Mental State

Chapter 1

My eyes open abruptly and light spills into my pupils. I grunt slightly and turn over onto my side from where I was laying, shielding my sight from the sudden change from darkness to bright light. Slowly, I begin to allow myself to turn back over to assess my surroundings. Above me was a plastered ceiling, and surrounding me on all sides were white walls. The room I was in appeared to be fairly large and there were multiple beds on wheels with curtain dividers between each that could be opened or shut. Everything seemed to have been kept very clean and orderly.

"You are awake!" A voice startled me from beside me. I look over to the bed beside me to see there was a small blonde girl who appeared to be fourteen laying in the bed next to mine. Her features were quite distinct: lively hazel, almond shaped eyes, rosy cheeks, and thick, dark eyebrows that seemed controlled by unruly at the same time. It all oddly seemed to fit together and was pleasing to look at. I don't know how I missed her before.

I nodded my head hesitantly, confused on as to who she was. "I have been waiting for you to awake for a few days now so I could speak to you again, and now look! You have awoken! You must have been vey tired." The girl said cheerily.

"Who are you?" I ask bluntly. I guess you could say I'm not a very trusting person, even if the girl seemed rather harmless.

Her face fell a little into a confused expression. "Do you not remember? We spoke just a few days earlier, when you first arrived."

I shook my head, half in response to the girl and half to clear my head. I sat up in the bed I was laying in, leaning my head against the wall behind. I took another look at my surroundings; the girl and I seemed to be the only two in the room. I stood up from the bed and slowly walked over to a plaque hanging on the wall by the door that read, 'Psychiatric Ward room 12A.' I'm in the psych ward? When and how did this ever happen?!

I turn around swiftly, my long dark hair swirling around my head, whipping my face in the process. "Who are you and what am I doing here?" I asked sternly.The blonde girl frowned slightly. I need to calm down, I'm already upsetting her and I don't even know her.

The girl paused before she began to speak in a sweet, innocent voice that faintly reminded me of birds chirping in the morning. "Well I am Addison Reilly, but you can call me Addi for short. I am a first year at Maple Ridge preparatory school not too far from here. As for why you are here, I am not quite sure. Although, I do have a hunch. I had heard the kind people taking care of me speaking of how there was an accident on the railroad tracks about 7 miles from here. They mentioned a couple was walking on the tracks and a train came by, and well..." Addi trailed off awkwardly and adverted her eyes.

My gut began to twist and turn, like a hurricane was ripping around inside of my stomach. My palms turned clammy and I could feel my pulse beating in my head. I stumbled back over to my bed and pressed my palms down onto the firm mattress to steady myself. Memories from that night began swarming back to me at full force. Mason and I. We were the ones on the tracks. We decided drinking and walking on the tracks was a good idea... I'm supposed to be the logical one, I was supposed to keep us out of trouble. How was I so oblivious to the danger?  The lights seemed to have came out of nowhere and  I just couldn't process what was happening before it was too late... and Mason... He must be okay. He's much stronger than I am; if I could survive, then he could too. Oh damn it, what did I do?

"I need to leave." I said, my voice catching in my throat by the end.

Just as I was about to make a dash for it out of the room, the door swings open. A doctor walks in with a lady who was dressed up in a gray pencil skirt, a blazer top, and blouse. All thoughts of Mason escaped my mind for the time being.