feet.” “I rented a garage apartment from a lady named Adelaide up the coast about 2 miles from here. She likes to be called Addie. It’s nice and peaceful and as long as I respect her she keeps to herself. I just really think I would recuperate better here in Monterey. Besides I know Julianne is raring to press charges. It’ll be the next best thing to getting me out of her life for good without just simply killing me herself. The stupid thing is that I made it easy for her!” said Genevieve as she started to tear up once again. Her mother let out a very long sigh which is usually what she did before she said something hard, cold, and rough but oftentimes truthful. “Listen to me Genevieve, in life you have to stare down truth and fear simultaneously or you will never get through anything and you will ultimately fail at everything. The only people who ever back down from their fears and the truth are cowards and liars. I know for a fact honey that you are neither of the two. This thing has torn our family apart for much too long. And whether you and Julianne like it or not, you are family! Yes John has done some horrible things in the past but he isn’t the first man to do so and he won’t be the last. You and Julianne are both hurt, and there is one common denominator behind it. And I will say this much, all 3 of you had your piece in the shameful pie. Being hurt will cause you to do some weird, harsh, and even cruel things at times, but you have to know when to let it go. Honestly, Gavin isn’t good for either one of you but he’s having his cake and eating it too. Call your sister, and whether she accepts it or not, apologize to her, and tell her that whatever you have to face you will…” “Mother!” pleaded Genevieve. “Tell her you will do it! And mean it. Own up to your part, apologize to your sister, and then in turn forgive yourself, you must forgive yourself. Once you have done these things you can move on. Do not worry about anything else” said Rosetta sternly. Genevieve listened to her mother with her head hung low. Of course she knew she was right, she had to do the right thing and go on with her life. However, the last thing she wanted to do was talk to Julianne. She hated the feeling and she knew what she would be in for.
At that moment, she heard a knock on her door. To Genevieve’s disbelief in walked Dr. Hendricks, “Dr. Hendricks!” exclaimed Genevieve. “Ah the lost and found!” said Dr. Hendricks smiling. Walking over to her bedside with a wide smile, Dr. Hendricks didn’t hesitate giving one of her most interesting patients a hug. The kindred spirit between the two of them was undeniable. Ever since the day they first met, the doctor had taken a special interest in Genevieve’s well-being. She wondered every day since she’d last seen Genevieve if she was okay. “How did you know I was here?” asked Genevieve. “Well I fill in part-time here every other weekend rotating with the other staff physicians. I have a friend here who works on the unit. I was on a quick break and decided to come see her and I happened to see your name up on the board at the nurses’ station. I immediately thought to myself, ‘I only know one Genevieve O’Hare!’” said Dr. Hendricks laughing. “Small world!” said Genevieve still a bit surprised. “Yes it is!” replied the doctor. “Oh!” shouted Genevieve, “Where are my manners? Dr. Hendricks, this is my mother Rosetta Stein; mom this is Dr. Rachel Hendricks. I visited her office shortly after coming up to Monterey. We only had one session but it was quite helpful. Dr. I am so sorry I never got a chance to get back in contact with you. I am sorry you had to run into me here, like this.” “Oh Genevieve, it’s okay!” she replied and turned to Rosetta to shake her hand. “Well, Mrs. Stein it is nice to meet you.” “Likewise Doctor, as you may already know, Genevieve is going through a tough time right now. She wishes to stay here in this area outside of L.A. to recuperate even though it is my desire for her to be back home. I must say doctor that it would be very comforting to know that she has someone she count on, someone she talk to while she’s here.” said Rosetta. Genevieve sat up in bed a bit embarrassed. Her mother always had a bad habit of speaking on her behalf as if she was invisible. “Oh certainly, I hope that Genevieve knows that she can come and talk to me anytime she gets ready. My door is always open.” said Dr. Hendricks smiling and patting her shoulder. Just then the doctor’s pager began to go off. “Oh goodness, breaks never last long enough! Well on that note, I guess that means I must be going. It was nice meeting you Mrs. Stein, and it was great seeing you again Genevieve.” Dr. Hendricks turned and began walking towards the door. “I can walk you out doctor, if you don’t mind I would like for you to show me towards the cafeteria. I’d like to get a cup of hot tea if they’re serving.” “Oh certainly!” said the doctor. “I’ll be back shortly honey” said Rosetta to her daughter.
Rosetta and Dr. Hendricks walked out of the hospital room. As they got turned the corner at the end of the corridor Rosetta stopped. “Dr. could I speak with you briefly, I do apologize. I know you are in a hurry, but I must speak to you quickly and discreetly concerning my daughter.” Although looking a bit confused, Dr. Hendricks agreed, “Sure.” “Well, Dr. Hendricks, you’re a professional so I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what you already know.” “Okay, well what exactly is it that I should already know, Mrs. Stein?” asked Dr. Hendricks. “Well of course you must have diagnosed her as soon as she walked into your office.” “I’m sorry but I don’t know what you mean.” “Dr. Hendricks, my daughter has lived with multiple personality disorder for ten years now.” “Multiple Personality Disorder?” asked Dr. Hendricks, now even more confused, “Honestly, Mrs. Stein, I only had one session with your daughter. That wasn’t enough to diagnose her with anything. The only thing that I gathered from her intense circumstance was that she displayed some nervousness and maybe even some hints of depression, but certainly nothing displaying anything as serious as someone with a multiple personality.” “Yes, and unfortunately this last incident was one of many that my family has had to deal with in taking care and being watchful over her. If it isn’t her running away and the whole entire family scrambling to comb all of L.A. looking for her, she’s posing as someone’s wife, and burning a house down for Christ’s sake!” said Rosetta hopelessly. “Are all of these personalities extreme? And furthermore, on what basis did her last doctor conclude his diagnosis? Please forgive me, but I’m asking these questions for a reason. When Genevieve came into my office she was a brand new patient to me. I had no medical history on her. And I am sorry to say this, but unless she decides to continue to see me as her doctor, I can’t force her to talk to me and I cannot contend with you on whether or not what you’re telling me is actually certain.” “Dr. please forgive me if I’ve been misunderstood. I am certainly not asking you to take up suddenly where someone else left off. I realize that you barely know my daughter. However, she is insistent on staying here in Monterey and she really needs to come back home. I was hoping that if I could urge her to continue seeing you, that you could encourage her that home might be a better choice.”
“Listen, Mrs. Stein, it isn’t in my nature to advise patients to do anything outside of what will benefit my treatment for them. Maybe she needs a chance to prove that she can really do this on her own and manage whatever illness she might have.” “Dr. listen to me, my daughter is ill, that is certain. If I can’t get her back home soon, there is no telling what might happen. She absolutely, cannot be trusted. She’s staying with a lady. She told me her name is Adelaide. I would hate to hear that anything has happened to an innocent person who doesn’t know what they may be dealing with if my daughter has another one of her episodes! Please Dr. Hendricks, say you’ll help me. Please say you’ll help me. If she burned down a home then who knows what she may do next.”
Dr. Hendricks looked at the woman seeing her plead intensely for assistance. She wasn’t too sure about Rosetta’s request, but as she said, she didn’t know enough about Genevieve or her situation to make any judgments whatsoever. She didn’t like refusing help to people who needed her and she had taken a special interest in Genevieve and wanted to help her in getting treatment for whatever she was dealing with. Despite the unmistaken hesitancy she felt strongly in her gut, Dr. Hendricks agreed, “Okay, I’ll do what I can.” She had no clue what she was getting herself into. Something was telling her that she was in for an interesting ride.