Hurt

Chapter 6- Scars

Knock knock knock

"Ash?"

I felt weak and slightly disoriented but let out a quiet reply.

"Yea?"

The door opened and my friends half smile turned into a look of terror. He struggled with his words.

"What the...Ash what...What the hell is on your arm. My god are you okay?!"

I looked at my wrist remembering what I had engraved in my emotional breakdown. I closed my eyes in a quick moment of regret before feeling a strong arm around me.

"Dude it's okay."

I knew it wasn't when he pulled out his phone and texted my brother and my girlfriend.

"Kai what are you doing"

My friend turned off his phone and rubbed his temple before letting out a sigh.

"Why didn't you talk to me about it?"

He looked down at my wrist before getting a towel to apply pressure on it.

A few minutes later the doorbell rang and in came my concerned girlfriend and guilt ridden brother. We all sat in silence before my brother spoke up.

"I'm sorry Ash.."

His eyes began to tear up

"You don't even know how sorry I am I mean if only I had known..."

I cut him off and faked a genuine tone.

"Don't worry about it. It was me being stupid. I'm too impulsive"

He looked up at me

"It doesn't matter. You were still right. I could have probably done something about it instead of just standing by."

I gave him a forgiving nod.

More silence passed before Emily burst out into tears. I but my arm around her and she buried her head into my chest.

"Why would you keep this from me Ash? Baby i'm here for you and it hurts to see you hurt like this..."

The room went silent before Kai spoke up.

"Ash you're like a bro to me and I don't like to see you like this and neither does anyone else so I think it would be in your best interest to get you some help. Immediately."

I was afraid. What did he mean by help? Was I going to be put in a straight jacket? But when I looked at my friend I saw nothing but concern. So I spoke to ease the pain filling the room.

"I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you guys don't have to go through this anymore."

Kai patted me on the back softly before saying

"Not for us, for you."

And with that he dialed up some place.

.

.

.

I was already admitted and we were just sitting in the waiting room when a woman came to greet us with one of those fake smiles stuck on her face.

"Hi i'm Natalie. I'll need to talk to you Ashton and another person of your choosing. I'll be back in a few minutes to collect the two of you."

I looked around and decided the only one I wanted to go in with me was Kai.

"Kai would you come with me?"

He got up and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Of course."

I walked over to Emily and kissed her.  God knows when i'd get to see those beautiful lips again.   I could feel her trembling in my arms as I held her so I half whispered

"It will be okay love"

She forced a smile before walking off to avoid crying in front of me.

  I walked over to my brother and gave him a fist bump and a half smile. He returned the smile before saying.

"You can do it Ash. Be strong for me and mom."

I nodded. Just then the nurse waltzed over and ushered Kai and I to the back room.

"So Ashton why are you here?"

Without looking up I said clearly with as much sarcasm as I could.

"Depression I guess"

She asked me a few more questions and jotted everything in her little notepad. She then turned to Kai and asked him a handful of questions. When she was finished, she told us she'd give us a few minutes and then she's come back to take me.

Once she closed the door Kai plunked down into one of the chairs.

"So this is it, I won't see you for a few weeks?"

I shook my head

"You can visit. If visits weren't allowed I swear i'd die in here."

He let out a small laugh.

"So true. Does this mean I get to eat the delicious moldy lettuce in the fridge?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Yea knock yourself out dude."

His smile turned into a long stare.

"I'm really going to miss you dude but I guess it's for the best..."

I walked over and hugged him.

"I'm seriously going to miss your terrible humor"

He pat me on the back before letting out a mocking laugh

"Who wouldn't miss my terrible humor?"

I laughed. As the door opened and Natalie walked in before blurting out in her fake and overly excited voice.

"Alright this is were you say adieu. You'll see your friend during visits."

She whisked Kai out of the room as he threw me an irritated look. I returned the facial expression. Once Natalie was alone in the room with me she pulled out a needle.

"Now Ashton you won't feel a thing"

I felt a prick and then an overwhelming sense of drowsiness as black specks started to cover my vision. As the world grew impossible to see I could only think of how much I regretted coming here. I tried to call out but nothing came out and everything faded to black.