The Butterfly Effect (Rewritten)

Chapter Nine - Part 2

Willow Creek's Mental Health Unit leered down at me from the top of the hospital building. Harper and Jason were leaning back against his Camero in the parking lot. I crossed the asphalt to them.

"I don't know if I can do it. This was a bad idea," Harper rebuked, twisting back to the car door.

Jason placed his hand over hers. "Harper, this was your idea. That means some part of you felt obligated to do this. She's been here for a couple years. I think you should see her."

Harper released the handle. "It's not that I feel obligated. It's this stupid hope, and I'm afraid to be wrong."

Jason tilted his head, all the while holding her hand and asking, "Wrong about what?"

Harper spared a wary glance at the building.

"You have to let me in, Harp." Jason carefully lifted her chin so that she would look at him. "Nothing you say will ever send me running."

"If she's better," Harper uttered, "I can discharge her. She can take me away from my dad, and I won't have to leave you to escape him... but if she's not, I came all this way for nothing."

"That's not true. You came to see your mom. Coming here was brave of you. Even if you're wrong, you'll leave knowing you had enough courage to hope. Some people in this world are too afraid to do that. I know you're not one of them."

Harper kissed Jason. It was a soft peck, but judging by Harper's eyes it held more meaning than she could describe to him.

"Okay. I'll go."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. I need to do this alone."

Harper dropped Jason's hand and approached the facility.

After Harper had signed in at the receptionist's desk, she took a seat in the lobby by the entry. I reluctantly sat beside her, wondering all the while how loony her mother was and how much of it could have rubbed off on Harper.

"Harper Martine?" A nurse with a clipboard entered the waiting area. "Katelyn will see you now."

Harper released a deep breath. With hands clenched into fists, she walked forward. The nurse nodded to the security guard on the other side of the glass door to buzz Harper in. When the door opened, the nurse guided her through the threshold.

The patient lodgings were bright and sterile. The walls had were a refreshing mint green and the furniture consisted of numerous cushioned chairs. The nurse led Harper to what was a sort of living room for the patients. At the center wall, there was an HD flat screen, a PS4, and various video games, though they appeared to be for the younger patients. There weren't many patients inhabiting the room when Harper and the nurse walked in, but a single woman with identical, striking red hair had her back to the three of us as she sat on the main couch. The nurse encouraged Harper with a nod and left her to herself.

Harper's mouth parted, but it took her a minute to get the word out. "Mom?"

The woman straightened her hunched back and faced her daughter. Harper was the spitting image of Katelyn. In fact, Harper could have been Katelyn if she had aged thirty years older. Harper rounded the couch and sat with her mother, but kept a cushion as a border between them. Katelyn was enraptured by her daughter. She never pried her sunken eyes away from Harper, but sat there drinking in her presence.

"You came."

"I did."

"How long has it been since your last visit?"

"I don't know. It was after you were admitted, after the divorce."

This didn't faze her mother. Katelyn had probably expected that answer.