Stories from the Psych Ward: Eva’s Story
By Robert D. Bowker
Copyright 2012 Robert D. Bowker
Author’s note: The characters in this story are fictional, yet I have made them as real as possible. The settings, activities, and procedures described are true, based upon my own experiences, research, and consultation with medical professionals.
Through my own bout with clinical depression (including a stay in the psych ward), I have gained a genuine appreciation for those who suffer from mental illness and those who care for them. Since I have begun sharing my own story, I have met far too many people who have dealt with mental health issues secretly, fearing the stigma attached to it. My goal is that you, Dear Reader, might come to a greater awareness of this condition called mental illness. May God bless you as you read and consider the story of one sufferer.
Eva’s Story
Sunday Evening
Glen smiled at his wife across the Scrabble board. She was concentrating on her letters, her tongue sticking a little out of the corner of her mouth, her hand hovering over the tiles. This was his Eva, the woman he had married those 30-some years ago. She made her decision, put down a three-letter word, and looked up, beaming at him in triumph. He had never loved her more.
There was a time when she would not have been satisfied with anything shorter than a four-letter word, and a time when her frustration and anger might have had her overturning the board and storming away. There was a time when she would look at the board as he got it out, but then would not—could not—play. But those days were past, and on nights like this he could forget them. She had.
“How was movie night?” he asked. He knew that every Saturday after visiting hours one of the techs would show a DVD in the activity room, and all the “members of the community” (don’t let the nurses hear you refer to them as patients!) were encouraged to attend. Asking Eva a question like this about something that happened yesterday was always a crap shoot, but he loved it when she could answer him. When she could, there was a joy—something in her voice that had been absent for so long. Although their separation and all that went with it was hard, it was worth it when the old Eva, the world’s best wife and every child’s best grandmother broke through the darkness and came back.
She leaned over and put her hand on his, and excitement poured forth.. “It was really funny—not the movie, but what happened afterward! You would have been so proud of me.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Danny was supposed to get the movie, but he didn’t know what to get, so he got three and let us decide which one to watch. I don’t remember what they all were, but we started watching one about the Easter Bunny.”
“The Easter Bunny?”
“Yes—it was so cute! Eight or nine of us sat around trying to watch this guy who thinks he’s the Easter bunny, and Marcus was saying funny things, and we all started giggling because it was so silly. After snacks we didn’t even watch the rest of it. Danny got out the video game instead, and we played until vitals.”
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot they have a Wii here. What did you play?” Glen was in heaven as his wife shared some happy memories with him.
“A couple of the girls tried to play tennis, but they didn’t do very well; and then they started bowling, and they asked me if I wanted to play. You should have seen me making that ball go down the lane!”
“You’ve always enjoyed that game,” Glen said, but instantly knew it was a mistake, as a shadow clouded Eva’s features.
“I’ve never played it before.” But then she brightened again and continued. “I picked it up so easy and I was the champion! I won two games and would have won the third one but Eddy got a spare in every single frame. How was I supposed to beat that? And then it was time for vitals and my meds and then I went to bed. Sandra was already sleeping, so I had to be quiet getting ready.” She frowned and looked at the clock. “Will you be here tomorrow?”
“Of course, honey. I already checked out the schedule and you’re on for 8:30. I’ll be here at 7:30 so you can see me before you go in.”
“Can you come at 7?”
“If you want me to.”
“I’m so scared, Glen.” Eva’s voice trembled.
“I know, sweetheart. But it’s helping. You can see that, can’t you? I can tell it’s making a real difference for you.” Glen always dreaded this part of the conversation.
“But it hurts so much, and I’m always afraid I’m going to…soil myself.”
“Well, you haven’t yet and you won’t tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“I promise.”
“You’ll come at 7?”
“I’ll be here with bells on.”
“Use little bells so you don’t wake everybody up.” She grinned and then laughed at her own joke. Glen laughed with her, and then stood up, helped her to her feet, and gave her a tender hug. It was obvious to him that she was still losing weight.
“I need to go now,” he said as he released her. “Have a good snack tonight, cause you know you’ll miss breakfast tomorrow.”
She walked him out of the activity room and down the hall to the nurse’s station. “I get too nervous to eat.”
He took her by the hands, and then gave her a quick kiss.
“It will be all right,” he told her. “I love you.” And with that he turned and followed the nurse through the secure door, stopping for a moment to turn and wink at her over his shoulder. She winked back, and then the door was closed between them.