We Are More Than The Doctor's Paper

Anxiety, Feelings, and Friends:

Monday August 17, 2015,

I didn't go to Briarcliff yesterday since it was Sunday. When I arrived and Bellarose took me to her room. Charley has returned. Apparently he came Saturday morning and that's why I didn't see her. Knight was the only one who knew and she made him promise not to tell me or anyone else. I'm going to have another session with her tomorrow because she's ready to tell me more. Today I am meeting with Flynn Reed. He and Hayden are good friends here since they both came in around the same time.

" Hayden talks about you all the time." Flynn tells me.

" H-he does?"

" Yeah. He likes you."

" We should keep this professional."

" We'll talk about it afterwards." he says.

" Okay. Why don't you start telling me about why you're here?"

" I have an anxiety disorder."

" How's an anxiety disorder different from anxiety?" I question.

" People who have an anxiety disorder don't respond correctly to a given situation. We can't control our response and it can affect normal daily functions."

" Oh."

Flynn has taught me a lot about anxiety disorders. I never knew how bad it could get. His story is really concerning and the worse part is that he's probably had it since birth. I'm lucky my anxiety isn't as bad as Flynn's, but could it go that far?

" Now that we're finished would you like to go eat dinner?"

 " Sure."

Flynn and I head down to the commons. Tonight they have meatloaf and soup. Flynn gets meatloaf and some sides while I get soup with bread. Flynn keeps on about how much Hayden likes me, but I ignore. I know he's just being nice.

 " You want to know why I could tell you my story the way I did?" he asks.

" Hm?"

 " Hayden told me you have anxiety too. He didn't have to though, because I knew it before he did." he whispers.

" How?"

" I pay close attention to things. One thing I've noticed about you;" he takes my right arm and pulls back the sleeve. " You scratch at your arm when you're nervous."

I pull my sleeve down quickly and get up from the table. As I am getting my things, Hayden and Caitlyn walk up.

 " You're not leaving yet, are you?" Caitlyn asks. " You have a slice of pie in my room."

" I do?"

" Yup. I didn't throw any of it up."

 " Yay! I'm so glad." I say happily.

" All because of you too."

I sit back down and Hayden and Caitlyn sit as well. Caitlyn didn't throw up and Hayden actually looks happy for once and not sad and it might be because of me.

" You having second thoughts?" Flynn whispers in my ear.

 " No. I'm going to stay."

" That's what I thought."

He takes my bag from my person and places it back on the ground. Hayden and Flynn start rambling about some stuff and Caitlyn talks to me about the book.

 " Evelyn, are you going to eat your bread?" she questions.

 " No. You may have it if you like."

" Thank you."

 " If you want you can have my soup too. I haven't touched it." I reply.

Caitlyn takes my tray and starts eating. I'm happy she's eating.

" Evelyn, would you say you're our friend?" Flynn asks.

 " Yes, you're all my friends."