Therapy (Jalex)

Session 30

Patient: Alexander William Gaskarth

Notes: tried to commit suicide, hallucinations

-Dr. Bassam Barakat

-

"Welcome home, Alex!" my mom cried, tears welling in her eyes as she smiled. "You're finally back." We were sitting in the family car in the driveway of the home. My parents had smiles plastered on their faces, as if trying to overly idealize being home and with family. I felt sick to my stomach. The house looked empty and sad.

"Although we might have to get adjusted to that wheelchair of yours," joked my father lightly, forcing a laugh. I chuckled nervously. I had just gotten home from the hospital. It had been a week since I had attempted suicide by jumping from a hotel roof, and now I was stuck in a wheelchair since I had fractured my tibia in two places. As well as a few broken ribs and a concussion, those were the only injuries I had, thanks to hitting my head on a balcony on the way down so my body was completely limp. The nurses had said I was completely lucky, but I didn't feel that way. The head injury didn't make me forget Tom, and Jack never visited me in the hospital, so I had absolutely no distractions from thinking about him. I had no one to talk to, especially not my parents, as now they treated me like a china doll; like I could shatter into a million pieces at the wrong word.

"Now, I know you want to go to your room and rest," began Mom, "but... Dr. Barakat would like to see you."

I groaned. "Now?" I complained. My mother nodded overly enthusiastically.

"He wanted to see you as soon as possible," she explained. "But first I need to get my purse." She started for the house, and I held her back.

"Mom?" I asked timidly. She turned around, her smile as big as ever. I felt like crying. My family was so fake right now. This didn't feel like home, but I didn't let it show. I tried to smile. "Can you get my phone too?" I wanted to let Jack know I was okay, since he was the one who witnessed me fall.

"Of course!" she exclaimed all too brightly. She opened the door and scurried to the house. As she rummaged inside, Dad and I sat in silence. He didn't know what to say to me, and I didn't know what to say to him. My mother returned quickly, placing my phone in my hand as soon as she got into the car. My father started the car, and we were on our way to Barakat Psychiatry.

I pressed my index finger down on the power button, and the white apple glowed alone in the dark screen. When my phone turned on, I swiped right, punched in my password, and tapped on my messages app. I scrolled through my conversations, but I didn't find Jack's conversation with me. I tapped on my contacts. He wasn't there either. I cocked my head to the side in confusion. Was this some weird glitch? Now I couldn't talk to Jack, since I, being a useless teenager of this generation, didn't memorize his number.

Before I could ask my parents about it, we pulled up in front of the dreary, yet cleanly decorated building.

"We're here," announced Dad. It was all I could do from groaning. Dr. Barakat was probably going to judge me, and I didn't feel up for that.

It took a while, but I was finally unloaded from the car, and my mom wheeled me into the building. Hilary's eyes widened when she saw me, and I avoided her gaze. I never really cared about what she thought of me, but I didn't want to see the judgement in her eyes today.

The door to Dr. Barakat's office was open. We entered his office, and I soon sat in front of the doctor. I studied his face. He looked so much like Jack. My heart longed for Jack, except I couldn't contact him at the moment. When he noticed that we were all settled in, Dr. Barakat started to speak.