A Step Towards Healing

A few minutes later, the doctor from earlier walked into the room, carrying a tray with Ashley's dinner and a small cup of medication. "Good evening, Ashley," he said with a warm smile. "I'm Dr. Lee, and I'll be taking care of you while you're here. I've brought your dinner and medication." Ashley looked at the tray and saw that it was pasta, her favorite food, but she wasn't hungry. "Do I have to eat it now?" she asked, trying to sound polite. Dr. Lee nodded. "It's a good idea to eat something, even if it's just a little bit. It'll help you get your strength back." He handed her a small cup with two pills in it. "These are your antipsychotic and antidepressant medication. Please take them with water." Ashley took the cup and looked at the pills. She wasn't sure if she wanted to take them, but Dr. Lee seemed nice, and she didn't want to make him unhappy. She took a sip of water from the cup he provided and swallowed the pills. As Dr. Lee was checking her vitals, Ashley asked, "Can I use the bathroom?" Dr. Lee looked at her and said, "You'll need a nurse with you, I'm afraid it's policy here." Ashley nodded, understanding. "Okay," she said. Dr. Lee called out to the nurse, who came in a few minutes later. "I'll send Nurse Johnson with you to the bathroom," Dr. Lee said. "She'll help you with anything you need." Ashley nodded, feeling a little embarrassed but also relieved. As she was about to leave with Nurse Johnson, she turned to Dr. Lee and asked, "Can I ask, how long will I be here? And what about getting me a family? What about school?" Dr. Lee smiled kindly. "We'll work on all of those things, Ashley. We'll do our best to find you a stable and loving home, and we'll help you get back on track with your education. But for now, let's focus on getting you stable and healthy. You're taking a big step towards healing, and I'm proud of you." Ashley felt a sense of hope and relief wash over her. Maybe, just maybe, things were going to get better. She followed Nurse Johnson to the bathroom, feeling a little more at ease, but still unsure of what the future held.