Never Let Go

Chapter 3: You'll Never Understand

Some of the patients have friends and family visiting them today, and I've been given a couple of extra hours from Stella to stay and help after my shift.

I keep an eye on the patients while they eat their lunch, and I see Maya manages to eat a couple bites of her sandwich, which is good progress. She leaves most of it, though, and drinks her water.

After yesterday I've taken Stella's advice and I haven't interacted with Maya much. I don't want to upset or annoy her like I did yesterday, so I'll leave her be for now. I don't want to be the one who stresses her out because she doesn't need that.

After lunch everyone goes off to their rooms until their visitor arrives. While waiting in the visitors room I read the list of patients who have family or friends coming today, and Maya is on the list. Her boyfriend Andre is coming to visit her.

The visitors begin to arrive, and me and the nurses welcome them in.

A tall, skinny man, with short, black hair, wearing a grey hoodie and black sweatpants walks in, but he looks a bit lost. I don't recognize him, so he must be Andre. I walk over to him to introduce myself.

"Hello." I smile.

He looks at me, and I'm shocked to see his eyes are bloodshot, and his pupils are dilated. He looks ill, and he looks like he's on something.

"Uh, hi. I'm here to see Maya Carlson. I'm Andre." He runs his hand through his hair. "I don't know if I'm in the right place."

"Yeah, you're in the right place. Take a seat at one of the tables and a nurse will bring Maya out."

"Thanks." He nods and walks past me.

Once the visitors are all sat down, I walk around each of them and offer them a refreshment.

"Would you like anything to drink, Andre?" I ask.

"Water would be good, thanks." He nods while jogging his leg nervously.

MAYA'S POV

I walk into the visitors room with a nurse glued to my side. I look around for Andre, and once I find him the nurse let's me walk over to him alone.

Andre looks up when I pull out a chair to sit on, and he shows a little smile.

"Hey."

"Hi..." I say, keeping a straight face.

I see Michael walking over to our table, holding a cup of water. I sigh and look down.

"Here's your water, Andre."

"Thanks."

"Would you like a cup of water, Maya? Or juice?" Michael asks in his soft, high pitched voice.

"I'm fine." I say bluntly without looking at him.

"Ok, well, me and the nurses will be around if you need anything."

I stay quiet until I hear him walk off.

"Kinda like a prison in here, ain't it?" Andre chuckles.

"It's worse." I shake my head.

There's a little pause of silence.

"How've you been?" He asks.

"Great, Andre. No thanks to you." I say sarcastically. "This has been the best I've felt in years." I roll my eyes.

"What? You're saying it's my fault that you're in this nut house?"

"You're the one who called the fucking police. I wouldn't be in here if you didn't call them."