Chapter 43: Denial.
Rita's eyes welled up with tears. Our baby is gone! She cried, clutching Carlson's arm.
Rita's world crumbled round her as she gazed at doctor Martin, her mind reeling in disbelief. "You are saying our baby is somewhere else?" The room began to spin, and her legs felt like jelly.
As reality sunk in, Rita's emotions spiraled out of control. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of despair, her thoughts racing with questions and fears. "What about our baby? Where is our baby?" She demanded, her voice rising to a frantic pitch.
Carlson tried to calm her down, but Rita shook him off, her eyes wild with panic. "Get away from me! You are all lying to me!" She screamed, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Doctor Martin approached her cautiously, speaking softly. Rita please listen."
But Rita cut him off, her voice escalating into a hysterical cry. "NOOO! My BABY! WHERE IS MY BABY?",
As the medical team rushed to sedate her, Rita's world went dark, consumed by a vertex of anguish and confusion. She was trapped in a nightmare, unable to escape the horror of losing her baby.
At that moment, Rita's fragile psyche was shattered, plunging her into the depths of pueperial psychosis her grip on reality faltered, and she became lost in amaze of delusions and paranoia, her mind fragmented by the trauma of losing her child.
As she was led away, sedated and distraught, Rita's cries echoed through the hospital corridors, a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of her shattered dreams and the brutal truth that has destroyed her world.
As Rita's pueperial psychosis worsened, she became convinced that her baby had been stolen and replaced with a fake one. She would obsessively check the crib, searching for any signs of her real baby. Carlson and the medical team tried to calm her down, but Rita's delusions only intensified .
One night, in a desperate bid to find her baby, Rita snuck out of her room, and made her way to the nursery. She began frantically searching for the bassinets, lifting each baby and examining their faces. The nurse on duty, Misses Bennet Jasmine, tried to intervene, but Rita pushed her away.
"Where is my baby? Rita demanded, her eyes wild with panic. I know you are hiding her from me!"
Misses Bennet gently but firmly restrained Rita. "Rita, dear, you need to calm down. Your baby is safe. You are just experiencing some postpartum confusion."
But Rita was beyond reason. She struggled free and continued her search, her cries echoing through the hospital corridors.
As the days passed, Rita's condition only worsened. She became convinced that everyone was conspiring against her, including Carlson and the medical team. Her pueperial psychosis had reached a critical point, and the doctors knew they had to act fast to save her sanity and her life.
The doctors decided to try a new approach to reach Rita. They brought in a specialist, Doctor Lee, who had experience with postpartum psychosis. Doctor Lee spent hours with Rita, gently but firmly challenging her delusions and encouraging her to confront reality.
Rita's eyes blazed with anger and hurt as she turned to Carlson. You are behind this, aren't you?" She spat, her voice trembling." You and your mistress, stessy, you have been plotting against me and my baby all along!"
Carlson's face went white as he took a step back, hands raised in defense. Rita, no, that's not true! I would never hurt our baby!"
But Rita was beyond reason. She pointed with a shaking finger at him." Get out! Get out of my sight. I never want to see you again.
As the medical team tried to calm Rita down, Carlson looked on, devastated. He knew he had to clear his name and find a way to reach Rita, but for now, he reluctantly left her side, his heart heavy with worry and self-blame for the disappearance of the baby because of Stessy's reverange against his family. Tears rolled over his face as he left the hospital to go back to his home.
David and Naome, Rita's parents, were shocked and worried when they heard about their daughter's condition and her demand that Carlson be kept away from her.
"Oh no, this is terrible!" Naome exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth." Our poor Rita, what's happening to her?"
David's face was grim," we need to get to the bottom of this. I will talk to Carlson and find out what's going on."
But when David arrived at the hospital, Rita refused to see him. " I don't want to talk to anyone, especially Carlson!" She shouted through the door.
David was taken aback but tried to reason with her. Rita sweetheart, we are worried about you. Let us in, please." But Rita remained stubborn and eventually, David had to leave, feeling helpless and concerned.
Naome was frantic with worry. "What's happening to our daughter, David? We have to do something!"
David's face was set in determination. Don't worry, Naome. I will find out what's going on and make sure Rita gets the help she needs. And I will make sure that Carlson stays away from her, if that's what she wants."
As they left the hospital, Naome clutched David's arm. "This is so strange, David. I have a bad feeling about it."
David's expression was grim. " Me too, Naome, me too."
As they walked out of the hospital, David's phone rang. He answered, his expression turned even more serious.
" What is it, doctor?" He asked, listening intently. Naome watched anxiously as David's face grew grimmer. What did the doctor say? Naome asked as soon as David hung up.
David took a deep breath. "The doctor says Rita's condition is worsening. She is experiencing hallucinations and paranoia. They need to run some tests to determine if there is another cause other than losing her baby.
Naome gasped, "Oh no, what could be causing this?"
David's eyes were clouded with worry. The doctor mentioned something about postpartum psychosis, but they need to run more tests to be sure."