Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Seiko sat on the steps of the treatment facility. He had been out there for nearly an hour now trying to work up the courage to go inside. Oaklee waited patiently for the first few minutes but had become increasingly agitated.

"Come ooon! We made it all this way. Are you really just gonna pout out here?"

She was right. He didn't come here for nothing. Thomas's words from last night echoed in his mind. After a long talk in the tavern, they had begun to get into the more personal topics. He thought back to then.

Seiko traced in the condensation on his glass the shape of a skull.

"How has your mom been? Have you gone and visited her yet?" His friend asked. Seiko hadn't given out many details about her situation even to Thomas.

"I don't know, we've both been really busy lately. I don't want to bother her." Seiko muttered.

He became filled with dread just thinking about going and seeing her. His mother surely knew he was thinking of her. Otherwise, why would the checks show up every month to cover her expenses? That was enough, right? Yes, it wasn't necessary for him to visit. Besides, he had too much to focus on in game, the tournament, specifically.

Still, a nagging feeling deep down in his heart had started to grow recently. It was like an uncomfortable, but small tug at his heart at first. The more he had ignored it though, the stronger it seemed to get.

"I'm sure she wants to see you. You could surprise her even." Thomas was so optimistic in his suggestion. He beamed at his friend, proud of the idea. Oaklee slapped Seiko on the shoulder.

"Now that is a great idea, Tommy! We could even go tomorrow! What do you think Seiko?"

He raised an eyebrow at her. He could just lie to Thomas, but then he'd never hear the end of it from her. The image of Oaklee comforting Hendricks flashed in his mind as he debated what to do. The tender way she held him caused that twinge in his heart to pinch tight. His mom probably would be excited to see him. He'd been putting it off for so long but perhaps he could pay her a visit.

And so here he was now. Sitting on the steps. Petrified. His heart felt like it was going to beat straight out of his chest, bounce down the steps and into oncoming traffic. He thought that would be preferable. Why did he agree to come? Seiko took a deep breath and pushed himself onto his feet. He grabbed the bouquet of flowers at his side, wiped the dust from his backside and walked inside. The West Isle Mental Facility was an older care center that had been remodeled a few times. It was a patch work of 4 decades worth of interior design. Couches from the 90's, wallpaper from the 70's, and a smell from... well, he wasn't sure, but it was distinctly clinical.   Seiko was relieved to see they had replaced the old fluorescent lightbulbs with softer yellow ones since last time. His last visit was 5 or 6 years ago, and he remembered hating the flickering white light. It had given him a migraine. A round older woman with pocked brown skin and curly gray hair sat at the front desk. She smiled at him as he entered.

"Hello sir, who are we visiting today?" Her voice was rich and sweet like honey which was ironic since that's what was on her name tag. Mabel Honey.

"Here to see Clara Okada."

She click clacked on her keyboard for a moment before pointing him down the eastern hallway.

"Room 16B. Just down that way and make a left." Mabel smiled sweetly.

Seiko nodded politely. His grip on the flowers tightened. He could feel the thorns poking through the plastic wrap, into his palm. The thoughts of the past and Seiko's fears swarmed like bees in his mind. The closer he got to her room, the harder it was to breathe. His inner voice got louder and louder, warning him, telling him to turn away.