Caged

Prolouge.

Here I am, laying in the long grass that goes almost up to my thighs. My back touching the earth, and my face being swept by the sun rays. A bee flies on my chest, and I look at it in amazement, then I look back up at the trees. The trees are surrounding me, and over top, too. I can almost not see the blue sky, but it's not impossible. There's enough for the sun to poke out, and the clouds to say hello. The bee from my chest begins to fly, and hovers over my face before landing on a flower a foot or two away from me. I turn my head and watch it. Weird. I think to myself. This insect is born to help, but so am I. I am much larger, more superior, yet I feel the need to thank you, kind bee. I almost laugh and look at the sky again when a man walks over to me. "Hey, Meyers, it's time to go." He holds his hand out to help me up, and I thank him and accept his help.

"You can call me Kristy, you know. It's sounds friendlier." I say to the man, staring him in the eye as he looks forwards, and glances at me from the side of his eyes.

"It's not professional." He shrugs. "And besides, if Big W finds out that I'm calling you, and the others, by their first name, I'd be taken away from this place for good." He explains.

"Can you at least tell me your name?" I beg, grabbing his arm with both my hands. "Please?" I drag the word on.

He rolls his eyes and answers. "Ryder."

"That's such a cool name! If you ride a fancy two-wheeler I bet your gag name would be Rider, with an I. Get it? Because you're Ryder, the Rider." I smile at my joke and Ryder cracks a smile.

"That's adorable! I can never seem to get over how odd your slang is." Ryder laughs lightly. "Now, no more jokes. We're almost there. No mentioning my name, either."

"I know the rules." I frown, and stare up at the large building a bit up the path. "When do I get to come back?" I ask, staring up at the sky as I walk on. I never get to see how pretty it is.

"Two days is your next therapy session." Ryder answers.

"Who is it with?" I ask, hoping its with him. No, I don't like him in that way! I don't like any boys in that way! I don't even swing that way..

"Uh, I don't know, I don't think it's with me, though." Ryder answers.

"Oh, okay." Is all I say and look forward again. "I like this place. Not the building, but the forest." I say after a few seconds of silence, and graze my hand over the tall grass.

"Yeah, it can be pretty relaxing. It's a nice place to lay down and just have a smoke." Ryder comments.

"I'd agree except what about fires, the grass is so long, that if you lay down the cig will burn it. Also, where would you douse it? Hopefully not out here." I lecture.

"No, I always have a little ash catcher with me." Ryder explains, and I give him an odd look.

"A tray?" I ask.

"No! It's a cute little box that contains all of them." Ryder says and pulls the box out of his pocket. I go to grab it but he puts it in his pocket again. I shake it off and look to my right where Ryder wasn't, just to get a nice look at the forest before I leave. I pull out a blade of grass and then another and one more, and the rest of the walk I weaved a little headband. I grabbed a few flowers and added those to it. It kept me busy. Ryder was done speaking, and we were nearing the building. I occasionally look up at Ryder, and he occasionally looks down at me, but no words are spoken.

When we arrived, I'm almost finished my crown and try to finish by the time I get to Big W. Big W stands for Big Woman. Not meaning fat, or busty. Meaning person in charge. The one bigger than the rest of us all. Ryder guides me into her office and stands by the door as Big W and I sit at her desk. I, or course, am sitting on the side closest to the door. Where guests sit and stuff. I finish my crown and look at it in amazement. Big W was kind enough to wait to speak for when I was finished, and I apologized for making her wait. "This is for you." I say, and put it on her desk.

"What is this? A bee trap?" Big W asks me.

"No, it's a crown! Because you're like a queen around here." I explained.

"Well, I thank you very much, Meyer." Big W grabbed it and put it on her head. "How do I look?" She asked.

"You looks so pretty!" I smile so wide. Her dark hair and the white daisies and the green of the grass looked nice. Her smile said one story, but her grey eyes said another. I didn't pay attention as Big W asked me about what happened as I was in the forest. It's the same questions each time, so I'm on auto pilot by now. "I cried a little, watched a bee, stared at the sky... I didn't try to run off... The only thing I took is what I made your crown out of... Yes I need the flusher." I almost rolled my eyes at her boring questions. Once I was dismissed, Ryder walked me to the washroom and as I walked by the window of big W's office, I saw her crown wasn't on her head anymore, she must have just taken it off for right now. There was also a flower pedal on the ground by her trash can. Must have fallen off when I was making it.

"After this you have another test." Ryder explains when I'm about to enter the washroom. What was left of my smile turns into a frown.

"They hurt." I whisper and enter the washroom.