Tonight...I Love You

Tonight...I Feel Alone[1]

 Edited by @CrossingInfinity

"Mommy I'll do anything
Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I promise I'll be better, Daddy please don't
leave" [Pink: Family Portrait]

Tonight...I'm Alone

At Doctor Evans’ request Riley left the room and after about an hour of yelling Riley saw her mother walk out of the office in tears. Other than her red tear-filled eyes, her mother was the picture of perfection. Her chocolate hair rested in a professional bun at the top of her head, and the skirt suit that she wore fit her petite frame with grace. A perfect image was something that Riley's mother strived for and she always felt out of place with such higher standards to live up to.

“Riley,” her mother smiled sadly, “You’re going to be staying here for a while, ok sweetie?” When she didn’t respond her mother knelt in front of her--which was out of character--and took her small hand into hers, forcing Riley to look at her. “Don’t worry honey, your father and I will come back and visit you for your birthday in three weeks ok?”

“Ok” Riley replied; soon after her father came out of the office followed by Doctor Evans.

Riley said goodbye to her parents and watched them as they left the institute. After they left, she followed closely behind Doctor Evans in the elevator up to the fifteenth floor, and down another white corridor. At the end they took a left and into a brighter more colorful hallway, decorated with finger painting art, macaroni models and crayon doodles. Her new room was located at the end of the hallway across from a black door that stood out amongst the other colorfully decorated doors. With one last glance to the black door, she followed Doctor Evans into what would be her new room.

The room was a little smaller than her old room, but the powder pink walls with hot pink and purple flowers and vines borders, was a welcome change to the clinical white walls that adorned her room at home. Her suitcases were already placed inside by the windows, the windows were dressed with long white and purple patterned curtain that matched the sheets on the twin-bed that was against the left wall. A matching dresser and bookshelf already filled with some of her favorite books had been placed to the right wall.

‘I guess this really is happening’ she thought to herself.

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For the first week Riley stayed in her room, and Doctor Evans came in three times a day to bring her meals and to have her sessions. During these sessions Doctor Evan would talk to her and ask her how her tantrums would start, and how she would feel before, during and after.

During the second week Doctor Evans decided to take Riley to the playroom where all the other children played during the day.

“Everyone, I would like you to meet Riley.” She announced loudly, getting everyone’s attention. There were kids of all ages in the playroom, the younger kids crowded the toy boxes and the older kids were divided between the computers and the Television.

“Hello, Riley.” they all sang out and which made her smile, and reply with a shy: “Hello.”

After Doctor Evans left everyone began to introduce themselves. Riley couldn’t remember all their names but she did remember their faces.

“Who’s he?” Riley questioned Anna--a young resident she learned Doctor Evans was mentoring--pointing at a boy clad in dark jeans and a black hoddie, who sat on the window-seat at the far end of the room.