my happy place. the woods are absolutely beautiful, especially at 1:23am. the stars scatter across the dark sky, glistening and sparkling in perfect harmony. my earphones play the album Handwritten by Shawn Mendes, it chills me out and calms my anxiety. I normally come to the woods when I have had a panic attack.
it's coming up to 2:35am and I want to start to head home which is about a 15 minute walk. but something stops me. I figure luring in the distance which intrigues me to find out more.
the figure is standing with its head down facing the ground. all black clothing is worn. I start to walk closer. stupidly, I step on a branch making a crunch sound alerting the figure. their head tilts to the side and spots me. it runs.
as the figure runs, I run after it. a silver charm falls from the figure as it runs away without noticing. I carefully pick it up and treasure it in my hands.
it's a bracelet with the letter 'R' engraved onto the sliver. I circle my head hoping for a response of someone being here. I was alone, but I knew I wasn't.
-
the next night I head back. I spent the whole day procrastinating weather the go back. my curiosity got the better of me.
I stand in the position the person stood and waited. after an hour or so, around 2:21am, a figure approached me.
"hey, you dropped this yesterday? I thought I would come back to give it to you?" I speak softly.
they walk closer with every step and butterflies flood my body, nerves.
it's a boy, wearing a black hoodie, black skinny jeans and black vans. he looked troubled. as he got closer, his face became more visible.
"are you okay?" I worry.
he steps closer and I notice his blood shot eyes. his face with no emotion and his hair tatty, with no sort of order or style.
I reach my hand in front of him with the sliver treasure in my palm. his shaky, thin hand carefully takes the bracelet.
"thank you" he whispers but loud enough just for me to slightly hear.
"seriously though, are you okay" I repeat. he looks into my eyes and shakes his head back and forth.
I put my arm around his back and guide him to the nearest bench in the woods that isn't covered in the day before's rain. he was scared.
"well I will introduce myself so you don't feel like you're talking to a stranger. I'm Faith Louisa Evans and I'm probably one of the coolest people you ever meet." I hear him chuckle a little but then returning to his shocked state. the next few minutes pass and nothing is said. I get my rucksack and pass him my bottle of water to take a drink of.
I end up plugging my head phones into my phone and passing him an earbud to put in. I play Shawn Mendes to calm him but it's no use.
at 4:06am he speaks.
"I'm Reece Bibby and I have schizophrenia."
