SCENE 5.

– A hospital

(lights up on Mia on a chair/bed. A doctor enters)

DOCTOR
Hello, Mia. How are you feeling today?

MIA
A little better.

DOCTOR
I’m glad to hear that. You’ve made really good progress over the past week So, Mia, you know I have to
ask if you’ve had any recent thoughts about harming yourself?

MIA
No I haven’t.

DOCTOR
That’s great. Can you tell me something you’ve learned from your time here?

MIA
Sure. I know that I can’t control what happens to me, but I can control how I react to it. And I know how
important it is to talk about my feelings instead of holding them in or pretending they don’t exist.

DOCTOR
Well said. And so, after your time here, how are you feeling about being discharged today? Is that still the
plan?

MIA
I am a little nervous, but I feel ready to take the next step.

DOCTOR
Great. We need to talk about what you are going to do when you leave. If you recall, we discussed how
important a good community or support system is. In our time together, you did talk about home and your
relationship with your dad.

MIA
Yes, but I told you that I can’t go back there.

DOCTOR
I understand. Can you tell me again your concerns?

MIA
There’s no way he’d want me back after everything I’ve done. What if I go back home and he wants
nothing to do with me. What if he slams the door in my face?

DOCTOR
I bet that would be scary to go home wondering if you would be accepted or not. Do you think that fear of
rejection is holding you back?
 MIA
Probably. I keep playing all these different scenarios in my head where I tell my dad everything and all of
this sadness and guilt well up when I think about it. I’m scared to tell him. I’m scared to see the
disappointment in his face. Do you think it’s possible to be disappointed in someone and still love them?

DOCTOR
What do you think?

MIA
I’m not sure. I’d like to believe that it’s possible.

DOCTOR
Mia, what do you remember from yesterday’s time together?

MIA
We talked about forgiving people who have hurt us. But I really have, Doctor Raphael. I don’t blame them
for my mistakes. I have forgiven my dad and my sister.

DOCTOR
But have you forgiven yourself?

MIA
No. I don’t know how to do that yet.

DOCTOR
Do you think if you leave here, you can make that a priority? Because until you accept that part of your
story and offer yourself forgiveness, you could get stuck in the mud of guilt and shame.

MIA
stuck in the mud…

DOCTOR
What?

MIA
Nothing. I promise I’ll keep working on it, doctor.

DOCTOR
I believe in you, Mia. So your plan is not to go home to your dad, but to go to the homeless shelter once
you leave here?

MIA
Yes.

DOCTOR
The social worker will bring you your bus pass, the address of the shelter and your list of outpatient
therapists. Do you feel ready to be discharged?

MIA
Yes. Thank you so much.
 DOCTOR
You’re welcome. Mia, I want you to know that I’ve really enjoyed working with you and I feel encouraged
about your growth. I care enough about you to say I hope I don’t see you again unless it’s outside these
walls.
(the doctor starts to leave)

MIA
Doctor Raphael?

DOCTOR
Yes?

MIA
Do you have kids?

DOCTOR
Yes. A 2 year old daughter. I love her with everything that I have in me. And there is nothing she could
possibly do that would ever, ever change that. Be well, Mia.

(the doctor exits and lights go out)