One Step Closer

OSC/ Seventeen

WARNING: This chapter contains a scene, depicting suicide. Reader discretion is advised.

One Step Closer/Seventeen

                               Friday morning…Patricia Morrison walked through the doors of the Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Care Center…she stepped to the front desk. “I’m here to see Elizabeth Hill,”

                              “Yes, Mrs. Morrison,” nodded the nurse. The ward came along after fifteen minutes, and guided Patricia through the corridors of white hallways. Her mind sketched out the last time that she had brought Austyn here…the girl was fourteen, and very distraught.

                               “I don’t wanna go!” Austyn protested.

                               “Austyn dear, it’s your mother,”

                              “Why did she let him do me like that? Why is she here?”

                               “Your mother is here because she hasn’t been herself for a while. She needs help,” Patricia answered, looking to the slightly slim body, black and blonde dyed hair that hung to the lower part of her neck. She didn’t have on any lipgloss or lipstick at that time, as she was in a phase where the majority of her peers, outside Crissette and Meela had become skaters. She wore as nice of a plain t-shirt as Patricia could find, and one of Crissette’s skirts, with her Chuck Taylors on.

                                “This place scares me,” breathed Austyn.

                                They sat on a small bench in the hallway. Patricia pushed back Austyn’s hair, looking into her eyes. “Your mother is going to be fine. It’s going to take some time, though. Why does this place scare you?”

                                 Austyn trembled in silence, as she held tightly to Patricia’s hand.

                                 “Do feel with the way things unfolded, that you may end up being here one day?”

                                “I’m not…crazy,” squeaked Austyn.

                                 Patricia took Austyn into her embrace. “Honey, we know. Your stepfather did some awful things- that is why we are trying to work through this. But before you can move on, you have to face your fears. I’ll be with you every step of the way,”

                                 Austyn shuddered. “P-Promise?”

                                “I promise,”

                                Patricia breathed in reality, as she stepped into the garden once again, where she usually held her conversations with Elizabeth…the water fountains were a serenity of sorts, dripping cascading water down its stony nooks and crannies. The speakers played very soothing music, as if she were in the waiting room at the day spa that she attended twice a month. Patricia sat at their usual table, as the wards brought in Elizabeth…Patricia noticed that her disposition was a little sunnier than usual. “I see you are happier than when I usually come to see you,”

                                “I see that you aren’t exactly sticking to schedule,” said Elizabeth. “I’m missing my mid-morning oatmeal with cranberries,”