**Chapter 7: Desperate Measures**

Ashley knew the nurse was outside, but she needed a few minutes alone. She had to process the conversation they just had about electroconvulsive therapy. The thought of it was overwhelming her, making her feel anxious and scared. She didn't want to go back out there and pretend everything was okay. She needed a way to release her emotions, to feel the weight of her fears. As she stood in the bathroom, she glanced around the small space. The cold, white walls seemed to close in on her, making her feel trapped. Her eyes landed on the floor, and she spotted a small, broken piece of tile. Without thinking, she picked it up, feeling the rough edge in her palm. She hesitated for a moment, then placed the tile on her sock, the sharp edge digging into her skin. She brought the tile back to her room, her heart racing with a mix of fear and adrenaline. She locked the door behind her, feeling a sense of security and control. She sat down on the bed, the tile still pressed against her skin through her sock. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and felt a surge of pain as the tile dug deeper into her skin. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she thought about the ECT. She had heard stories about it, about the shocks, the convulsions, the memory loss. She didn't want to go through that. She didn't want to lose herself. The pain from the tile was a distraction, a physical sensation that took her mind off the emotional turmoil. As she sat there, she felt a sense of desperation wash over her. She was trapped in this hospital, with no control over her life. The thought of ECT was like a dark cloud looming over her, threatening to consume her. She didn't know what to do, or who to turn to. All she knew was that she couldn't go through with it. The tile was still pressed against her skin, a constant reminder of her fears and anxieties. She knew she had to find a way to deal with her emotions, to find a way to cope with the uncertainty of her future. But for now, the tile was her only solace, a tangible representation of her pain and her desperation.