Mental State

Chapter 4

The warm summer sun beat down on my face as I looked up at fluffy clouds in the sky. A few hours have passed since breakfast, & Addison & I decided some fresh air would be good for us.

"So Avery, how did you spend your time while I was in a meeting with the nurses?" Addi asked, swinging on a rope swing attached to a tall oak tree.

"Well, I found the dining hall & I met this guy named Levi, he seemed like a very nice boy. There was also this girl though that I tried talking to who didn't seem to see me... it was strange."

Addison stopped swinging for a moment, and looked at me. "You know, I had noticed a lot of the other patients that had met with the nurses with me earlier did not act quite normal as well."

"What do you mean?" I asked, suddenly sitting up in my spot on the grass.

"Well, many just stared blankly at walls or spoke nonsense to themselves. It was rather awkward, but we have to remember that we are at a psychiatric hospital; these people are here to receive help." And with that, Addison started swinging again.

She has a point. Some of the patients are going to act abnormally, so it isn't a personal issue that they have with me. Well, they don't even know me in the first place, so I don't know why I'd be so concerned with that to start with... But some more people have to be normal, right? Like Addison and Levi seem to be. What even is wrong with Addison? I never remember to ask.

"Hey Addi, what is the reason why you were sent here? Because I don't seem to see anything that could clearly be wrong with you." I ask. But before Addison could get a word out, a voice from above caught our attention.

"Hey there Avery! It's nice seeing you again on this lovely summer afternoon." Levi poked his head out from behind one of the branches oak tree, startling me.

"Oh my gosh Levi, how long were you up there? Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?" I shout as sternly as possible. I'm not the most intimidating of people, but I try my best. Most people can't look past my fragile frame and friendly appearance.

"Sweet cheeks, I would never dare listen in on you conversations. That would go against all of my beliefs that don't exist." Levi mocked me sarcastically, acting as if he was hurt by my words.

I mentally roll my eyes. "You know you should get down from there, it's dangerous. And what if a nurse walks by and sees you? You would surely get into trouble."

Levi smirked, then went on to clamber down the many tree branches, causing leaves to rain from the sky. "I guess I forgot to tell you before, but danger is my middle name, and if you wanted me closer to you honey, all you had to do was say so."

Gross.

"But on a real note, I may have actually been listening in on your two's conversation, and I have a few answers for you." Levi said as his feet hit the ground.

"You see, I've been staying at this place for quite a while now, so I have picked up on a few things that go on."

I nod my head, eager to hear what Levi has to say.

"For starters, many of the patients don't ever leave here. They just grow old here & pass on, or they become so ill that they end up killing themselves."

Surprise set in & my heart started to beat harder. "That's horrible... How do their families just leave them here?"

Levi shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me, but I have a feeling it has to do with the people running this place. They probably just say the patients 'aren't ready' to be released yet, and then keep them here to milk money from their families. I don't trust this place. I've seen all the bad that goes on in and out of that building, and it's not pretty. Whether it's sexual harassment, inhumane treatments, suicide, or other things along those lines, this place just doesn't run things the way they're supposed to."

I pit formed in my stomach out of sympathy & sadness. "How could someone be so willing to do such things?"

Levi just gave me a look that said 'I couldn't tell you.'

With that, I sighed & laid back down in the grass as I fought back tears that pricked at my eyes. Is this place as bad as he says it is? I still don't know if I can trust him... he seems nice, but then again he is a patient here. He could be manipulating me. But then again, what if this place is as bad as it seems & Addison & I never leave? I have friends & family back home, & Mason...

"Hey Avery," Addison said, breaking me out of my daze. "I need to stop by our room for a moment. Do you mind if I leave you with Levi?"

Before I could reply, Levi butted in to answer for me. "Well of course she wouldn't mind, she'd love to stay with me for a while. There's no need to worry. It's Addison isn't it?"

I rolled my eyes mentally yet again & sat up. "Of course I don't mind, Addi. Go along, I'll be fine."

Addison nodded her head, slid off the swing, & walked up the path leading to the hospital doors.

"So Doll Face, why don't we take a walk?"

* * *

Surprisingly, we didn't go on a very long walk, & we didn't talk very much either. A few words were spoken here & there about simple things, like the weather or the birds. It surprisingly calmed me down again.

He really doesn't make sense. One moment he's flirting like a thirteen year old boy, & the next he's calm & sweet. It's like a sudden change in Florida weather; sunny one moment, & raining the next.

Levi walked with me down the hallway that led to my room, while not even a mumble was spoken. As we passed the windows lining the wall, his eyes illuminated to a golden color, rather than his usual brown. It was quite stunning, eyes like that are not a common sight.

When we reached the door of my room, I turned to face Levi.

"You know, I actually-" Before I could finish my statement, Levi hushed me, placing his finger out to tell me to be quiet.

"Listen." He whispered to me in as low of a voice as possible that can still be audible.

From inside the room, I could make out a voice speaking to itself. I gently placed my ear against the door.

"It is so nice to finally meet someone as nice as you here! Most of the people here are weird & I do not like them very much." Said a voice that sounded a lot like Addison's.

A small time of silence fell in the room, but was quickly replaced with Addison's voice again. "Why thank you, I have never been called a fine young lady before. Most of the time I am called weird or psycho."

Another break of silence.

"What do you mean you have to go? I want to play a game! They will not bother us, I am sure of it... Oh alright, I will see you soon." A hint of sadness could be heard in her voice.

I stepped back from the door, not knowing what to think. Levi flung the door open, and as I peered in the doorway, I found that the room was empty aside from Addison sitting cross legged on her bed. But glancing over to my bed, an imprint on my bed could be made out, as if a person had sat there...

"Hello Avery, Levi. It is so nice you came to join me." Addison smiled innocently, showing no signs of anything ever being wrong.

"Addi?"

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Sorry this took so long to get out :') I've been busy with school.

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- Jess