Page 33 of Mending Fate

“Of course,” she said, her expression somber. “I hope she’s okay.”

“Me too.”

I hurried through the hallways, following the directions Josalyn had given me fifteen minutes ago. She hadn’t provided me with any details beyond saying that Soleil was in the hospital, and my presence when Josalyn saw her would be a big help, which meant when I stepped off the elevator, I was surprised to find myself at the psych ward.

“Lumen, over here,” Josalyn called to me.

I hurried to where she stood, her face pinched with worry. “What happened?” I had a feeling I knew, but I wasn’t going to believe it until someone said it for sure.

“She tried to kill herself. One of the other kids found her and called 911.”

“Dammit.” Everything in me sank. “Will she be okay?”

“I haven’t had the chance to talk to anyone yet. Brie called me from the ER, and by the time I got here, they’d already moved Soleil up here.”

I looked around. “Where is Brie?”

“I sent her home. As you can imagine, the other kids are extremely upset. That’s one of the reasons I called you. If we’re able to see Soleil, I don’t want her to think she’s in trouble or that everyone is mad at her.”

I nodded. That made sense.

Neither of us spoke as we waited, and I wondered if her mind was creating hundreds of different scenarios like mine was. If so, she was doing a better job of holding it in than I was. I couldn’t stand still. Back and forth I paced, never going more than a few feet one way or another, afraid I’d miss something important if I wasn’t right there when the doctor came out.

By the time the doctor approached us, I’d had to shove my hands into my pockets because I was so keyed up my fingers were trembling.

“Soleil Artz?”

“I’m Josalyn Brodie, her caseworker. This is Lumen Browne.”

If he thought it strange that Josalyn didn’t explain who I was, he didn’t mention it. “How much did the ER doctor tell you?”

“She took all the painkillers she’d gotten yesterday, and one of the other foster kids found her just before she passed out. The ER pumped her stomach and gave her fluids, then sent her up here.” Josalyn’s tone was matter of fact, but I could see the little things that gave away how stressed she was. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. The way she held her clipboard almost like a shield.

“Correct. Considering what happened to her and that she’d just gotten the prescription, it was apparent that she tried to commit suicide. That’s an automatic twenty-four-hour hold,” the doctor explained.

“Are we able to see her?” Josalyn asked.

“She’s sedated, but she might be aware enough to know that you’re here. Follow me.”

* * *

I wasn’tsure how common it was for a person to be allowed to sit with someone on a suicide hold, but after Josalyn took the head nurse aside for a quiet conversation, she came back and told me that I could stay with Soleil as long as I wanted. She stayed with me for a while, but after half an hour with Soleil still not having woken up, Josalyn decided her time would be better spent talking to Brie. With everything that had happened recently, the chances of Soleil not being moved were slim. It sucked, but Brie had other kids to think about.

I stayed.

I’d been there almost an hour when Soleil finally stirred. She coughed, breathing ragged, and I got up to call for a nurse. He came with water, and I stayed back while he did all the things he was supposed to do. Only after he left did I come forward, and Soleil saw me.

“What are you doing here?” The girl’s voice was rough, her throat obviously raw.

“Because I’m worried about you,” I said honestly and put my hand on hers. “A lot of people are. Josalyn was here when Brie first brought you in.”

She closed her eyes, and for a moment, I thought she’d fallen asleep again.

“Who found me?”

I winced, wishing I wasn’t the one who had to tell her this. I’d asked Josalyn before she left, though, just in case Soleil asked.

“Diana.”