Pyromania

chapter 1 - smoke and mirror's

...Patient information...
Paintent I.D #3602251B
Name: Ash Waekham
Sex: Male
Height: 5'6
Weight: 143LBs
Race: Caucasian
Age: 19
Doctor's notes: "Patient Ash Waekham or Ash as he wishes to be called, exhibits the worst case of pyromania I've ever witnessed, he also exhibits behaviors akin to individuals with ADHD and Bipolar 1, he's quiet all the time ever since he got here at age 14 after having killed 5 people in a house fire he created, to appease his arousals, but ever since Dr.Penny referred him to Dr. Randal our specialized therapist, Ash has exhibited more verbal communication, he's becoming more cooperative and appears to be healing, it was long, but I believe he's ready to be released, we'll let him go 4/26/25, his 20th birthday, he's a wonder to be around, we hate to see him go but hes a better man now, we'll enjoy our week with him while it last
-Dr. Brown

"So tell me, Ash, now that you're getting out, what is it you plan to do?"
I sat and pondered, What would I do? I had no plans but something came to mind.

"It's ironic but I want to join the fire department here, I want to move into my place, I've seen so many people come and go after all"

Dr Randal chuckled, he was a kind older man, in his 70's
"Oh, my boy, that's quite dangerous, but I'm proud you want to take this path to success" he sipped his water and let off a witty smile

"Aye, maybe it's just the TV, but it looks fun; I like the concept of adrenaline coursing through your veins like a drug running through brain."

"Hey, just out of curiosity, will we still get to keep in touch after I leave?"

He sat and thought how to word it
"I wish we could, but after working since the opening of this building, i think it's time I lived a life like I've always wanted to"

He stared at a picture of his wife and picked it up, carresing it as If he had a sense of longing, he stared at me with a mix of euphoria and nostalgia

Linda was her name, I never knew her but they'd been married since he enlisted
"we always wanted to retire to a paradise-- a beach, somewhere with a good view" he looked to the pamphlet for Hawaii, he handed it to me with a smile,

"Hawaii eh, i respect it, i hate to see you go but I'm glad you're finally getting out of here, I wish you the best man" I could see a slight grin

"My boy, I wish you the best as well"
He glanced at his watch, it read 5:57 PM, therapy was going to be over soon and I was his final client
The man I saw more of a father than my biological one, after learning about his son who'd become a complete asshole, doing everything the law book says not to, he ended up getting 15 years  for aggravated manslaughter at only 25, ever since we met I think he saw me as a son, the son that never was, and I was just happy to be cared for by him.

We spent the last minutes in embrace, I was going to miss the old man, but cant keep him stuck here forever heh

I was escorted by a new girl nurse to my room, even after everything all the progress, policy states everyone had to be escorted, I know it's cause of my crimes, how horrible I was.. but it's in my past, I can only learn from it for a Better present and Future.

Once I got there I called my mother,no awnswer,that's fine, shes likely busy. she still loved me even after the incident..
She knew my evil and still loved me as a son if it weren't for her I'd have gone nuts here, i used to despise her, but the reality she did her best, considering she'd never raise anyone like me.

My brother Gauge the middle boy, he was the tallest of the family and bulkiest was an amazing football player, smart as could be, hell he's already graduated with some of the top of his class, he was guaranteed 29 different scholarships to different schools and he was only 17, I'm so proud of him.

My sister Mikaela was just the life of the party, doing just whatever she felt like in reason, she's 15 And planning on working over summer, and after graduation she wanted to enlist in the K9 unit, her fondness to those dogs that'd bite your bones out if you looked at their owner wrong

The youngest brother Calvin was only in kindergarten, I haven't heard much on him except he was an affair baby, there was a huge divorce afterwards but my dad eventually just left her with everything for a new girl he'd been cheating on her with, it didn't break her heart considering he was an asshole, wherever he was it better be far from my mother

She was 36, shorter height, wolf cut, she was a feisty one, I love her to death though, no matter what pain in my ass she can be sometimes, she worked as a child actor in her early years, nowadays she teaches theater to highschool students.

She ended up calling me 3 days before my release, though it went to someone different since I didn't hear the landline ring due to my food poisoning. Though she left a kindhearted message,she always had trouble calling since she was busy.

"Ash, we've missed you so much! 3 days, I'm so proud of you, no matter what I'm always going to love you, you're not only a son, but a big brother to your beautiful siblings" they all greeted me in sync with different ways of saying hi, it was nice hearing them, they've all probably grown so much since I last heard from them
My mother sighed as if to express relief

"We'll all pick you up we'll get whatever restaurant you want, take you wherever you name it buddy, we miss you everyday, we all love you"

The message ended there, I felt a tear jerk, this was it, my final days, i can't believe it. After everything, freedom was in my grasp, goddamn I need to gain some weight, maybe Texas Roadhouse will gimmie a pound

Those days we're both the easiest and most restless nights, I was going to be out in the world, I'd get a job, I'd work for crying out loud!

"Ash, got you some new clothes so you don't walk out looking like an escapee" Dr. Penny chuckled lightly, I got into my new attire and sat waiting in the lobby. The hours passed by. Each second more agonizing, I tasted, and it tasted like a T-bone steak.

At 4:18PM, I was eating a cupcake given to me by an unnamed Doctor, I never knew him cause I tend to stick to a few people here, the ones which didn't give me hell for my forgetfulness.

"Hey Ash , If you want to go wait outside for your mom at the bus stop we understand but I'll have to accompany you as per the policy" spoke Nurse Johanna White, she was freshly graduated and didn't give me hell for any little things, she was my favorite out of all of them, I jumped to the opportunity for some fresh air.

It was about 10 minutes before I saw them-- their 2017 Subaru outback, I could see them all, Mom, Gauge, Mikaela, Calvin I couldn't help but make the biggest shit eating grin I've ever made, freedom was mine, then I heard the roar of an engine,it was an oil tanker, how fast was it going, before i could ask myself anything, it slipped, there was a small pile up, i thought nothing of it until i smelt gasoline, the driver who was clearly drunker than an irish sailor lit a cigarette and tossed It unknowingly into the pile up, the explosion was massive, the sound of it rang my ears and knocked me off my feet,

4 other cars including my mother's, had been crushed and ignited into a mushroom cloud, fire crew rushed in 7 minutes later, we both stared in awe and horror, we just witnessed a tragedy unfold. She rushed us away from the scene and walked me back to the hospital, she ran back to assist any EMT, I was alone. No one, just me

I walked in with a dead stare and sat in a lobby chair, Dr. Brown had came to me and inquired my face

"Their dead.. all of them.." I informed the doctor "my families gone..." The tension between the doctor's and nurses who knew me shot up like a rocket
I turned to the receptionist lady, my tone dry and bitter
"I'd like to enter myself back in please"