Breaking Barriers - S.R.

18

The following day dragged on incredibly slowly. I still hadn't heard from Spencer yet and it was practically impossible for me to go back to sleep after the frantic way he left last night. It was the weekend, so I didn't even have work to keep me occupied. I drifted through most of the day on autopilot. Getting out of bed, taking a shower, drinking coffee and getting ready for the day. All while anxiously waiting to hear what could've possibly happened last night.

I was currently sitting on my couch in complete silence, doing the best I could to focus on the book that was in front of me. After reading the same sentence about seven times without actually paying attention to it, I finally gave up and placed it on the coffee table with a sigh. I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my purse, thinking that taking a walk to go get some food might distract me for a while.

As I was locking my door, I could hear muffled noises coming from down the hall and they became increasingly louder as I walked by Spencer's apartment. Before I even realized what was going on, the door swung open and Diana came rushing out, shouting incoherently as her nurse followed after her.

"Just leave me alone! You're trying to poison me! I'm not taking that poison!" She hollered, waving her arms around wildly.

"Diana, let's go back inside. I'll make you some tea--"

"No!" She yelled again, cutting off her poor caretaker. I had met her a couple of times but couldn't remember her name. She gave me an exasperated look at she spotted me. "You're trying to poison me!"

"No, I'm not trying to poison you, Diana. This is the medicine that you take every day. Spencer told you it was safe, remember?" She tried to stay calm as I watched silently from a few feet away. Until Diana spotted me, that is.

She stared at me for a moment as though she was trying to decipher who I was, and I thought that maybe she remembered meeting me, but that quickly changed as she frantically approached me again, grasping onto my arms for support. "You have to help me! She's trying to kill me!"

"Okay, okay. It's alright." I said calmly. "Diana, do you remember me? We met a couple of weeks ago. I'm Spencer's friend, Olivia."

Her brow furrowed and she quieted down for a second. "Olivia?" She said slowly, as if she was feeling out the name. "Yes, I-I think so. You have to help me!"

"Okay, I'll help you. Let's go inside, yeah? It's safer in there." I stated.

She nodded reluctantly and I guided her towards the door. She eyed her nurse warily as we passed by and she followed us inside.

"She won't hurt you, she's here to help. I promise." I said, walking with her to the couch and taking a seat. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Tea, but I don't want her to make it. I don't trust her." Diana glared at the nurse standing quietly off to the side, mostly observing our encounter. I'm sure she was thankful for the fleeting moment of a little peace.

"I'll make you some tea." I agreed, walking over to Spencer's kitchen. I shot a small smile at the nurse as I walked by her and she grasped my arm in a grateful gesture.

Diana began to settle down as I sat with her and talked about Spencer. I started to ask questions about his childhood, to which she was more than happy to answer. We really seemed to be making progress until I dared to suggest she take her medicine. She stared at me for a moment before a look of realization crossed her face.

"You're in on this too, the both of you!" She stood up, pointing from me to her nurse.

I stood up as well. "No, Diana--"

The shock I felt was much more severe than the pain as her hand struck my face. "Leave me alone!"

I stood in place, completely frozen as she stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door shut. My hand automatically went to my cheek and her nurse rushed over to me.