Diagnosis

When we arrived at the doctors office, the smell of sterilization hit my nose. I wasnt for sure what the smell was but it smelled a combination of chlorine and bleach. At to me thats how it smelled. I went and sat in the kids section while mom went and checked me in. I didnt play with the toys because I'm not a child, but also I was too tired to do anything. Mom came back and sat beside me trying to keep me occupied so I didn't fall asleep. About a half hour went by before we were finally called back to the examination room. I drug my feet getting there. The doctor had to tell me a few times to stand up straight to get my height. I couldnt believe I was 4 foot 5 inches. I was still on the short side of a 5th grader but I have grown a bit since last summer.

The doctor did the usual exams, ears, eyes, heart, lungs, and throat. They did notice something a bit unusual in my eyes. She said there was a bit more gunk in my eyes than usual but nothing to bad. Mom and the doctor discussed what could be causing me to have a hard time sleeping and so I just tuned them out and started thinking about my dinosaur.

I saw my mom thank the doctor and get up to usher me out of the room. It felt like I was waiting forever in there for them to stop talking. When we got to the front desk again mom grabbed papers that had been stapled together and we left.

"Where are we going now mom?" I asked with curiosity.

"We are going to the grocery store to get some medicine for you. Medicine that will help you sleep."

"Ah mom, you know I hate medicine. Is it liquid or gummy or hard?" I had a discusted look on my face and I made sure my mom could see it.

"Its a mixture of both liquid and hard. You will have to swallow as it is whole. But the inside of the casing is liquid. it will dissolve fast in your stomach helping you to sleep better."

My mom usually knows what she's doing so I just went with it. When we got to the grocery store, it was full. I heard mom mumble something about pay day and pulled me along with her to the medicine isle. A little voice in my head said, "You don't need that." I repeated this out loud for my mom to hear. She looked at me funny and she said, "Its just melatonin. This is what helps you sleep.

"You don't need it," said the voice again.

"I dont need that mom."

"That will not help," the voice said.

"It won't help me," I said in a daze. What was this voice? Why does it not want me to take this medicine?

"We are getting it and you're going to take it," said mom matter of factly.

The voice wanted me to push the issue further by saying you can't make us, but I clamped down on my tongue to keep from saying thise words and making the situation worse. The last thing I need is someone finding out my involvment.

When it came to supper time, mom made sure there was my melatonin waiting for me to take. Mom said it would take some time before it kicked into effect but it didn't take long at all. As supper was just finishing up, my eyes started to droop. Mom gave me a push towards the bedroom and said, "Good night sweetheart. Sleep tight." Oh I did, but it was the same thing again. This time the hunt was on for Brad.