Free Bent But Not Broken by Elizabeth Margaret Page A

everywhere. I didn't recognise them. I don't know where they came from. They surrounded Kayla on the floor. I could tell they were completely freaked out.
    We were all rushed into our rooms. That's never happened before – not during the daytime. I heard Jenny screaming from her room. Then she went quiet. I suppose she got the needle.
    When we were let out later we asked the nurses how Kayla was. They wouldn't tell us anything except she was in hospital and would be okay.
    I am really angry about this, Crystal. They know what Kayla's like. I suppose that's why she's in here. So they should have taken better care of her. If that's how they care for her, how can I trust them?
    Love,
    Abigail
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    CASE FILE #2794 ABIGAIL LEE MANUS D.O.B. 02/04/1998
    ENTRY 28: 16/05/2014
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    Abigail was absolutely furious in our individual session today. She refused to discuss anything apart from the extremely unfortunate incident with Kayla.
    'How could you let this happen?' she angrily demanded.
    'You know I can't talk about another patient, Abigail.'
    'Yeah, but I sure as hell can!' she spat. 'You know what her problem is! You should have made sure she couldn't get at stuff!' she yelled.
    I lowered the volume of my voice, so that Abigail had to concentrate hard to hear what I said.
    'Yes, we do know what Kayla's problem is,' I said, very quietly. 'It should not have happened and we are all really upset.'
    Abigail was not mollified. 'How can we trust you to look after us when you can let something like this happen?' she shouted.
    'I know how you must feel, Abigail,' I responded. 'But there isn't much point shouting at me about it,' I replied softly.
    'Well I feel like shouting!' was her response.
    'So do I,' I said. 'I am upset too. That's when I want to shout and throw things around,' I said. 'But if I gave in to those urges, as understandable as they are, would you feel better or worse?' I asked.
    Abigail stared hard at me. Then she seemed to deflate like a balloon. 'I just don't want her to die,' she whispered.
    With that she burst into tears. I gave her the box of tissues and waited the crying spell out. It took quite a time. As I watched her, I wondered if I was witnessing the dam bursting – all the pain; all the tight control, being let go.
    She spent the rest of the session sitting quietly. We did not speak further, and she did not make eye contact with me. She walked so slowly going back to the ward it was as though she could not face being there.
    As I unlocked the outer door I said, 'I will make you a promise, Abigail. As soon as there is any news about Kayla, I will make sure you hear it immediately.'
    With that, she did look at me. I saw hope in her eyes. Perhaps for the first time she saw me as a caring adult, rather than as her enemy?
    Dr. Harry Nightingale
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    Dear Crystal,
    Group today was really heated. All of us let Doctor Hobbit know how we felt about Kayla. He said she would be okay, that she was recovering in hospital. I told him I didn't think that was good enough. We are here to be looked after and they knew what Kayla was like and hadn't taken proper care of her. I could tell the other girls felt the same way.
    'You are each here for different reasons,' he said. 'While I will not talk about a patient with you, I am prepared to listen to how you feel.'
    Well, did he cop it! Every girl, even the quiet ones, had a bit to say. We talked about all sorts of things that we thought could be better. They ranged from the food to the rooms.
    'Why can't we go into each other's rooms?' Suzy asked.
    'That rule is both for your safety and your privacy,' he answered. Lots of snickering for that one. What privacy? That was one of the things that upsets us the most. Like no doors on the toilets or showers. Like the bloody cameras.
    'If you watch us all the time, how did Kayla get poisoned?' I demanded.
    'It was a terrible accident,' he replied. 'I can assure you it won't happen again.'
    I figured the time