Gone Mental

Chapter 8 : Making progress

Chapter 8
     
A few days later...

Riker POV

Ericka has been keeping me from hiding under my bed. And I love her and hate her for it at the same time. I really want to get better so I can leave, but I also really just want to hide.

My family visited again yesterday. It was dad and Rocky this time. I tried to make him take me home, but it didn't work, and I didn't think it would because dad is like a rock. He's hard to crack.

It was worth a shot though.

I made a complete idiot out of myself again, and I cried a lot. Rocky didn't really seem to know how to react, and dad just told me to man up.

Matt took me back, and I just stayed curled up next to Ericka for the rest of the day.

I was all alone right now. Ericka had to go talk to some people from the government about her parents. Apparently they're making a case against her parents, and they wanted to talk to Ericka for more information about them or whatever. But she let me stay in her bed while she was gone.

The door opened, and Ericka came in. She looked really annoyed and upset. She sat down next to me.

"How'd it go?"

"Bad."

"What happened?"

"They want me to testify in court."

"So?"

"I don't want to!"

"Why not? Don't you want your parents to go to jail?"

"Yeah, but I don't want them to see what happened to me! I don't want them to see how they completely broke me! It's embarrassing!"

"But they won't be able to hurt you anymore. You can send them to jail!"

"I just don't want to see them again, ok?"

"Ok... Wait. Are they forcing you to testify?"

"No. They said it's my choice. But they also said that there's a way better chance they'll go to jail if I do testify against them."

"Oh... Well what are you going to do?"

"I don't know... They said I could think about it."

"Ok."

Later...

Riker POV

I had to go back to group therapy again. But since Matt keeps making me go, I've sort of gotten used to it. It's not exactly that bad anymore. Especially since I get to sit next to Ericka. My feelings just seem to get stronger and stronger and stronger every day.

I don't know what to do...

I wouldn't talk in therapy though. I just felt embarrassed. So many of the people in our group were so honest though.

Ericka didn't really talk either.

We got taken back to our room, and we both sat on Ericka's bed. I really wanted to go under the bed, but I knew she wouldn't let me. And I know it's just because she wants me to get better.

I laid down beside her, staring up at the ceiling.

"Can I ask you something?" I said, quietly.

"Sure."

"You know how you said you um... hide in closets?"

"Yeah."

"There aren't any closets here. How do they know if you're better?"

"When I first got here, I would hide in the bathroom. It's like a closet."

"Oh... Ok... Um... Is it bad that we don't talk in therapy?"

"I don't know... It's not like we're forced to. We just have that as an option. Why?"

"I just feel strange inside when I'm sitting there... It's like everyone else tells their whole life story, and I'm just too embarrassed to talk."

"Why are you embarrassed?"

"When I get scared, I hide under the bed. Isn't that stupid?"

"Riker, we're all in this place for different reasons. And it's a supportive community of people all trying to get better. Even though you think it's embarrassing, there are a lot of people who have it worse than you. And nobody's going to make fun of you for it."

"I just really hope I get to leave soon..."

The next day...

Riker POV

Matt was walking me down the halls to go see my family. I was still pretty scared, and I was clinging to his arm the whole way there.

Mom and Ross were here today. I gave them hugs, and then sat down.

"How are you doing, Riker?" Mom asked.

"I'm ok..."

"How's Ericka?"

"She's ok... Mom, I have a question."

"No, you're not coming home today."

"No, that's not it... Um... So Ericka doesn't have parents. And um... When she turns 18 in about 2 months, she's going to be able to leave this place, but she has nowhere to go. So I was thinking that maybe if I got better, she could come home and live with us."

"Riker-"

"Before you say no, we're like super close. She's been helping me a lot to not go under the bed. Please?"

"Well... We have that extra bedroom... I'll talk it over with your father. But I don't want either of you coming to live back at home until you're better."

"I know..."

"How's therapy been?" Ross asked.

"Um... I don't know... I don't really talk during it. We've been doing group therapy. And Matt said that I'm going to start having to do one on one therapy soon. Ericka does that already. She's been here a while..."

"Well you already seem like you're doing better, Riker. You don't seem so scared, and you're not crying," mom said.

I blushed hard. I hate crying.

Later...

Riker POV

"She said she'd talk it over with my dad. But if he says yes, then all you have to do is get better, and you can come live with us!"

"Riker, I don't know what to say... Thank you... So much... You're amazing."

I hugged her really tight.

We just have to get better, and then I can date her...