arlette's pov
it was the day. the day where i finally got to leave.
i got to leave here.
i'm still here, the voice whispered. i will always be here. i'm not leaving. you know that. they all do. i looked up from my lap at the patient's. some were shaking, or simply staring, but they all were looking at me. they knew. everyone knows. you should still be here. i shook my head. no. i don't belong here. you do, she yelled. i hit my head with my fists, breathing hard. she left.
i went back to staring at my lap before i heard my brother's voice. mark. i looked up at him. he never looked different from when i had last seen him; he visited often.
he hugged me tightly, i lightly hugged him back. i was never a fan of physical contact, i didn't even like people slightly touching me. but, i did this just to show that i "changed" and that i "was better". he broke away and smiled. "now let's get you out of here". i grabbed my bag, and turned to my home for the past 7 years. i was leaving. i was finally leaving. i turned away with a long sigh and followed mark out to his old car, and got in. he wouldn't stop smiling as he pulled out of the hospital and down the road. "are you excited?" he said with a grin as he turned on the radio. "yeah! i get to live with you i guess" i replied with a fake smile. he needed to know i was okay. "did they let you listen to music in there?" he yelled over the sound of people singing and drums banging and loud stuff. "no" i yelled back. they never let us listen or make music, so i kind of forgot about music. "then listen to this!!it's the best right now!" he yelled over that weird drum beat and guitar. i could barely listen; i was thinking too much.
im starting a new life. completely new. i was out. i can get a job. earn a living. meet someone. woah woah woah you???meet someone?? you have to be kidding. she interjected. god dammit, she was right for once. i can't meet someone. they'll find out. they'll see the marks she left on me. they'll find out. i shook my head again and closed my eyes.
"ar", mark shook my arm lightly, "ar! wake up! we're here!" i shot up, not from his voice, but from the light presence of his hand on my arm. i flinched and slowly inched out of the car and onto the pavement and looked at my new home. it was small, but cozy. i liked it. i smiled, and meant it. i was home.
i grabbed my bag and walked in. there was a small living room to the right, with a large couch and nice tv. to the right there was a hallway and a kitchen was straight ahead. "your bedroom is the second door on the right. we both have our own bathrooms." mark exclaimed, plopping down on the couch with a remote in hands. "yell if you need anything!"
i walked into what was my "room". there were two windows since i was on the end; one facing from the right and on the back wall. my bed was positioned in between those. it was white, the walls were white also. the dresser and desk were a light brownish wooden color. simple. i liked it. i unpacked my bag to already find clothes in the drawers and hanging up. mom must've bought me things.
i walked back out to the living room, and sat on the couch. mark finally spoke, "hey i need to go shoot some stuff for some friends. wanna come?"
i shrugged and got up with him. i needed to start actually doing things. we got back into the car and drove through columbus, ohio, and got to a small building. we walked in, mark carrying all of his cameras such. we eventually got to an all white room with a drumset and piano.
"are you shooting a music video?" i whispered to mark, trying to avoid the other people in the room.
"yeah! this is for my friends who're in a band. do you want to meet them?" i shook my head at his words. i didn't want to meet anyone. meeting new people is scary for me. mark knew it was a jump for me to even go out in public. he would understand.
