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Article 3

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

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Abstract

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Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017 

She screams.
Seconds pass, she screams again.
Psst, psst, psst psst psstpsstpsst.
The cuff tightens around her arm.
Our grip on her tightens.
Stabbing. Holding her down, stabbing. Missing. Holding her down. Stabbing.
Blood. Bruises.
No answers.
She screams and screams and screams.
In protest? In pain?
Tap chest. Push tummy.
She screams and stares me in the eye.
She doesn't eat. She doesn't drink.
We won't let go.
She screams and screams.
Plaques? Tangles?
The cuff tightens.
An ambulance called. Looking for
something. New surroundings.
Fluids: lines that tie her to the earth.
No answers.
Back to the ward, familiar
surroundings?
Shouts. Screams. Falls. Bruises.
Stab.
The needle probes for answers.
Flesh, tendons, blood, bruises.
Finds nothing.
Flash.
Xrays penetrate, organs exposed.
Nothing found.
Shouts. Screams. Every few seconds screams
No rest.
Anger.
We search on.
Grip. Tap. Prod. Stab. Flash. Scream. Screams, screams
No rest.
Anger.
We search on.
Grip. Tap. Prod. Stab. Flash. Scream. Screams, screams
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