The Secret The Cheerleader Doesn't... - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

"The Meryl family?" The nurse called out from behind the door.
Patting the twins knees, we gathered up our things and headed inside.  The twins held my hands, shaking a little as we walked down the halls.  I whispered to them, "Don't talk to anyone and don't point."  As we entered the cafeteria for all the patients, they lit up once they saw Cassie.  Letting go of them, I watched as they rushed towards her.
"Do you think this was necessary?" Jaelynn asked, a hint of anger lingering in her voice.
"It's only for a month Jaelynn," I said, fixing my purse, "your mama needs help right now and I can't give her that.  Since I am related to her in some form, I won't be able to do everything for her.  She needs doctors that are associated with her."
After the breakdown at the house, I decided to put Cassie in a mental health facility for a month of supervision and treatment.  It was to allow her to focus on her mental being for now.
Jaelynn, however, disagreed.
"What she needs is her family," she pushed past me and went to embrace her.
I never wanted to put Cassie in a place like this. A place where they checked your vitals everyday at six AM. Where they monitored how much you ate, how many group activities you joined, and your medicine intake. A place that was swarmed with therapist, social workers, and medical attendants. I always wanted Cassie to be home, with the kids... with me.
Walking over to her, I sat across from her and listened to the conversation she was having with Jakob, "Jess is so annoying! She never passes me the ball!"
"Not my fault you suck ass," she snapped back.
Very lightly, Cassie tapped Jessika's nose to correct her.
But that lead to a swarm of nurses coming for us.
"Mrs. Meryl, you can't touch the visitors outside of the one hug."
"Remember the rules Mrs. Meryl."
"Cassidy, we don't wanna scold you again."
Melancholy... no, defeat was written on her face. I couldn't handle that look, "It's fine. They're my children as well. I believe Cassie will be fine with them."
"It doesn't matter what you think Dr. Meryl," the nurse said, "we cannot allow the patients to have so much physical contact with others. Even family members. If we allow one, we must allow all."
"It's okay," Cassie put on that fake smile she did back then, "I'm okay."
"Mama what is this?" Jakob played with her bracelets. In the facility, they place a certain color on the patients to tell the staff what mental illness they have.
Cassie had a few.
"They help the doctors know how to take care of me," she told him, "they're very smart."
Jessika got up and walked around our table, huffing, "When will you come home mama?" This time, instead of talking she just turned to look at me.
Silently she was saying, "That's not my decision... it's your mom's."
"Soon," Jaelynn cut in, pinching Jessika's butt, "if you keep walking around like that people are gonna think you are a patient."
"Oh shut up!"
The rest of the time the kids bickered and Cassie laughed....
I just sat there with guilt.
~
"I recommend a new type of medication," Dr. Martin said. He volunteered to come and help Cassie... something I could never repay him for. "She seems to still have a hard time staying present. She dissociates too often," he said.  Looking through the files, I rubbed my head at the expenses.  It's not as much as I assumed... but it's still a lot.  "Antonia, may I ask you a personal question?"
"Hm?" I muttered.
"Are you bored of your relationship?"
Glancing up, I asked, "What?"
He situates himself to give all his to me. I could tell the strategy... therapy 101. "I've been watching both of your reactions today. There seems to be some tension from Cassidy's side," he explains.
"How does this conclude I am bored with Cassie?" I asked, "Dr. Martin, Cassie has just been under a lot of mental stress recently. That's the reason of the episode."
"And I'm trying to figure out why she is under such stress," he responded with. He leans in, whispering this time, "At this moment, I am not a therapist, I am your friend. Cassidy told me that their is another woman in your life, Jennifer if I'm correct."
My heart sunk, "Jennifer is simply a coworker. I have no ties to her outside of that."
"If that was the case, then why does Cassidy worry so much over it?" He asked, "Why does she constantly stress that you will potentially leave her to go be with that young, beautiful, and successful woman."
"I have no idea-" "Bullshit Antonia," he said, "you and I both know that is bullshit. You also know that whatever the hell is going on with this Jennifer woman, needs to end now... unless you truly are done with Cassidy."
Slamming my hands on the table, I push myself and yell, "I am not done with Cassie! I fucking love her... she's all I need."
"Then treat her better," he said, "stop making excuses and tell the fucking truth. If you continue hiding whatever happened between Jennifer and you, Cassidy will only bury herself more and more in a hole of misery. Fix it, immediately." He got up, taking the files I signed with him. Popping the door open, he says, "Cause if you don't Antonia... Cassidy will never be able to leave this facility."