Beautifully Insane

Chapter Four

     For the two days I've been at Angelwood Asylum, I had to admit, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It was peaceful here and the people here were friendly, except for a few. I already read through three books from the library. Two of them were horror and the third one was romance. I missed romance. "What about this book?" Jan asked.
I glanced from the books I had in my hands to see a miniature chapter book for someone of the age of eight. "Maybe not that one," I tell Jan, "don't forget to choose a book for yourself."
Yesterday I found out that Jan is in her late twenties and suffers from DPD, Dependant Personality Disorder, and short term memory loss. As Jan got older, her parents were uncertain of what to do with her and so her parents dropped her off. That was nearly eight years ago and because Jan's parents promised her that they would come back for her, Jan still thinks that they are coming any day now. Even though I gathered that people with DPD can be frustrating to deal with at times, I took it upon myself that Jan doesn't get herself into any trouble and hopefully improve the strength of her memory by reading books. I decided that Jan will read at least read two books a week and write down what she has read. I put the book I didn't want back on the shelf. "Do you have a book?" I asked.
Jan held the book she suggested to me out for me to see, "This one."
"We will read our books after lunch."
"I hope we have Mac n' Cheese again," Jan shared as she walked next to me on our way to the dining room.
"Is that your favorite?"
Jan nodded happily as she slid her hand into mine.
     While waiting in line to get lunch, I saw Roy, the man who made the vulgar comment on my first day in Angelwood, walk up to Jan and I. "Can I cut in on your little lesbian romance?" Roy asked as I felt his hand graze my butt.
My eyes widened as I heard a big clap. "Paige is my best friend! I won't let you near her ever again!" Jan shouted as her face got red as a tomato.
"Don't you ever touch me," Roy back handed the side of Jan's face hard enough to make Jan fall over.
I caught Jan and guides her slowly to the ground. I winced as Roy raised his hand that we suddenly stopped by two men. "Are you alright?" I asked Jan.
Jan shook her head as she dug her face into my chest to his herself. "I-i-is J-J-Jan alright?" A patient named Aaron asked.
"She's alright, just shaken up."
"R-R-Roy i-i-is gone n-n-now."
"Thank you Aaron," I thanked him as I helped Jan onto her feet.
"N-n-no p-p-problem."
"Can we go read?" Jan asked me quietly.
"Of course," I answered and guided her out of the cafeteria.
    After a few chapters into my new book I picked out from the library not to long ago, Dr. Rosario came up to Jan and I. Dr. Rosario sat down next to me. "Philip told me about what happened today at lunch," Dr. Rosario spoke.
"It's not that big of a deal," I lied wanting to forget.
"If anything like that happens again, you tell me."
I glanced up at Dr. Rosario disbelieving that this fragile woman would actually do something if something like that were to happen again. "What exactly can you do?"
"I'm a lot tougher than I look," Dr. Rosario assured me and turned to the right of her to look at Jan, "are you ready for your nap?'
"Can I bring my book?" Jan asked shyly.
"Sure."
I watch Dr. Rosario walk out of the room with Jan. Can I really trust her? I asked Charlie.
Be careful with how much trust you put into her, Charlie warned me.
I put my index card in the middle of the pages and got up to walk to my room.
    While passing the living room, I saw the news on. I leaned up against the door frame as I started watching to see if anything interesting was going on in the world. Just as I was going to continue my course set for my bedroom, I heard a woman say, "The Green River ill murder."
I stopped in my tracks and backed up myself into the doorway. "Mitch Wright had a two-hour court date today determining his fate behind bars in jail or in a heavy, secure room in an asylum. Judge Doug Brown had declared Wright a 15-year sentence in an asylum a few towns over. As to which one, we do not know."
A man no older than forty on the left on the woman commented, "it seems as though ill-minded people are popping all over the place. Just last week a gorgeous, clever, seventeen-year-old was convicted with murder and now she is in an asylum. Thank your local police for cleaning the streets."
"TV is bad for your brain cells," a voice spoke deeply behind me.
I looked over to see Philip. It was strange seeing him outside of the kitchen. Philip took a small step forward. Now standing next to me, he said, "Keep your nose in the books. That's where the real knowledge is."
I nodded in agreement. "Phil, you don't suppose he is coming here, do you?"
"They don't tell me much of anything around here. If I get word that that man is coming here, I'll let you know. Don't worry if he does, I'll make sure he doesn't lay a hand on you."
"Thank you."
Philip smiled. He looked like he was in pain for remembering something in his past just then."I'll see you at dinner. Homemade chicken soup alright with you?"
"Of course," I answered feeling my mouth water as if I could taste it from already have taken a bite.
      I took my seat in the far right side of the dining room with a bowl of hot soup in front of me. My spoon fell out of my hand and bounced off the table and onto the floor as I nearly fell out of my seat. I glanced over to see what was the cause. Jan. She dug her face into my shoulder and squeezed me tightly. I heard whispers coming from her. "What's wrong?"
Jan shook her head while squeezing me tighter, making my spine crack. I loosened her grip as best as I could. I placed my hands gently on both sides of Jan's cheek. "What's wrong?" I repeated myself.
Jan's big brown eyes geared up. She opened her mouth to speak, but no word formed, only desperate cries. What do I do? I asked myself panicking inside.
Umm...soup. Get her some soup. Food usually cheers you up when your upset, Shelly suggested.
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
Jan shook her head.
"You want to leave the room?"
Jan stood up and pulled my arm. Getting up from my seat, I spotted little drops of blood on the spot Jan was sitting. "Are you hurt?" I asked.
Jan's eyes watered and hurried out of the cafeteria. Is she trying to avoid seeing someone? I wondered as I followed Jan out of the dinning room. My eyes caught Roy approaching us. Jan ran behind me as she had my hand firmly. Roy stared me down with a coy smile on his face as he passed. He has done something to Jan, I observed.
I wanted to confront Roy from whatever he has done to her, but I needed evidence before I could kick the living shit out of him. How do I get her to tell me what happened?
     I guided Jan in the back of the library. I sat her down on the floor in front of me as I looked into Jan's tired, pained eyes. "You're safe Jan," I reassured her. "What did Roy do to you?"
Jan's eyes turned into pools of tears in a heartbeat. She shook her head with her fists against the side of her head. Jan was trying to remember. My eyes teared up. Seeing Jan in so much agony was unbearable to watch. I gently made Jan stop hitting herself and brought her into a hug. "It's alright," I whispered to Jan as I rubbed her back, "it's alright."