Body and Soul:

Simone’s Notes:

The term "addiction" is used in many contexts to describe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive physical dependence, such as: drug addiction, alcoholism, compulsive overeating, problem gambling, computer addiction, etc. In medical terminology, addiction is a state in which the body relies on a substance for normal functioning and develops physical dependence, as in drug addiction. When the drug or substance on which someone is dependent is suddenly removed, it will cause withdrawal, a characteristic set of signs and symptoms. Addiction is generally associated with increased drug tolerance. In physiological terms, addiction is not necessarily associated with substance abuse since this form of addiction can result from using medication as prescribed by a doctor. However, common usage of the term addiction has spread to include psychological dependence. In this context, the term is used in drug addiction and substance abuse problems, but also refers to behaviors that are not generally recognized by the medical community as problems of addiction, such as compulsive overeating. The term addiction is also sometimes applied to compulsions that are not substance-related, such as problem gambling and computer addiction. In these kinds of common usages, the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life.

Irene was a nightmare to handle with. Her drug withdrawals were stronger than ever. She was screaming out for drugs day and night. Ella and the girls or Aizen Myo-o Academy were under strict orders not to given her anything harmful. They wanted her sober so that she could paint for pictures for them. It was just painful to listen to her yelling out for heroin, coke, weed, and other drugs. She sounded like a madwoman to her neighbors. Shane was nervous about all of this.

“There must we can to do to shut her up,” she said.

“No,” Ella insisted. “It’ll only make the situation even worse than it is already.” The tech geek sighed hard. Ella was right. Acting out was only going to hinder the healing process. The first step was to wait it all out. This was the longest step in the healing process. All the girls could do was lie around and wait. It was a long five days too. Irene refused to do anything. She wouldn’t eat, drink, paint, or sleep. The artist just lied in bed screaming her lungs out. It was tough, but it was just part of the healing process. After five days, a decision was made. Ella gathered the girls around at the dining room table.

“You guys,” she said aloud. “We have to move Irene out of this place.” The love deities all looked at her in shock.

“What?!?” Alice asked her in shock.

“That’s right,” Ella replied. “We can’t stay here! We need to move Irene in a safer place.”

“But where?” Dana asked. Ella already had that answer to that one.

“The military apartments,” she replied. “I’ll move her in as my cousin.”

“But to which apartment?” Helena asked. “None of them can fit all of her paintings in there.” Ella had it all planned out already.

“The top floor,” she replied. “That room has the most space and a view. Anything to get Irene well enough to work for us.” She looked around at all of the girls.

“Any more questions?” the deity asked the others. The other girls stayed silent. Ella pressed her hands down on the table. A smile came across her face.

“Okay then,” she said. “We’ll take Irene to the apartments by morning.”

“Right,” the girls agreed. And so it was. The bipolar artist was moved into the top floor of the military apartments. This change didn’t really help either. Irene just lied around on the floor in silent misery. It was a tragic sight to behold. The artist still didn’t talk much either. The deities just couldn’t wait anymore. Even Ella was now moving for action.

“Look,” Dana said aloud to her in her bedroom/studio one night after days and nights of moping around. “Irene, we need you! Paint something for us!”

“I can’t!” Irene mumbled with her face buried into the pillow.

“Sorry?” the third-year student asked.

“I can’t!” Irene repeated even louder. Dana looked at her curiously.

“Why not?” she asked. Irene looked up at her forlorn.

“I need drugs!” she wailed out. The love deity looked at her slightly surprised.

“Why?” she asked confused. Irene still reminded on her stomach in bitter-salty tears.

“I have always painted when I was high,” the artist explained. “Without the drugs, I have nothing. I am nothing.” Dana lightly laid her hand on the struggling artist’s shoulder.

“Aw,” she said out of sympathy. “That’s not true Irene.”

“Yes is it!” she wailed out. Then, the artist broke down and began telling the love deity her whole life story. In the end, Dana just lightly hugged the broken artist. The painter cried against her chest. The love deity tried her best to calm her down again.

“Shhh!” she whispered to her. “It’s okay. We’ll teach you to paint without the drugs. But only if you try to help yourself as well.” Irene looked up her in disbelief.

“How?” she whimpered out not really buying it. “I really do need drugs to paint! That’s how it’s always been in my life!” Dana lightly shook her head.

“Not anymore,” she said. “We’ll show you how.” The artist still didn’t buy it.

“I would love to see you try!” she blurted out. Then she broke down and cried again. Dana lightly hugged her again. She stayed with Irene all night long. Dana had given herself a new mission: Help Irene get sober for their own mission. It wasn’t going to be easy, but it had to be done. Anything to stop the fallen world cold in its tracks.