Silence is Golden

Chapter 29: March 2011

Rain lead me into the mental hospital. She had already placed my mother into the hospital for me, now a patient within a group of nut jobs. There was a guy who tried to eat the corner of the table. Another was whining about not having a cigarette. I could not imagine how my mother was doing.

"We're here to see Mrs. Peterson," Rain consulted with the front desk.

I hid behind her, intending to avoid talking to them.

"And, who are you two?" the lady asked.

She glanced at me. "We are... her kids."

She looked up at us before directing us into the halls. We passed many doors before stopping at one at the very end of the hall. She knocked the door softly.

"Mrs. Peterson? Your children are here to see you."

Shen my mom didn't respond, the lady opened the door to reveal my mother, probably sleeping away her problems.

"I'll leave you two with her," the lady said before closing the door behind us.

The room looked quite cozy, not like the ones from a stereotypical mental hospital. The floor was carpeted for one. The walls were left white which somehow calmed me. I hate when hospitals decide to paint the walls some other color because "studies show" whatever bullshit. There was no clock. A small wooden desk stood in the corner, accompanied with a cushioned folding chair. The bed, in which my mother was sleeping on, was a plain queen sized bed with a heavy quilt draped over it.

I walked over to her, nudging her awake. She blinked sleepily at me before throwing her arms around me, crying in joy.

"I thought you left. The people took me away from my home," she cried.

I told them to. I confessed.

She looked confused. "Why did you do that?"

You're sick, you need help. These people here will help you.

"But," her eyes glassed over. "I don't want you to leave."

I'm not. I will come visit. I'm never going to leave for more than a day. I promise.

She laid back down in bed, a hand on my cheek. "I love you, Aiden."

I smiled. I love you too.

She fell right back asleep as if nothing happened. I got up and walked back to Rain, who was waiting at the door.

"Ready to go?" she asked me.

I glanced over at my mom for the last time before nodding.