Tina motioned with her finger for the staff to seat Bette in the chair opposite of her across the table. Tina had not spoken during this entire exchange and Bette had not looked up to take in her surroundings. It was if all the life had been sucked out of her and what remained was a shell of what once was the great Bette Porter.

Removing her glasses she quickly wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye before it had a chance to roll down her cheek. Waving the two staff members out of the conference room she said, “Bette look at me. I will be doing your intake interview and then you will be taken to the room where you will be staying while here to get comfortable before we began your treatment program.”

At the sound of the familiar voice Bette’s head snapped up but her mind did not register what her eyes were seeing before her. She thought she was having another hallucination hell it wasn’t the first time she had heard Tina’s soothing voice only to realize she was not there.

When Bette looked up Tina’s eyes were immediately drawn to the deep purple bruise around her eye and the split in her bottom lip. Someone had beaten the shit out of her before she had arrived here. Tina wondered if it had happened before or after Bette had been arrested. Realizing that Bette had still not uttered a word Tina suddenly realized what Bette must be thinking. “Bette do you know where you are right now?” Pausing a moment for an answer she realized was not going to come from Bette’s lips she continued, “Bette you are at Mountain Lake Hospital, in North Carolina. We specialize in treating patients for various types of addictions. You have been placed here under a court order. Your stay will be no less than 12 months but in that time you will over come your addictions.”

Bette looked Tina suddenly she knew this was real and not her mind playing tricks on her again. In a low quiet voice barely above a whisper…”What the fuck are you here for Tina?” Not waiting for an answer Bette dropped her eyes back down to look intently at her hands in her lap.