"Maybe it's for the best" An Ashtray story.

Chapter 1: The exit.

The beeping of the machines, the hushed whispers, the silence that's louder than ever. Life has always sucked pretty bad, and I've learned my ways to deal with it, up until now. It has never. been as bad as it is now. This place is different from the others, my mom says I'm sick but I feel physically fine, but mentally? That's a different story.

the time was 3:42 AM, i was counting down the hours till I was free to leave. I heard 3 light knocks on my door and I lifted my head up to see who was coming in. 

"Hi Val, how are you feeling? just coming in to do a check up for you"

"Hi Miss Jackie, I'm excited to get out of here" I said sitting up fully so she could take my blood pressure.

"Ahh, ok! exciting, were all so proud of you and because your our longest patient here we have a surprise for you in the morning. Sleep tight Kiddo." She smiled softly and rustled my hair and walked out softly shutting the door behind her, leaving the room barely lit.

I felt my eyes begin to get heavy, with many thoughts racing my mind, i laid my head down onto my pillow and drifted to sleep.

I was awoken to the sound of my Alarm clock at 8 AM, i climbed out of my bed and put my slippers on while stretching. It then clicked that I was leaving today and I was so excited. I quickly went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth and hair. 

As I was exiting the bathroom Miss Jackie came in along with the other nurses and staff members, she was carrying a basket that was covered in tissue paper and glitter. 

"Here you go Valentina, Happy Birthday Sweetheart!" she smiled as she handed me the basket. 

I was filled with joy and shock, I can't believe I forgot my own Birthday. I carefully started pulling the tissue paper out of the basket revealing the gifts one by one.

I felt eyes tear up as i pulled the final gift out, a picture of me and Miss Jackie from my 7th birthday right before my first major freak out.

 What was a happy moment quickly turned sad as I started to remember what happened that day and the realization that its been 8 years since "The incident."

Flashback

"Happy birthday my Val-bear! How old are you now, 4?"

"Nooo I'm 7!!" I said with a giggle

"Ahh your getting so big!!" My dad Scooped me up and spun me around in a hug before kissing my forehead.

I giggled as he put me down and guided me over to the table where everyone gathered around to sing happy birthday.

"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Valentina..." As everyone sang I was happy, i was in a cute pink dress and my hair was in pigtails and I then blew the candles to my cake out. 

That's when a girl the same age as me, pushed my head into my cake. I was so angry. Everyone gasped as I lifted my head from the cake and looked at her.

She simply smirked.

I got of the chair and pushed her into the metal pole next to us so hard she busted her head. Everyone was mad at me that day. Except my Dad.

I then looked over and my dad and mom were fighting over whether or not to ground me, my dad got fed up and grabbed his stuff to leave but wasn't looking before crossing the street. 

Then it happened. He died.

End of flashback

I quickly fixed my expression and hugged miss Jackie and thanked her and everyone else for the gifts but asked everyone to leave so I can get ready.