Writing for Fun
The Psychiatric Unit - Gerry Miller
July 2014
It was really by chance that Mimi decided to walk down the stairs at the end of her shift. Glancing out of the windows she could see her car parked near the corner, why she parked over there she did not know. Just a bit more exercise, a bit more walking to help with the diet. She had been doing really well and was now down to a respectable size fourteen. Many of the other nurses had commented on how well she looked and Mimi did indeed feel better in herself. Mind you Dan was not too happy there was no pleasing him. When she was fat he called her a slob and now she was slimmer and shapely he called her a tart. Deep inside herself she knew that it was time for changes, but telling him was going to be a problem.
Mimi stopped and talked to one of the nurses on the second floor and it was only as she walked away that she realised that something was wrong. Back she went to the second floor and looked again out of the windows; her car was in the same space but underneath she could see what looked like a large wet patch and a small puddle. She played back in her mind her normal parking routine and knew it was dry when she had parked and it had been dry all shift. Her stomach dropped to her boots the psychiatric unit in which she worked did have very serious cases and whilst threats were an unfortunate but small part of the job, but she knew that they and the hate mail had increased.
Mimi walked into reception and phoned her brother, she heaved a sigh of relief that Jack was home from Afghanistan. He spoke to her quickly and told her to go and sit in the cafeteria and he would be down shortly. Jack and Mimi had always been close and he knew better than to question her judgement and would never think that she was a neurotic woman. Jack came in and took her keys and disappeared out into the car park. He was back shortly and said that they would need to call the police. Her brake lines had been cut and the fluid had drained away, there would have been no doubt that had Mimi gone home down Gypsy Hill, she would not have reached home in one piece.
Jack dropped her home and spoke to Dan at the door. Explaining to him what had happened, Dan was aghast, he told Mimi to run herself a bath and he would bring her up a cup of tea. He wanted Mimi to give up her job, she would be safe here at home, and none of those so called lunatics could threaten her at home. They argued and Mimi hating herself burst into tears she screamed at him, 'Has today not been bad enough without all this at home.'
Dan glared at her then stormed off out slamming the door behind him; taunting, 'How on earth can I keep you safe if you don't do what I say.'
Mimi was sick to the teeth of Dan, on the one hand she could see he was trying to keep her out of harm's way but on the other hand all he wanted to do was to stop her mixing with others. No matter whom they were. Dan returned late that night drunk as a skunk and mumbling apologies. Mimi left him fallen on the double bed and slept on the sofa. Very quietly the next morning she was up and ready for work. Today she would have to go on her bicycle. The police had taken her car away for examination; it could be some while before she got it back, and it could be repaired
Mimi loved her job and in spite of yesterday she cycled happily to work, the police were waiting in reception to see her and asked her many questions most of which poor old Mimi did not know the answers to. Back on the locked wards Mimi worked hard and fell into the normal routine of ward rounds and medications. Whilst she knew that most of those she worked with were chronically ill, Mimi trusted them within the bounds of their medications; off their meds would be quite another matter.
The police had taken away details of those who had been recently returned to live in the community and whom Mimi had worked with. All suspected of as having made any serious threats to the staff would be checked first. They advised Mimi on varying her routines etc and advised her that she could have a panic alarm put in her flat. This she knew was a definite no no. Dan would have a fit and she knew that he would take it as a slur on his manhood and his ability to protect her. Mimi needed to think carefully about this and how she could get this idea past Dan. She discussed this with Jack and as he said it was her bloody flat; she did not have to take Dan's advice.
Over the next few of weeks Mimi had a couple of near misses on her bicycle, one was where the brake pad had come off and she had chosen to roll into the ditch going down Gypsy Hill. The other she had noticed her front wheel wobbling and had to stop and get a new wing nut fitted in the repair shop. The assistant said that they did sometimes work lose but it was unusual. Mimi spoke to the police again and gave them details of the latest mishaps; they in turn told her they were narrowing their list of suspects. Some were off their meds some had gone missing, she could not believe all they were telling her and asked them to keep Jack up to date, as Dan was getting more and more angry at their apparent lack of progress.
Now Mimi was starting to worry and Jack would come over to her flat and stay with her while. Dan was out or late home from work. He was happy to sit and watch the footie if she wanted to soak in the bath and relax. Jack would leave just before Dan was due in, Mimi did not understand why Dan disliked Jack. Mind you once she thought about it he disliked all her family. The next West Ham game was a surprising win and Jack kissed her on the cheek and leaving made sure Mimi Gin and tonic in hand locked up carefully behind him.
Dan had obviously gone to the pub with his mates and Mimi went to bed, if she got in quick and if Dan was drunk again she could pretend to be asleep. Those drunken kisses and half hearted attempts at sex turned her stomach. Where indeed had the love gone? She woke fitfully startled and listened. Then she heard the glass crunch under footsteps, the bedroom door opened and she heard heavy breathing, this certainly wasn't Dan. It was miles to early, she froze under the bedding as she heard a cough and then deep chuckling. A weight came onto the bed as a hand reached in and grabbed her hair pulling her up and slapping her face. Screaming she grabbed her head and promptly got another smack.
A balaclava hood was all she could see and her face froze in terror, but she knew those eyes and tried to laugh. 'Dan stop playing games you know I don't like this.'
He pulled off his hood not for one minute letting go of her head. 'You stupid silly cow,' he said, 'did you think I was actually going to let you finish with me? This is my home now and you are going to be leaving feet first.'
Mimi gasped. 'All along it was you, the car and the bike.'
Dan's eyes were frenetic and agitated. 'Why could you not die you stupid do gooder. Don't you worry I will finish off some poor old nutter later, the police will easily come to my carefully planned conclusions but you will be dead my sweet and he will be found guilty.'
Dan pulled her from the bed and tore her nightie; 'Something to put in his pocket, a little trophy for him to have kept'. Mimi fell to her knees and was jerked backwards. She twisted and bit into Dan 'At least I have your Dna in my mouth' she screamed. 'Yes but you will have no teeth left.' Dan's chuckle was getting more high pitched and raising his arm reaching back she could see a large mallet above his head. Dan yelled in pain as Jack grabbed the mallet twisting his arm back and breaking it. The police followed in as Jack stepped to one side smiling to himself. He had broken Dan's arm. 'Accidents happen' Jack thought.
The police took Dan away and Mimi went to hospital for examination, Jack was by her bedside and filled her in w,ith the missing details. Apparently Dan had believed Mimi was cheating on him and had obsessed with her loss of weight. As he became more obsessive he had started following her and talking with the male nurses had fuelled his paranoia. He had watched her that evening chatting and laughing with one of the male staff; and he had been waiting to watch her drive off and wanted to see her crash.
The police had easily spotted him and as Dan had become more paranoid and psychotic, the police and Jack had placed surveillance in her flat. Their surveillance was tight and good timing had been of the essence. They had believed tonight was the night as Dan left the pub after having only one pint, an event never before seen to happen. The following day the police attended at Mimi's flat and advised her that Dan had a complete psychotic breakdown, he had been determined as a danger to himself and others and been sent to a secure psychiatric unit for assessment.
Mimi raised her eyes to heaven and thanked God, Dan was at least one patient she would never have to attend too.