The Drunk Logs Read Online Free PDF Page B

pills.
    “After you take those, I want you to come back every two hours, because I want to check your blood pressure and tremors, and we’ll give you a Valium every time you come if the tremors and blood pressure don’t subside.”
    I lifted both hands to my mouth and swallowed the pills. My hands still shook as the nurse continued to write in her notebook.
    She turned with another cup in her hand. “Do you need some water?”
    “No, thank you.”
    “We’re done then, I’ll see you in a couple of hours,” she said. It looked painful as she cracked a smile.
    The half-door shut behind me as I traveled across the hallway that was still just becoming familiar. Room 101, 103, one more to my room , I thought.
    To my enjoyment, Barry Eugene was gone as I entered the room; his comforter was wrapped in a big ball. “Maybe this day won’t turn out as bad as I expected,” I whispered and walked to my closet to grab my toiletries.
    Steam exited the shower room that was only two doors down to the right of my room. There was just one person behind the three curtains, so I hurried to take my clothes off before the person exited, and put them on a black plastic chair by my stall. The water was cold at first when it hit my body, which helped battle some of the drowsiness caused by the drugs. It slowly warmed the flattened hair on my chest as it beaded and dropped, circling the drain below my feet. The darkness behind my eyes was my only safe haven as I imagined the black and purple paint on my face bleeding away from the lather of soap.
    Suddenly, the plastic rings on the metal screamed as the shower curtain opened two stalls down, and the pipes rattled from the water pressure as the splash of feet hit the wet, white tiles. I listened to the figure, guarded myself with a bar of soap in hand, and waited to hear any suspicious movement. The shower room door opened and thumped closed. My defenses were lowered and I continued to bathe. I thought all the while, I was just thinking crazy. My hand reached out from the shower curtain and grabbed my robe at the same time as I turned the water off; the soft warmth of the cotton added to my sense of security as I grabbed my clothes and exited the room.
    I spat in the sink as I stood, fully clothed, in front of the mirror, looking at the constant reminder of my fall staring back at me. I tried to put on my glasses, but my face was too swollen for them to fit, so I shoved them in my front pocket and walked over to the desk where the map lay and looked to see the location of the cafeteria.
    “Fantastic. Right down the hall from my room. I won’t have to walk that far, and I still have enough time before I have to see the nurse,” I said.
    I walked out of my room and stood in the hall; I felt refreshed, as if it was the start of a new life. The nurses and patients still roamed the halls. I walked to the cafeteria, still ashamed, and I did not look at or speak to anyone.
    Clattered dishes and conversation filled the cafeteria air as I looked around and wondered where I should go first. I noticed a line of people by a stack of trays waiting to receive breakfast. I wandered past tables packed with people as I grabbed a tray and stood in line. A buzzing sound emanated from the juice fountains next to me. The smell of food was making me sick, so I wandered over to the fruit and cereal bar and grabbed a couple of bananas. As I scanned the eating area, I saw the place was packed, and I didn’t feel like parading myself through the massive crowd.
    “Peter…hey, Peter.” A lone voice lingered in the air.
    “Peter…yoohoo, Peeterr…over here.”
    Just then a piece of bread hit me in the chest. I looked around through the crowd and saw a hand that popped up like a gopher. It was Jack Jack, smiling as he waved for me to come over. Reluctant, I strolled around the tables that ended by Jack Jack.
    “Peter, come on,” Jack Jack said as he pointed. “Here’s an empty seat.”
    I walked slowly