I was only 22.
So young for that job.
Started in it twelve months earlier.
She had taken sleeping pills.
Her on-again off-again had found her in time.
In time for him, not her.
She was angry with him.
And with me.
Lying on the stretcher was not where she wanted to be.
There was no siren:
It was policy to keep an attempted suicide calm.
But she wasn’t.
I was blocking her goal.
I had no idea what to say.
Tearing off the oxygen mask, she stared me in the eye.
She didn’t blink.
I tried to smile.
Still no blinking.
So I spoke.
‘You know, in time, a lot of things sort themselves out.’
No reaction.
No blinking.
Silence.
What on earth can a 22-year-old say?
If you or someone you know are experiencing emotional distress or ideas of self-harm, please call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/