Demented

Shallow Affect

Frank had been in the hospital ward for a week. He got visitors on Christmas. None of them were Gerard. Gerard didn't come to visit him. All he wanted was Gerard.

He had pleaded for someone to get him, but their answers were all the same "He denied."

Gerard was eating poptarts and drinking orange juice. Zen sat next to him, causing Gerard to groan. "Ugh! What do you want?"

"Your boyfriend really wants to see you. Frank misses you."

"It's funny how you emphasize 'boyfriend' like it means something."

Zen opened his mouth to protest, but quickly closed it. This was Gerard. He was callous and vicious. His feelings were limited. "It'll make him feel better."

"Do you think I actually care?" Gerard scoffed. "He needs to learn how to take care of himself. He's not two, believe it or not. You guys treat everyone like they're two years olds. Don't you dare tell me what to do with my relationship. I've fucked thousands of people while you got STDs the first time you had sex. So shut your mouth, you Jew."

Zen's eyebrows furrowed. "Fag."

"Oh, no! Don't hit me now!" Gerard said sarcastically, covering his face. Zen rolled his eyes and stomped away. Gerard giggled and took a sip of his orange juice. Once he finished, he threw his stuff away and and went up to the serving counter. "Hi Gladys," he smiled. "How's your morning been?"

"It's been going well. You?"

"It's been okay."

"How's Frank?"

Gerard frowned and looked at the ground. "Well, I went to visit him a few times. But now, he doesn't want to see me. I don't know what I did wrong," he sighed.

Gladys gave him a sympathetic look. "Ah, I'm sure he'll come around."

"And then Zen makes everything worse. H-he called me a fag and threatened me."

"Zen did that? That's against the rules. He's not allowed to talk to you that way."

"I know. It doesn't matter though. I just care about Frankie. He's taking medication for his stomach. He's being monitored while he eats. His anxiety medication has been increased. He's on sleeping pills. And he's having weird heart problems."

"Poor baby."

"Yeah. I hope he gets better." Gerard looked at the clock and excused himself. It was time to go outside.
______________________________

Gerard sat on his bed, with his back against the wall. He was drawing a comic panel. His tongue stuck out to the side. There was a knock.

"Kill yourself."

Dr. Eston came in. "He needs you."

"Uh, no he doesn't."

"He's crying for you. Frank wants to see you. One minute of your time wouldn't hurt."

Gerard shook his head. "I don't want to see him."

"Gerard, I understand that your emotions are shallow. I understand that you don't emphasize with Frank. But-"

"But what?"

"But he is your boyfriend. If you want to have successful relationships, you need to understand that they have needs too."

"I understand needs. I know exactly what he needs, so I've always given it to him. I don't give it to him once and now everyone's after me!" Gerard pinched the top of his nose.

"Sadly, you can't take a break from love. Especially when that person is sensitive."

"He stresses me out! I'm not obliged to take care of him. Especially when he makes me go insane!"

"You know what, you're right. But completely ignoring him is making everything worse."

"Frank's pathetic!" Gerard spewed. "I'm not going around that thing!"

"If you actually loved him, you would go visit him!" Dr. Eston yelled, furious.

"I don't love him!" Gerard stared angrily into the therapist's eyes. Gerard looked over. Frank was standing there with tears streaming down his face. Dr. Eston turned around and saw his patient.

"I...I always knew you didn't," Frank croaked. He turned around and ran away.

"Look what you did!" Eston slammed the door on his way out.

"Well, fuck." Gerard shook his head and went back to drawing. He didn't think about Frank again.