“Is everyone alright?”

Ashley let out a shaky sigh, “Ryan’s doing fine. A few cuts and bruises or whatever. Kyla wasn’t as lucky … she ah … suffered some head trauma and she’s in a coma right now,” the rocker finished brushing away an errant tear.

The therapist handed a tissue over, “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said sympathetically.

The rocker nodded in response. She never knew what to say back to that. “I can’t even look at Ryan right now without becoming sick.”

“I thought Ryan wasn’t injured that badly.”

“No,” Ashley shook her head. “I don’t mean in that way. Not physically. He was the one driving when the car accident happened; he almost killed them both because he wasn’t being safe enough. It was raining, who doesn’t drive safe when it’s raining?”

“You’re blaming him for the accident,” the therapist confirmed.

“It sure as hell wasn’t Kyla driving now was it,” Ashley countered. “I fired him and I know I may be acting a little…out of line right now but… it’s something I need to do.”

“Why,” Dr. Johansen questioned. “So you can have someone to blame. So you’ll feel better.” Ashley chose not to reply. The therapist decided not to push any further. “How are your other family members taking the accident?”

“Christine flew out here,” the rocker replied with a scowl. “Not really to check on Kyla but to ensure there were no postmortem bills she had to pay… bullshit!”

Even Dr. Johansen frowned at those words. “How did you respond to your mother’s attitude,” she questioned.

“I slapped her.”

The therapist was un-phased. “I see,” she noted. “Is that what pushed the pill use?”

Ashley shook her head and shrugged. “No … yes … I don’t know maybe,” she replied with a frustrated groan. She hopped out of her seat and began to pace around the office unable to sit still. “She deserved the fucking slap!”

“How did you gain access to these pills Ashley,” Dr. Johansen asked.

“I was coming out of Ryan’s room,” Ashley began. “There was this nurse there. She was um … sorting through pills or whatever and I … kind of … I convinced her to let me have a bottle. I sweet talked her.” The rocker explained looked down disappointed.