Between Stripes

F O U R

I woke up.

Opening my eyes I saw the dullest sight ever. Beige tiles with the occasional light sitting in the cracks.

I tried to sit up but something was stopping me. Looking down I saw big, black restraints strapped across my body. Geez sometimes asylums really did live up to the expectation.

"Yes Dr Goldstein, I realise that I'm behind schedule but that is not my fault. It's yours. And if you don't mind, I have work to do." A caring voice turned a tad sour as the door slammed. The padding of footsteps became louder.

"Gosh some people are so rude aren't they Mr Helzinger."

My ears pricked up. Helzinger? That was Aaron's last name! Why was he here? Wait, where even was I?

"You did cause yourself some pain, having that little fight with dear Debby from the kitchens. I always knew those trays were trouble. Tsk. Tsk." The woman tutted before adding, "they're definitely not meant to be smashed over heads."

I heard the padding of shoes against the floor again.

A worn, old face peeped over and into my view. It was one of the infirmary nurses.

"Well hello there miss Fishwick! It's pleasant to see you again." The nurse cooed. I frowned a little.

"Where am I? And why am I here?"

"I was expecting that. Well, after your little incident in your private therapy session you freaked out a little. The guards had to use their tasers on you. You slipped off your chair and bumped your head. All of that together put you, physically and mentally, through trauma."

"How long have I been in here?" I asked. The 'little incident' happened on Day 1038.

"Thirteen days, honey. Fancy some porridge?" She asked and I nodded my head as I did the math. Today must've been Day 1051.  It was 44 days till my birthday. A month and a week or so.

"Before you go, why is Aaron here?" I asked, recognising my voice as a croak.

"A couple days ago, Debby pushed his buttons a little and he caused a bit of uproar in the lunch line. He had a tray smashed over his head. Not a happy chappie." She explained before rushing to get the food.

Poor Aaron. He and Jerome had to fend for themselves without me. Without me to get bargains from Debby.

I'd been asleep for thirteen days. Geez.

"Psst Aaron." I hissed, turning my head to the left. He was oblivious. Wait. Was he even awake?

"Hey Aaron!" I said a little louder than expected. He flinched and glanced over.

"Georgy!" He exclaimed.

"Hey buddy! How's it going?" I asked with a somewhat ordinary grin. He blinked slowly before replying.

"Uh good." He said slowly. Everything he did was slow but that wasn't new.

"How you?" Aaron asked. I frowned a little before realising. He and everyone else here had probably heard of my little incident.

"Better now, buddy." I bit the inside of my mouth as I saw him smile which made me smile.

"Yeah I'm sorry about leaving you all of a sudden. I don't plan on doing that again anytime soon." I reassured him. Admittedly I was attached to the guy. He was like a younger but bigger brother. (He was actually older than me but his lack of brains made up for it.)

"Why you go?" He asked simply.

"Things got a little bad, to say the least."

"Jerome miss you." As he said it, my heart was impaled. Figuratively of course.

I'd left Jerome with Aaron who was sweet but unstable. I'd left Aaron with Jerome who was clever, menacing and unstable.

"Did he? Never knew the kid was so attached." I joked with a fake laugh. Aaron frowned, clearly not believing me, but he didn't say anything.

"Back sweeties! I'm glad you two are talking again. It's good to make friends." The motherly voice of the nurse came from across the room. Her footsteps became louder as she came into my vision.

"Hey nurse, could ya perhaps get these restraints off me?" I asked as she set down the bowls of porridge on the bedside table that separated mine and Aaron's beds.

"Sorry about that sweetheart, I'll get the first couple off. Dr Goldstein authorised them to be put on due to your little scene." She frowned at the mention of the psychiatrist's name. Then the nurse moved towards me and unbuckled the first and second straps. I sat up and stretched my arms a little.

"This feels good!" I murmur between the stretches.

"Thanks Nurse Tracy." Aaron mumbled before digging into his porridge.

"Yeah, thanks Tracey!" I chirped before copying Aaron and eating the food. It'd be better than the cafeteria food, it was warm and looking pretty good.

"I heard that ya missed me Aaron." I said between spoonfuls of the warm (but kinda icky) food.

"Hmm-" He tried to talk with food his mouth but stopped himself then carried on, "I did Georgy, that Jerome is okay but he's annoying."

Goddamn. That was possibly the biggest sentence to come out his mouth.

"I get ya buddy. We all need a Georgia in our lives." I grinned. Aaron smiled a little.

"Yup. And you couldn't get good food or cheese from Debby." He frowned - probably at the memory. This boy was on a roll with the stuff he was saying! Normally he'd grunt in agreement or disagreement. But, I wasn't complaining.

"Why?"

"She said she only does dead with good 'kiddos'." He was still frowning and I joined in. Debby wasn't usually biased. She usually hated everyone.

"I'll have a word with her for ya buddy. I ain't dealing with that. Just bad manners." I tutted a little before eating more porridge. (It was growing on me, admittedly. It was still horrifically thick and lumpy but it was getting better by the spoonful.)

"That's what Jerome said." Aaron murmured.

Hey! That's my line?! Why did Jerome steal my line?

Come on doll face, you know bullshit facts like that.

There it was! The first voice to speak to me since my incident.

Yeah, Up and Down kinda left...

By choice? I doubted it. Those two loved taunting me and just existing.

You put your foot down sweetheart. You was the one who got rid of them.

I what?