Read Online Dead Girl Walking by Linda Joy Singleton - Free Book Online Page A

wrong! I just wanted to climb into my own bed in my own bedroom and feel Mom’s comforting arms around me. I’d been holding onto hope that my family would rescue me, or that I’d wake up suddenly to find myself in my own body.
    If I left, I might never find my way back home.
    “Leah, be reasonable,” the woman begged. “You know very well I’m your mother. You must stop talking like this … it’s not safe. You’re only making things worse.”
    “It can’t get worse.”
    “Oh yes it can—horribly.” She pursed her lips and lowered her voice. “Be a good girl and get into the wheelchair. Please, Leah.”
    “Don’t call me that! This is all a big mess and I can prove who I really am if you just get me a phone. I’m not your daughter.”
    The nurse narrowed his gaze at me, moving around a small table to stand beside the mother. He never took his eyes off me as he whispered to her, “Mrs. Montgomery, would you like me to call Dr. Hodges?”
    “That won’t be necessary,” she told him, lifting her shoulders and chin and speaking with refined authority. “I can handle my own daughter. We’ll just need a private moment together, if you don’t mind.”
    “Is that wise?” The nurse shot me a suspicious glance, as if I might grow fangs.
    Mrs. Montgomery waved her hand, diamonds sparkling off the overhead lights, and insisted that the nurse leave. Once the door was shut and we were alone, she bent over me with an anxious expression. “Leah, you have to cooperate.”
    I pursed my lips stubbornly.
    “I realize you’re punishing me, and I’ll admit that I may deserve it, but this is not about me. I’m fighting for your life and I can’t do it alone. You have to help, too.”
    “Give me a phone.”
    “You think your friends can help you more than I can? Well, you’re totally wrong. I’m the only one between you and a long, unpleasant stay in a mental hospital.”
    “Mental—” I gulped. “—hospital?”
    “That’s what your doctor recommends. He thinks you’re deeply disturbed and need months of psychotherapy.” Her fingers trembled as she grasped my hand. “Is that what you want?”
    I shook my head, fear rising like waves threatening to drown me.
    “Then behave sensibly. It took all my resources to get the authorization to have you released into my care, but if you don’t cooperate, they’ll send you away for a long time and I won’t be able to stop them. Dr. Hodges has this ridiculous notion that you have multiple personalities and he wants to study you in a confined environment. Your father was ready to go along with this plan, but I insisted that all you need is your mother.”
    “I’m … I’m not crazy,” I whimpered.
    “Of course you’re not. But whatever you said to Dr. Hodges convinced him that you have disturbing mental issues and could be a danger to yourself and others.”
    I bit my lip, tasting salty tears. My nightmare was careening out of control, spiraling down a black hole. Mom, Dad … where are you? Please come get me and make everything better.
    But it was the other mom who brushed away stray hairs from my face and squeezed my hand. “Don’t be scared, Leah.”
    “I’m not Le—”
    She didn’t let me finish. “You don’t have to be brave for me. I know you so well, even if you don’t think I do. I realize I’ve been emotionally unavailable, but I’m changing. You’d be proud of how I stood up to your father, just like you’ve always wanted.” She paused, looking down at me as if she expected me to congratulate her.
    I closed my eyes, wishing this unreal world away.
    “You’re my miracle.” She spoke gently, still stroking my hair. “You came back from that coma even after the doctors said you were gone forever. I will not let them take you from me. But you have to do two things right now.”
    I arched my brows, silently asking, What?
    “First, I want you to climb into this wheelchair so I can get you out of this place. Second, it’s imperative