Bitter Pill

A woman with bipolar disorder talks about her mood swings and her suffering relationship with her boyfriend.

WOMAN: I like my mood swings. I really do. So I decided to go off my medication because being normal is just so so so BORING. But you see, I had to be careful that he wouldn't find out, so when I was around him I tried acting normal. But trying is kinda different than being and I sure as hell wasn't being normal. (beat) So he found out.

I think he knew the moment he first saw me off my pills. I was just too f*****g happy. But I wasn't swinging – I was just up high, so I guess he wanted to believe that I was just having a good day. But things always get sour after a while. And a few days later I was still happy and then it just turned. I was up dancing on top of the hood of his car and then I'm down slamming the car door on my arm.

Yeah, so anyway, that's how he found out and that's why he's off his medication.

(aside) Sometimes, I think he's even more fucked up than I am.

So now he's threatening suicide on me again like the good old non-medicated days. Oh, those days were the s**t. No, really, right now, he's outside muttering some s**t on the balcony. Oh. You think I should go out and calm him? Naw, he'll get over it. He always does. (looks towards balcony) Uh, uh uh, there he is climbing over the railing.

(beat)

No. No. No. No. NO. NO. NO. NO! (crack sounds and beat) F**K YOU YOU CAN'T DIE GODDAMMIT GET UP GET UP GET UP GET THE F*****G HELL UP!!!

(screams)

He's dead. So that's how people die. Ha. So that's what I'll look like after I jump. (proceeds off stage and loud crack sounds)

Reviews

[LisetteCanWrite!]

Such a sad writing.. if this is someone's reality then someone needs to help the one who has stopped taking their medicine.. Like their family or someone.. wow.. I can't imagine living like that.. I have been touched by one who is depressed (never on meds) and I am trying to help him but know I can't do it alone.. I am going to try to encourage him to seek assistance.. and then with all I have been through.. I most definitely will as well.. these things can have big impact on everyone it touches!

[Last Lying Look]

This is wild!
I personally hate medication because regardless to whether or not it's working,
if you come off of it or forget to take it it completely f***s you up.
This write is sad but it's also incredibly interesting.
I'm adding this one to my favorites too.
Great work!
-Elissa :D

[Sean Eddingfield]

Suicide is your way of telling God... "you can't fire me... I quit!"

[Silvario]

A very solid and dramatic write. Very professionaly done. Penned with obvious talent.

As someone who has a couple bipolar friends (including one who goes off her meds now and again), this was an interesting piece for me. I see realism here, and I love realism in any piece. Sad as it may be, it's still excellent writing. The portrayal of emotion, drawing feelings (whatever they may be) from your readers. The mark of a good author, in my humble opinion.

Well done indeed. :)

[Casper Cross]

Very good. I enjoyed it would love to see it performed. With the right actress this would come as a very funny yet tragic monologue.

Great Job...