Gone Mental

Chapter 5 : Sharing a room

Chapter 5
  
Riker POV

I broke away from the hug. Ericka made me feel a little better, but I still wasn't really sure if I wanted to go out there...

"So... What do you want to do?" Ericka asked.

"Um... I uh... don't know...?"

"Do you want to go to group therapy?"

"Are you going?"

"Yeah."

"Um... Ok..."

"Alright. Let's go."

She helped me up. I walked extremely close to her. I was still really scared. She took me to the room, and sat next to me in the circle of people. I moved my chair over so it was about an inch from hers.

I listened to everyone talking, trying to take Ericka's advice.

Later...

Riker POV

Matt made me go to the lounge. So I stayed with Ericka. We sat down on the couch.

We sat there in silence. After a few minutes, I heard screaming and yelling from out in the hallway. I heard people running, and I started getting really scared. I wanted to run and hide.

"Riker. You ok?" Ericka asked.

"Please don't hurt me," I whispered, curling up even more.

"I won't. Don't pay attention to all that noise. It's probably just a patient that's not behaving. It happens all the time."

She put her arm around me, and I curled up closer to her.

The noises got louder and louder. I was getting ready to bolt.

Ericka took my hand in hers, and held it tight. My whole body was all tense. She started rubbing my back. But it barely helped. I was trembling inside.

"Riker, calm down. You're safe. I promise."

I started to cry a little bit. Ericka let me fall over into her lap. I covered my face with my hands.

"Riker."

I opened my eyes. Matt was standing in front of me.

"Are you ok?" Matt asked.

I shook my head no.

"He's just scared because of the yelling," Ericka said.

"C-can I p-please go b-back to my r-room?" I asked Matt.

"Sure."

"C-can E-Ericka come?" I whispered.

"Sure."

We walked down the hall to my room. Once we were there, I bolted inside. But Ericka grabbed my hand before I could get under my bed.

"Please let me go," I said, crying more now.

"Riker, I know you're scared. But you won't get better if you don't push yourself."

"N-no! P-please!" I cried.

"Come on."

She took me over to my bed, and made me sit on it. I curled up in the corner. Ericka pulled the sheets out from under my bed. She spread them out over my bed, and put them over me too. She sat down next to me. I was trembling.

"You're going to be ok. I promise. Let's talk about how you feel ok? Talking helps. A lot."

"I f-feel t-terrified," I whispered.

I wiped my tears off. My fingers were shaking.

"Ok. Why do you feel terrified?"

"B-because those g-guys are y-yelling, and I d-don't w-want them to hurt m-me."

"Ok... Well they're not going to hurt you. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I-I'm s-scared..."

"I know..."

She put her arm around me. I curled into her side.

"So do you sleep under your bed?"

"Yeah..."

"Isn't it cold? And uncomfortable?"

"Um... It's not really cold because I get scared and sweaty. And it's sort of uncomfortable... There's not really a lot of room under there..."

"Yeah... You should try sleeping in your bed tonight. Not under it."

"I don't know..."

"Riker, nothing will happen to you. They lock your door, so even if something happened, nobody would be able to get in here and hurt you. I promise, you're safe."

"But I hate being alone. I have nobody to protect me."

"Well then maybe I can get Matt to give us a room with 2 beds, and we can share a room."

"They have rooms with 2 beds?"

"Yeah. Sometimes they let family members stay here and help someone get better. So maybe he could let us share a room because you don't want to be alone."

"Please make him say yes."

"I'll explain it to him. He'll probably say yes."

"Ok..."

Later...

Riker POV

Matt had gotten me and Ericka a room together. I was sitting on Ericka's bed, not wanting to leave her side. I was scared.

Matt brought us our dinner, and we ate together.

And then it was time for bed.

Ericka made me get in my own bed, and she pulled the covers over me. I was shaking as she turned out the light.

I listened as she got into her own bed.

I don't know if I can do this...