Page 27 of Frankie and the Fed

“I’ll be fine. Madeleine will arrive shortly, so I’ll have supervision. Go home. Maya needs you more than I do,” I lie. I gave Madeleine the day off because I didn’t want anyone to be here.

He examines my face. “Okay, I’ll go. But call me if you need anything. Okay?”

I nod.

CHAPTER11

Ethan

The alarm clock doesn’t stop. I raise my hand and throw it against the wall. It makes a faint sound and then stops.

Quiet.

My phone rings. Fuck. Why don’t they leave me alone?

I overcome the urge to throw the phone as well and instead silence it. Then put my head under the pillow. I want them all to leave me alone.

A knock sounds on my bedroom door.

“Kýrios. Do you want something to eat?” Madeleine asks through the door.

Fuck. What is she doing here? How long has it been? “No! I’m fine. Leave me alone,” I shout at the closed door.

“You have to get up and get out of bed. You haven’t been out for a long time. When did you last eat?”

I know she’s worried, but I can’t stand it. Let me stay fucking alone. Is that so hard?

“Leave the food in the fridge for me. Thanks, Madeleine.” I try the friendly approach, and she gives up and leaves. It worked.

My shoulder throbs with pain, and so does my head. I try to get out of bed but move slowly as the attacks of dizziness sometimes hit me by surprise.

I pee and take a few Percocet, then study the half-empty bottle. I’ll need to talk to Jess about getting me more since that annoying doctor refused to renew the prescription. Doesn’t he understand that I’m in pain?

I struggle to stand up straight and am so nauseous that I crawl back into bed. I just need to lie down for a bit, and I’m sure I’ll be okay.

The next thing my foggy brain registers is someone slapping me in the face.

My eyes won’t open.

“Ethan! Wake up!” I can hear the voice through the fog, but I can’t open my eyes.

“Madeleine, call an ambulance!”

* * *

“No, I’ll take responsibility for him.” I hear Ryan’s voice. “No problem. I’ll sign whatever’s needed.”

I open my eyes to narrow slits. Hospital. I’m in the hospital again.

“Oh, I see you decided not to die this time, either.” Ryan’s cynical voice sounds harsh in my ears.

“I said—” I stop to clear my throat because my voice is so hoarse I hardly recognize it. “I said I didn’t want to go to a hospital.”

“If you weren’t found lying unconscious on the floor of your bedroom, maybe I could have saved you from it. But I’d rather you didn’t die,” he says sarcastically. “Seriously, Ethan, how many pills did you take? Was it a suicide attempt? You were lucky you threw up. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be with us anymore.”

I sigh. “I’m in pain, Ryan. Fucking pain. That’s all. I didn’t try to kill myself. I just needed something for the pain.”

“It’s not just the physical pain, and you know it. It’s been three weeks already. Three weeks of you not functioning.”