Don't Leave Me Alone

~19~

⚠️TW: Attempted suicide, arson, missing body parts

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~Norman's POV~

I don't want to think.

Every time time I think, the tears won't stop.

I barely sleep. I don't eat as much as I used to. I lock myself in the infirmary. Don, Gilda, and Ray have started asking Mom for the master key so that they can see me.

Get over it. She's gone. Moping won't bring her back.

Nobody has given up, though. Ray, Gilda, and Don have been preparing for the escape. I wish I could help because it would take my mind off of things. But they all said that I have to rest. They don't want my leg getting any worse.

The four of us are escaping with Nat, Anna, Thoma, and Lanni. Emma had told the four of them before Sister Krone died, so we really can't leave them behind. We agreed that it would be better if only the eight of us escaped. Ray was right. Everyone else is a burden.

I had just stopped crying. Grabbing my crutches, I stand up and make my way to the bathroom. My reflection stared at me through the mirror.

I'm a mess.

I wash my face and take some painkillers. My leg hurt more than usual. I gag as the pills go down, but luckily, I don't throw up. Somebody knocks on the door. I don't answer, since they'll probably just come in anyway.

"Norman?" It was Mom.

I exit the bathroom to find her standing in the doorway. I couldn't even keep the hatred out of my voice. "What do you want?"

Mom stares at me with a confusing expression. It wasn't sympathy, was it?

"You poor child. Your spirit's broken, and you can't escape. You're suffering, so just give up. It makes me sad when I see my darling children in pain."

I scoff. "Yeah, right."

Mom smiles. "It's so sad. Emma would have been a great Mom. I was going to recommend her, but the higher ups asked for her early, so she couldn't become one."

"We both know that Emma would have just chosen to die."

"Yes. I suppose that's true." Mom then turned on her heel and left.

I stood there for a little while, and then there was another knock. Again, I don't answer.

Gilda opened the door. "It's dinner time, Norman."

"I'm not hungry."

Gilda just sighed. She left and then returned with a tray of food. "Just take this. For when you do get hungry."

I hop(idk the fucking word you use to describe someone walking w/ crutches) over to her and take the tray from her. "Thank you, Gilda. You're a good friend, and I know it's been difficult for you too."

She smiled sadly. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to.

(Time skip to 11:48 p.m. on January fourteenth, 2046 :P)