Page 90 of Switch!
“Shit shit shit! He’s got a gun! I knew this would happen!”
“Was he pointing it at you?” Jesse asks.
“Uh uh. At himself. We better wait for the cops.”
What if he shoots himself before then?
Jesse thinks this at the same time I do, but it’s his idea to enter the room. I’m tempted to assert control and stop him, but he acts before I can.
“I’m a paramedic and I’m coming inside,” Jesse announces. He doesn’t wait for a response. He steps into the room and assesses the scene.
The bathroom is small and narrow. At the far end of it, past a basic sink and toilet, is a bathtub. The shower curtain is open, scrunched up and shoved to one side. The man standing in the tub is almost naked. Only a pair of underwear covers his black skin. His body is thin and shaking, eyes wide as he holds the barrel of a gun to his temple.
“I’m here to help,” Jesse says, both hands raised to show his empty palms. “Could you put the gun down, please?”
The man shakes his head, the finger on the trigger beginning to squeeze.
“Please don’t,” Jesse says, his voice cracking. “I was already at a funeral today. I can’t handle losing someone else. Not this soon.” He swallows against rising emotion. “Please.”
“Listen to him, son,” Stan says from the doorway. “Nothing is so bad that it’s worth killing yourself over.”
The man tenses again. If he has a reason for wanting to take his own life, making him talk about it might push him over the edge.
“What’s your name?” Jesse asks.
The man only stares in response.
“I’m Jesse. I’m kind of new to this job. I’ve never dealt with anything like this before, and to be honest, Ireallydon’t want to see what happens if you pull that trigger. I don’t think I can deal with it. So please, just talk to me.”
The man is trembling so much now that his teeth clatter when he finally speaks. “My name is Patrick.”
“Patrick? That’s my little brother’s name.” Jesse inches forward. “Can you do me a favor, Patrick? Can you put the gun down so that we can all relax a little?”
The man shakes his head. “Uh-uh. Sorry. I meant to do this before you got here.”
“You don’t have to do it at all,” Jesse says, voice pleading.
“There’s no choice,” Patrick replies. “I can’t live like this anymore. The pain is too much.”
“We can get through this,” Jesse says. “Whatever the problem is, I’ll help you fix it.”
Patrick grimaces. “It’s impossible. Believe me.”
“Nothing is impossible. Explain the problem to me and we’ll figure it out together. But first, I need you to put down the gun.”
Patrick’s eyes widen. He’s trying to work up the courage to pull the trigger. And I think he’s about to succeed.
It’s me, I think as loud as I can.Travis.Maybe I can help. Get me closer.
If I switch into Patrick’s body and take control, I might be able to stop him.
Now is not the time for games, Jesse chastises himself.
This isn’t a game, I think back.I can help. But you need to get closer.
Jesse ignores me. I’m tempted to take over, so he’ll do what I want, but I’m not sure there’s time. The last two switches involved physical contact. I’ll need that now. I don’t want to risk traversing the void in an attempt to reach him. Not after the experience I had when Gismonda forced me out.
“Do you have a bathrobe?” Jesse asks. “You seem cold. I’m worried you’re going into shock. Put something on so we can talk. You can keep the gun. I’m okay with that, if it makes you feel better.”
