CHAPTER26

3 years ago, Waking up to yet another nightmare was becoming a constant thing in my life. I haven't been to school in four weeks, doctors' orders and yet I agree entirely with him because no way was I going to go back to face anybody. I hardly come out of my room, mum tries to beg me, dad tries to bribe me but I would never listen. I wouldn't even talk to my friends and I'm beginning to feel a little selfish because we are all going through the same thing and I pushed all attention to myself but I couldn't care less It was like I was in my own bubble, I have become lean, super lean, I never sleep just to avoid nightmares, I'd rather have a conversation with a picture of Leon than to any actual human It's more like I'm becoming mad "Hey sweetie, how are you today?" Mum walks into my room settling on my bed They removed all the locks in my room after the incident and it became very annoying because they always entered when they felt like I don't answer so I just nod "You know you're going to have to speak to me someday sometime" she pecks me and I nod once again It's really not that I don't want to talk, I just don't have the urge to say anything to anyone "Your dad and I want to talk with you now, so can I call him in?" "Hmm" I managed to mumble. I see the smile on her face as she runs to get dad "Hey princess" my dad smiled weakly and I instantly felt bad for him. Dads the one on his feet all night trying to get his men to find Leon and it hasn't been easy for him too "So um your dad and I spoke to doctor Felix about your mental health and how you aren't really improving" she smiled placing her hands on mine "And that is when he referred us to a school in Talisview" he continued for her and I just stared at them confused "Honey we are enrolling you into St. Mary's school for troubled teens. It's just for you to get back on your feet and regain your se-" "What?" I seethed as I stood up and walked away "Darling come back it's for your own good" "I don't care. I'm not leaving" I shout as a sharp feeling pierced into me, feeling my chest cluster making it hard for me to breathe as I began to lose control of my body "It's for the best love" Dad whispered as he removed the piercing thing I'm guessing was an injection as I lost sight of everything ........ Waking up, I took in my surroundings and I began to panic because I was confused Plain beds, no color painting, no drawers, just plain "Where am I?" I asked to no one "Welcome to St. Mary's school for the troubled teenagers" a petite nurse smiled sadly at me "What?" I croaked "Don't worry, everything's going to be alright. We would move you to your room in a few minutes, there you'll meet your roommate in whom you'll be staying with till you're better" she said "What do you mean, I'm okay, I'm fine" I argued but she didn't say anything. I decided not to speak again, mostly because I was too tired to do so and I didn't even complain when I was carried to my room. The room just like the other one was plain, two beds, nothing special. "Hi, you must be Lorraine. I'm Connie and I would be your roommate" she smiled shyly. I wonder why she's here "So why are you here? You seem harmless" I ask "I almost committed suicide. You?" she stated like it was nothing "Oh wow, I really don't know but my so-called doctor said my mental health was decreasing blahs blah" "May I ask why?" I nodded and told her everything "Oh" she sighed "Not to worry, you're in good hands. With me of course, not with them, I really can't wait to be outside, I've been here for a year and a half" "That's so long" "I know, stick with me and trust me you'll be our before you know it" "And why aren't you out?" I asked rather rudely "I'm sorry" I smiled apologetically "That's fine, Sister Josephine, the head of this facility isn't available for the next six months and she's the only one authorized to allow you to leave. So yeah" "Well then" I nodded feeling a little at ease with her, "I think I'll manage it" "No choice" ......... My sixth month and I couldn't have been more tired of the place, it isn't a school, more like a prison but regardless I still had Connie and a whole lot of new friends to keep me company. I started acting a little more like myself but deep down, I knew that was still that troubled girl of six months ago but this was all a facade to get me out Only Connie knew that the nightmares were still ongoing and she made it possible to help me through it I hadn't spoken to my parents since that day and I intended on continuing that. I never allowed them to visit, only Logan because he was as pissed as I was. It was exactly a day to our routine test with sister Josephine and I couldn't be happier. Connie and I had everything planned and I just couldn't wait to leave. "Hey there Lorrie, you excited?" She smiled as I took my seat in the cafeteria "I'm doing excellent" I smiled back "Okay well that's great because we have to enjoy our last day together" "How? It's not like we can leave or something" "Who cares? We will just enjoy ourselves indoors" she shrugged almost all of my fries. "You know for someone who's very shy, you're surprising me every single time" "Well I'm a girl of surprises" I laughed at what she said. That night, I couldn't get a wink of sleep because I was super excited and confident that I was going to get out soon Turning to Connie, I called "hey" but she didn't answer and she's the most lightheaded sleeper I knew Walking over to her bed, I shook her then I noticed how could her body was. I turned on the nightlight and my breath hitched at what I saw. Connie was foaming I was so confused about what to do, I continued shaking her frantically this time hoping she'll wake and I realized how stupid I was so I began banging on our door because they lock every room. After ten minutes of continuous banging of the door, two nurses opened the door and I sighed in relief "Uh uh Connie I-don- kn-" I wheezed trying to catch my breath as I pointed to her They immediately flew to her side, one calling for help while the whole floor was flooded with confused Sisters "Did she take drugs, does she have drugs, did someone drug her?" All the nurses and sisters began asking "No no, we ate and drank the same thing and she slept before me" I tried answering as tears filled my eyes "What's going to happen?" I cried concerned for my friend's health. I can't lose yet another person "We can't say if she'll make it but I promise everything will be okay, don't let this affect your test tomorrow" Sister Josephine patted my back as they wheeled Connie away. Settling down on my bed, I cried out in fear because I wasn't ready to live without her. I didn't know how I slept but all I heard before I slept was a sister shouting 'She's gone'