Things Only Go Downhill

Chapter 3

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"There is no greater sorrow than to recall a happy time when you're miserable"
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Elio stared out the car window feeling completely numb as houses rolled by him. It felt like every few weeks it was a new home, a new family, a new school, a new living hell. Every house had different rules and different expectations of him. If he was lucky, he got a kind foster parent that was looking to create a safe place or adopt. And if he wasn't, he was worked until his hands were rubbed raw and cursed out every chance they got. Most of the time it was somewhere in between... But it didn't matter.

It didn't matter because he didn't intend on staying long. It didn't matter how good things got, he just refused to get comfortable with a family that wasn't his own. His own family was either dead or back in El Salvador with the belief that he was dead or missing. A year after Elio had woken up in that hospital, Elio Hernandez was pronounced dead and at this point, people were just looking for a body. His family likely buried an empty casket.

He didn't know how he had managed to avoid being found. Maybe he was a good liar, maybe it was just dumb luck.  If he ever did make an appearance he knew he'd be targeted... He was the only one who was able to put a name and face to the people who had slaughtered his family. It was just better to live as Elio Ramirez.

The car stopped and Mrs. Oscars climbed out of the car with Elio close behind. He knew this home was only temporary until they could figure out what to do with him. He'd only be there a night or a week at the very most. The house was a small mobile home that stank of cat urine and the roof seemed to be rotting. It was a wonder how some people were given the okay to foster...

"Hello, dear" A raspy voice pulled open the dear with a hard yank which suggested it had been kicked in on itself too many times to count. The door handle was rusted and the woman standing in the doorway reeked of cigarettes and wet hair. Her house was loud, but not the loudest Elio had seen. She was short and had stubby fingers, gray hair, and cloudy gray eyes that suggested she was losing her eyesight.

"He doesn't speak English" Mrs. Oscars gave him a sideways glance, rolling her eyes afterward. The woman only smiled which made Elio feel more unsettled. He couldn't help feeling a mixture of annoyance and relief. On one hand, he wouldn't have to talk if they believed he only spoke Spanish. On the other hand, he wouldn't be allowed to talk without risking his social worker picking up on his lies. 

"Well, that's okay!" The woman exclaimed. "Come in, come in darlin'. The boys will get ya settled" She hummed as she grabbed onto Elio's arm, making him tense up.

"Thank you so much for taking in another kid, Lola. It means the world and changes lives" Mrs. Oscars gave her a fake smile before leaving Elio alone with the woman. He almost wished she stayed.

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Silas stared down at the small capsule decorated with different colored pills. Zoloft for depression, Lamictal as a mood stabilizer, and Rexulti as an antipsychotic. He was a mess all around, that was for certain. He tossed the capsule aside, not bothering to take the usual dosage. Maybe he'd just start tucking the pills under his mattress if Maze kept getting on his ass about them.

He hated taking it. He hated how different he felt when he was on them, he hated that people wanted him to be somebody he wasn't, he hated that his true self wasn't deemed a fit member of society. That he had to be put on medication for crazy people just to be considered worthwhile. He hated how sluggish he felt, how different he was. There was nothing wrong with him. He was okay and didn't need medication...