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arrived.  We took it down to the lobby and made our way to the exit.  When we were outside, the police officer said that he had to get his car, so Dr. Cuvo and I waited for him.  Dr. Cuvo suddenly laughed.  I was lost in my thoughts, and his laughter startled me.  I looked up at him, confused. 
    “So what do you think of our rent-a-cop?”
    He wasn’t funny.  Nothing was funny.  I turned away from him, still angry inside.
    “Kristen...”
    “Why didn’t I just die?” I heard myself say.  When I realized I had spoken aloud, I covered my mouth with my right hand.
    Dr. Cuvo had heard me. 
    “There’s a reason for everything,” he responded.  In a situation like this, the reason is not what’s important.  The point is that you are here.  Your brother found you, your mother called 911 in time, and you were saved.  You’ve come a long way, Kristen.  Think about that.  I learned about how your heart stopped twice because you had lost so much blood, and now you are standing here on your feet just a couple of weeks later.  That says a whole lot about you.  You’re a fighter, whether you like it or not.  That is what’s going to get you through this.  I know you will get through this.  You’re too strong not to.”
    I blushed inside.  I had never seen myself the way he had just described me. However, I knew that he was wrong.  I wasn’t strong.  I was weak and useless.  I didn’t know how to feel about what he had said, but I did know that I felt strange.  I didn’t want him to see that. 
    I kept my back towards him, wishing he’d shut up, because the police officer was pulling up in a gray Sedan.  The police officer got out as Dr. Cuvo was patting my back.  I cringed and took two steps away from him.  He was only trying to be kind.  I knew it, but I didn’t want to accept it.
    The police officer opened the door for me.  I climbed into the back seat. 
    Before he shut the door, I asked Dr. Cuvo, “Was it my Mom?”
    “What?”
    “Was it my Mom who told you to make me go to Bent Creek, just like she called the ambulance for me to come here?”  I asked.
    “Yes,” he answered.  “She signed you into our care to help you.  She didn’t do it to hurt you, Kristen.”
    I nodded.  “So, it’s up to her whether or not I can go home?”  I started to feel hopeless.  Mom would probably let them keep her troubled, messed up, useless child forever.  Lock me up and throw away the key.  I didn’t blame her.
    “No, it’s up to you, since this is your life ,” Dr. Cuvo said as the police officer started up the vehicle.  Dr. Cuvo stuck out his hand to me and we shook.  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Dr. Cuvo closed the car door and I headed off to my prison chambers.

     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 5
     
     
    When we arrived at Bent Creek, I was shocked.  It didn’t look anything like I had expected a mental hospital to look.  It wasn’t like on television.  There weren’t any bars on the windows.   There were actually flowers and trees outside, and the people who worked there smiled when they greeted us.  My mother handed one of the workers my suitcase.  Immediately, she snatched it away and started going through it.  I almost laughed at her eagerness, but I wasn’t even going to crack a smile in here, especially not around Mom. 
    It was almost dark outside when we arrived.  It had been a fair ride—not too long, but not short, either.  It was freezing in the office where they made us wait.  Mom and I sat at a long, rectangular table.  I tried to sit furthest away from the door.  Mom followed me and sat next to me. 
    Shortly after, a woman came into the room.  She had my suitcase in her hand.  She placed the suitcase next to me, and then sat across from Mom and me.  She spoke in a sweet, high-pitched voice and she spoke very carefully. 
    “My name is Nurse Habersham. I am one of the psychiatric nurses here at Bent Creek. Kristen, I’m going to ask a few