“You called my psychologist?” That was unacceptable. “We had a deal.”
“You were missing, Adeline.”
“I was hardly missing. I went for a walk. I needed fresh air.”
“Regardless, we had a deal too. You promised you’d go to your appointments. Fortunately, she has an opening in an hour.”
“I’m not going.”
“Why? Because you’re done taking your pills? You think you don’t have any problems? News flash, Adeline, you’re a mess. Who goes walking in the woods for hours on a sprained ankle? You’ve lost control.”
“I haven’t lost control. I needed fresh air. You can’t keep me in this house!” I was panting. He had pushed all my buttons. On purpose. I could tell because he looked happy by my outburst. Like I had just proven to him just how out of control I was. But I was completely in control. And all I could think about was the fact that he said I was done taking my pills. Had he looked for them? Did he really know that?
“It’s for your own safety. Look what happens when you leave.” He gestured to my ankle.
“It was an accident.”
“And I’m supposed to trust your word on that?”
“Yes. Trust me. I haven’t done anything wrong. Please.” I reached out to him, but he took a step back.
“Okay, I’ll trust you. In the spirit of mutual trust, how long have you been off your pills, Adeline?”
“I’m not. I’ve been taking them every day.” I didn’t know how to tell the truth anymore.
“Bullshit. You haven’t been going to your psychologist and there are no pill bottles in your drawer.”
“You’re not allowed to talk to my doctors.”
“I’m the one paying for them!” He stepped back up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. Right where he knew I was hurt. Right where he had hurt me. “How long have you been off your medicine?” His fingers dug into my bruises.
“I haven’t…”
His fingers dug in deeper.
“Seven days! I haven’t taken them for a week.”
He released his grip.
“I’m sorry. They were making me sick.” I was already blubbering. “I couldn’t think straight. I…” my voice trailed off as I watched him pull something out of his back pocket and set it on the table.
“And what’s your story about these?” He removed his hand.
My bottle of birth control tablets was sitting there, staring at me, mocking me. Why hadn’t I th
rown them away? I didn’t need them anymore. It was a careless oversight. As was throwing out my other prescriptions. I should have kept the bottles. Of course he’d look. He had no respect for my privacy.
“They’re old,” I said.
“I called the pharmacy. It’s new enough for you to still have refills available.”
“No…” I let my voice trail off. What was the point in lying anymore? He had caught me. “You said you wanted kids. I can’t…” I was losing it. I was becoming the crazy person he thought I was. “I will not have your children.”
“Get dressed.”
“I am dressed.”
“You know what I mean. Something more appropriate.” He waved his hand dismissively.