Page 15 of The Kat Bunglar

The shrill voice of her mother scolding her father pierced through the air.

“Ammu, Abu, what are you doing here?” Kat croaked as her father went in search of a nurse.

“The hospital called us. Nearly gave me a heart attack. I was at Joann Fabric because they were having a yarn sale.Twofor the price ofone.Can you believe these colors? Look, look! Won’t this make a nice shawl for you?”

Her mother thrust out two balls of lime-green yarn.

Before she could reply, a nurse came in with water and apple juice.

“Hi there, Kat. You gave everyone quite the scare this morning. How are you feeling?”

“Um... fine. Just a little tired. Is the apple juice sugar-free?” Kat eyed the juice box suspiciously. “Because I’m on a cleanse.”

Kat made sure to always treat her body like a temple—no matter the location.Evensubpar hospitals.

Kat’s mother hurriedly interjected. “Nurse, sorry. My Kat has had”—her voice dropped to a whisper—“themental problemsin the past.”

“But we don’t judge,” her father added. “No. Even though the medicine is expensive, we buy it for her. But she stopped taking it.” He ended the sentence with a swift glare in her direction.

“Okay, okay.” The nurse wasn’t sure who to address, so she focused on Kat. “The doctor will be in shortly to go over everything. From what I saw on the chart, it looks like a panic attack. Kat, were you doing anything that could have triggered that level of anxiety?”

Kat and Christian made eye contact before Kat looked up at the ceiling.

“Um... no. I can’t remember what would cause a panic attack. I was in the back of an Uber with my friend over there,”—she gestured vaguely at Christian—“and then I just felt like I couldn’t breathe.”

“Mmm,” the nurse replied. “Well, why don’t I take a look at those vitals?”

“Sure, sure. Kat loves giving her vitals,” her mother said.

“Maybe it would be best if everyone stepped out in the hallway,” the nurse suggested with a firm tone. As the family shuffled out, the nurse turned her attention back to Kat.

“Now, given your history, I have to ask. Have you had any thoughts of hurting yourself?”

Kat forced a smile. “No, not at all.” But even as she said it, the memories clawed their way in.

High school had not been a good time for her.

Between the bullies, her grades, and being obscenely overweight, she had lost the will to live. She couldn’t fathom a future outside of her suffocating present.

She had started cutting herself discreetly, just to feel like she was in control. Just to feel like onlyshehad the power to hurt herself.

But her mother had caught her.

And amidst tears, wails, and fists banging against walls, she had been sent away to The Ecker Center for Behavioral Health.

It had been the worst three months of her life.

She could still hear the screams and howls in the middle of the night.

“No, I’m all better now,” Kat said with a forced smile. “This is the best time of my life. I’ve never looked better. I am so happy.”

The words sounded hollow, even to her.

1 Week Ago

July 1st

Chicago

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