Page 174 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

They didn’t put him in a padded room or anything, but they did the next best thing. They took everything and anything away from him that could be used as a tool to harm himself. Shoelaces, plastic, bed sheets, and more. They even gave him clothes with double sewn hems and no elastics so that he couldn’t pull them apart. When he ate breakfast, someone had been sitting beside him, and he was forced to use a spoon.

For everything.

Even a steak.

All in all, the facility was nothing like a psych ward at a hospital. It was more open, and the staff was welcoming. The grounds were beautiful when he had finally been allowed outside on the second week. His time was spent between his private room, therapy, and roaming between different activities. The expensive facility toted everything from a spa, to a state-of-the-art gym.

“I’ve noticed you don’t rapid cycle,” the man said.

“No, I’m not a rapid cycler.”

“Ever?”

“In mania, maybe.”

Leonard nodded. “That would make sense. In general, though, you don’t find yourself rapidly cycling between highs and lows daily or even weekly?”

“No, not generally. That’s more common in bipolar women, isn’t it?”

“Typically, but I have seen it in men, too. I was curious. Give me a one to ten on the depression today,” Leonard said. “One being good, and ten being the worst. As always.”

“A four, maybe.”

“We don’t deal in maybes, John.”

Of course, not.

“Five.”

Leonard nodded like that was more the answer he expected. “Good. Another couple of days and we’ll start weaning the antidepressants away.”

And begin a new mood stabilizer regime.

John knew how this worked.

What he liked the most about this facility was that his therapist listened. He looked over files from John’s history, and saw the facts staring him in the face. He didn’t deny those facts, or try or push too many different choices on John.

He didn’t need a constantly changing martini of medications. His disorder was most stable when he only had to take one or two.

“So,” the therapist asked as he rounded the couch, “are you going to talk with me today, or not?”

“We talk,” John said.

Leonard tapped the top of his nose, and then pointed the same finger at John. “Safe topics, sure. But not what brought you here, or the things that drove you into your latest manic spiral. You have to deal with all of that so then the next time—”

“I’m prepared.”

“Yes,” Leonard said with a smile. “Exactly.”

“Do I have to?”

Today was just one of those days for John. He was tired, and would much rather be in bed than doing anything else. That’s why he settled on a five and not a four for the depression.

“I think today is a good day to talk, John. You see, you have a visitor coming. I was forewarned by your father during our last phone call that you would greatly like to see this woman who is coming later today. So, I am absolutely not above using the means I have at my disposal to get you talking.”

He had no reason to believe it was her, and yet, something inside knew it absolutely was her.

Siena.