Teresa Mummert - A Song for Us

Finally, an older gentleman who looked like someone’s grandpa came in and took a seat in a wingback chair. He wore a button-down shirt with a gray-and-maroon sweater vest and dark gray slacks.

“Welcome, everyone. For those of you that are new to the group, my name is Dr. Rodgers, but I like to keep it friendly, so you can call me Phil.”

My skin began to crawl at the mention of his name. I peeled one of the pieces of medical tape from my bandage and scratched my nails over one of my cuts.

“This is an anger management group. We are going to discuss healthy ways to deal with anger, but first, let’s introduce ourselves, shall we?” He smiled wide as his eyes danced around the group.

“I’m Jake,” said a boy who looked about eighteen or nineteen, shrugging his overgrown brown hair from his eyes.

“Would you like to share something about yourself with the group, Jake?”

“Yeah. This group is fucking pointless.”

Dr. Rodgers nodded and folded his hands on his lap. “Du-ally noted, Jake.”

“My name is Annie. I’m fifteen and I don’t belong here,” a young girl with shoulder-length blond hair said. Her voice reminded me of a cartoon character’s and she looked like one of those overly popular girls from school. She didn’t look as if she belonged here at all.

“Excellent, Annie. Stick around and participate and we will see how it fits for you.”

She rolled her eyes as the doctor spoke, and I hated how blatantly disrespectful she was to him.

“I’m Joel and I know I need this group.” The room erupted in laughter at the boy in his early twenties with his hair buzzed to the scalp. He looked as if he belonged in an army barracks somewhere and not in a nuthouse.

“Don’t we all know it, Joel.” The doctor chuckled and it reminded me of Santa Claus.

All eyes turned to me and I stiffened as I tried not to meet their gazes. “My name is Sarah.”

“Nice to meet you, Sarah.” The doctor smiled.

“Nice to meet you, too, Dr. Rodgers.”

“Please, call me Phil.”

Bile rose in my throat and I dragged my nail over one of my cuts again, focusing on that pain as opposed to that in my chest.

“I’d rather not.” I ground my teeth together as I spoke, trying not to let my voice shake.

His eyes drifted down to my bandage, which now had a fresh spot of red around the corner. “You can call me whatever you like.” His smile was back in place but I knew he had seen what I had done. “Would you like to share something about yourself?”

I glanced around at all the faces as they waited patiently for me to say something. “I . . . like to sing.”

“Perfect. You are the only one who had something positive to say. That’s very good, Sarah.”

I gave him a halfhearted smile and he focused his attention on the group as a whole. I relaxed in my seat.

AFTER A SLEEPLESS night I was sent to meet with a therapist. I was asked a million questions but most had to be repeated as I slipped inside my head and began tapping out the beat to one of my songs. I wished I had finished my song with E. I wished I had done so many things, but ending up in a place like this felt unavoidable. I still couldn’t see a way out.

“I’d like to get you started on a few prescriptions, but to be honest with you, Sarah, the true healing will come from therapy.”

“Can you tell me how my boyfriend is doing?” Even after all he had done, I couldn’t help but worry about him. If I could force my heart to forget him, I would. But I knew that would only come with time.

She flipped through the papers on her desk as she read over them. “Can you tell me the events that lead to your stay with us?”

“I already told that other lady.” I rolled my eyes and the therapist took off her glasses and sat them on her desk as she relaxed in her chair. I didn’t like that she was talking to me as if I were a child.

“I have her notes, but I’d like to hear it from you.”

“You have her notes?” I pushed up from my oversize chair, feeling betrayed.

“Sarah, we are all here to help you. We can’t do that if you won’t open up and trust us.”

“I did open up, once, but apparently I trusted too soon. I want to go home.” I folded my arms over my chest and the doctor pressed her lips together in a tight line as her gaze fell to my bloodied bandage.

“Where is home?”

“I don’t know. I need to talk to Derek. I need to make sure he is okay. He could be dead for all I know, and none of you will tell me anything.”

“Derek was released this morning. He was bruised and needed a few stitches, but nothing was broken.”

I sat back down in my seat as the wind was knocked out of me. “I want to see him. I want him to come visit me.” I peeled the remainder of the paint from my thumbnail. I needed to show him what he did, what all of his lying and cheating had done to the person he was supposed to love.

“He flew to Texas to be with his family. I’m sorry, Sarah. I wanted to bring him in on one of our sessions but he didn’t want to participate.”

It felt like a shotgun blast to the chest. He had left me? After what he had done and the things he had said, he left me ?

He didn’t even care enough to find out if I was okay?

ERIC

ERIC WALKER, LET’S go.” The guard unlocked the gate to my cell and took a step back. I nodded to him as I walked through, feeling the pressure in my chest ease slightly. “Time for your arraignment.”

I followed behind the guard as we made our way to the small courthouse that was in the same building as the little jail. I didn’t care what the judge had to say. I had given up years ago and was just living on borrowed time. That was more clear to me now than ever.

It was nice getting out of the cramped space, and I hoped I wouldn’t have to spend much more time in there without knowing how Sarah was doing.

I had been thinking about the moment when I could see her again and if I should. What I had done was selfish, but I had never meant to hurt her. I only wanted to make her happy. The look on Donna’s face as they placed me in handcuffs also haunted my memories.

I’d managed to kill two birds with one stone.

I BARELY REGISTERED anything the judge said. All I could think about was Sarah. No one would tell me anything and I was dying with each passing second, not knowing if she was safe. I was ordered to do community service, and since Derek declined to press charges, the punishment was just a slap on the wrist. I guess I was lucky, but a part of me had almost wanted them to lay the hammer down, to make me pay for all that I’d done. To everyone.

I was taken back to the small holding cell as the paperwork was processed, and I would soon get to walk. My skin was beginning to crawl with anticipation and fear. I didn’t know where I would go from here.

I didn’t know what to expect when the guard opened the gate and motioned for me to exit the cell. He led me down a narrow corridor and through several sets of doors. Donna stood on the other side, and I wanted to wrap my arms around her. It was so good to see a familiar face. She smiled sadly and looked to the guard before her gaze dropped to her hands.

“I took care of what I could for you.”

I took a step forward but she held up a hand to stop me as she inhaled audibly. “I know why you did it.”

“He deserved it after what he did to her.” I closed my eyes as I struggled not to let my anger show.

Donna shook her head. “You can’t blame yourself for her choices. She knew what kind of person he was and she chose to deny it. You can’t save her from herself, E. She needs to do that herself.” Donna’s eyes locked on mine. She was sad but confident in her words. “I didn’t tell you about my past to make you feel guilty. I told you because you were my friend and I cared about you.”