Sincerely, Tyler ▸ (Sequel to Dear, Rosemary)

27

"Good morning, Tyler," Nurse Anne-Marie smiled brightly, handing me that familiar palm-sized paper cup containing my morning medicine. I thanked her politely, taking the cup and tipping it into my mouth, showing her my free tongue once I had swallowed them down.

She patted my back proudly, "I remember your first few days here. You'd hide your medicine on the roof of your mouth. At least now your obliging to take the pills."

I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment, feeling the skin heat up immensely, "I was quite the pain in the ass that first week, Anne. I can't even begin to apologize -"

" - Oh no need to, son. It's normal, quite common around here as well. Head downstairs for breakfast now," The older lady ushered me down the stairs, meeting to the other patients in the ward.

Carrying on through the corridor, I entered into the cafeteria, seeing a fair amount of boys my age that shared the same schedule as me.

It wasn't necessarily awful, but when you haven't had to follow a schedule since high school, it's quite the change.

Wake up at 7:30 a.m, take morning medicine at 7:35 a.m, attend breakfast until 8:20 a.m, one-to-one with psychiatrist until ten a.m, free time for a half hour, then a group session until 12:45 p.m, a group activity until two in the afternoon, leading us to break for lunch for an hour and a bit, where we then head back to our rooms to receive another dose of medication, which I wasn't so fond of.

The rest of the day would focus on conducting psychological tests and analysis, maintaining proper medical procedures, and offering extra help to those in need of it.

The only thing I enjoyed about this place was breakfast and lunch. I didn't have to talk to anyone there, I didn't need to hear anyone telling me I was sick or insane, or that I needed to put in a lot of work in myself. It seemed every minute of the day I was introducing myself and hearing an unenthusiastic "hello, Tyler," back which was so welcoming, truly. Not.

"Tyler!" Kendall called out from the cafeteria table, the rest of the group waving me over. I'd made up a lame excuse saying that I wasn't really feeling up to talk and that I'd rather be alone for a little while before taking a seat in the opposite corner.

Kendall was in here for similar reasons as I, however, he didn't go through with any violence. He and his friends were the same as me, but I didn't feel the need to make any acquaintances here. In for eight months to complete what I was supposed to complete, and that was that. Nothing more, nothing less.

Although they were all incredibly friendly, there was no motivation in me to keep up with them at a consistent basis that friends would. I was better off alone in here.

I'd walked down the buffet-style setup of food, waiting in line behind a few others. There was no food that required knives, everything needing to be cut was already cut for you, for particular reasons I'm sure you can guess.

It was very plain and simple for breakfast time. Orange, apple, and grape juice were available, along with banana, carrot, and chocolate-chip muffins, some toast and jam being present as well. Sometimes there were eggs, and if we were being treated we'd also see some pancakes or waffles. I wouldn't have considered myself picky whatsoever, so I didn't mind what it was that we inevitably got.

I grabbed some apple juice after coming to the end of the line, before retrieving back to my previous spot in the quiet corner.

Pulling out my journal from underneath my arm, I opened it up to the last page I'd left on, scribbling onto the paper with a pen I pulled from my pocket.

My teeth ripped at the soft bread of the banana muffin, my eyes wandering from left to right rapidly on the page as I continued to write.

"Week three: Blurry has yet to be seen. I think the medicine is working. I'm glad I can feel somewhat okay enough to fall asleep at night because it's not him I have to keep me worrying in fear any longer. Rose is really gone. I guess this wasn't a nightmare I'd be able to wake up from after all -"