Gone Mental

Chapter 17 : Riker's relapse

Chapter 17

Later...    

Riker POV

I was just having a bad day today. There's not really any other way to explain it. I just felt like I wanted to hide, but I knew I had to fight it.

Ericka had told me to sleep to pass the time, but I couldn't. I was too stressed out and scared that I'd mess this up for us.

I had stayed up all night long, curled up in Ericka's bed, just waiting. I would just stare at the clock and watch the seconds go by. And Matt had told me that my family was coming around noon. It was now about 7:00 in the morning. 5 more hours... I just have to stay out from under the bed...

My door opened, and Matt came in.

"Hey, Riker. How are you doing today?"

He handed me a tray with my breakfast.

"I want to go home," I said, quietly.

"Did you get any sleep?"

"No..."

"Are you still having a bad day?"

"Mhmmm... I miss Ericka."

Matt smiled.

"Riker, you'll get to see her today."

"I know... But I wish I didn't have to wait."

"You'll just have to be patient, then..."

Matt left. I put my tray on the table. I honestly felt sick to my stomach from all the stress. I didn't want to eat.

I curled up against the wall under my blankets, and held Ericka's picture in my hands. I just kept staring at it...

Later...

Riker POV

It seriously felt like I was going to have a panic attack. I've been feeling like this for about an hour now. My heart keeps racing, and I just feel jittery. Matt thought that maybe looking at the clock was making me more anxious, so I'd forbidden myself from looking at the clock. I was under my blankets, staring at Ericka's picture, trying to do anything I could to calm myself down.

My door opened, and I completely froze. I was terrified someone was here to hurt me.

The covers got pulled off of me, and I saw Ericka. I burst into tears, and wrapped my arms around her.

"Riker, what's wrong?"

I couldn't even speak. I just held onto her tightly and watched as my family came in the room.

"Riker, you get to come home today," Ericka said.

"Can we leave?"

"Yeah."

I stood up, and kept Ericka's hand in mine. Mom and dad signed me out, and then we got in the car. I sat next to Ericka, and she put her arm around me.

When we got home, I went up to my room with Ericka. I pulled her into my bed with me and cuddled with her.

"Are you happy to be home?"

"Mhmmm..."

"Did you miss me?"

"Mhmmm..."

"Riker."

"Mmmm?"

"Speak."

"No. I'm tired..."

"Did you sleep last night?"