Element 6: A Secret World (#WattyAwards2015)

Chapter One: Ariya

A person who thinks they can save the world, now they're truly crazy.

People say I belong in a mental hospital. They say I'm different, but not the good kind. And yet, I don't blame them, I blame my out-of-control emotions. You may think, "It's probably some puberty issue" or maybe "It's your girl hormones acting up." But, sadly, those aren't my solutions, even though I honestly wish they were.

Doctors say I suffer from a mental condition based on an non fully developed Amygdala. Basically, the part of my brain that allows me to produce emotions is somewhat messed up. In my head I freely shout out to the doctors a line from Peter Pan, "Poppy Cot!", but in reality I keep quiet and listen. As I hear the doctors talk with my parents, I just think... I think of how I feel about everything happening, I think of my emotions and how I feel perfectly fine, perfectly sane. I know deep down in me that I am not meant to be attending a mental hospital for the rest of my life. I just know that I'm not suffering from an illness that tags me insane on my life history. But no one listens to me, no one believes me.

I have been sent to a two week HELP program that is suppose to make me attend a sort of summer camp expedition that has me go through many mental exercises to strengthen my emotional state. I have a nurse who guides me everywhere and she basically acts as my chaperon. I've tried explaining to her how I feel, how I just know in my heart that I am sane, but every time I try to convince her I get the same response.

"Sweetie, I haven't had one patient who had said something different than you did. Every person thinks they are sane, but the majority of them aren't." Nurse Aston would answer in her annoying yet sweet British accent that always made my blood boil.

Hank ran into my room, take in a deep breath before talking.

"Does Jade wanna play bouncy ball with Hanks new ball?" Hank asked while bouncing his red ball.

Hank was my friend who had mental brain damage. He was a 37 year old man who thought he was seven.

"Hank don't bounce the ball in here please." Nurse Aston said before injecting a needle through my skin to get a blood sample.

I looked away as the syringe filled up with my blood.

"Your accent is annoying." I muttered as Hank held his ball and stood by the door quietly.

Nurse Aston took out the needle too quickly, causing it to sting like a bee.

"That was rude." She said annoyed.

"Apologize!" Hank cheered. As he jumped up and down I noticed how weird it looked for a grown man to jump around like a seven year old while dressed in overalls with a red bouncy ball in hand.

"Can't, crazy people don't know better." I said aloud.

I got up as I pulled my sleeve back down over my arm. Hank followed me with a confused expression.

"Who's crazy?" He asked.

I didn't answer the whole walk to the playground and we just played handball for the rest of the day, some other friends joining us for dodgeball before the sun set. I spent my last hour at camp talking to Hank about my dad and my small problems, he may not have understood me but he would pat me on the back and when I cried he hugged me tight. He may not understand, but he doesn't want me to know that, so he makes me feel understood.

~*~

I held my necklace tight, my fingertips running over the rough edges where the moon had been split. I sat still in the silent car, everyone deciding to keep quiet. As I looked out my window I just watched the same scenery pass over again and again.