The monitor beeps at a steady pace. She is staring at the wall her body is here in the bustling hospital, but her mind is far away.
You can't do anything about this. I am in control of you.
Her eyes close the monitor picks up pace.
Breath it's just a voice breathe you're safe here.
The monitor goes back to normal a nurse pops her head into the room.
"You have a visitor" she says cheerfully.
The girl doesn't move or give any indication that she heard the nurse. Just stares at the wall the same way she does everyday.
"Leni, it's me Sara. I brought you some things" Leni turns her head.
Her dull hazel eyes fall on her best friend then to the Walmart bag in Sara's hand. Leni picks up her notebook on her bedside table.
She writes: What is it? Leni hands the notebook to Sara.
Sara reads it and puts it back on the table she sits next to Leni on the hospital bed. She starts to take things out of the Walmart bag a large sketchbook, a sketch pencil set, and colourful oil pastels. Leni's heart monitor picks up some pace.
She picks up her notebook and writes: Thank you :) Sara looks at Leni, thin and tired the purple under her eyes contrasts with her pale skin.
"Will you speak to me today?" Sara asks hopefully.
Leni shakes her head lightly. Sara sighs in defeat.
"Liam is coming by after work today to check up on you. Your parents are talking to your doctor about moving you back to your house since your 'condition' is stable. Tommy has been asking to see you. Do you want to see him?"
Leni shakes her head faster now then she buries her face in her hands. The words run through her mind again.
I am in control of you.
"Leni! Leni, I'm sorry what's wrong?" Sara's voice is laced with panic.
Leni picks up her notebook: It's nothing, I'm fine. I just don't want to see Tommy. Sara nods her head.
"Is he why you're in here?" Leni's face goes blank no emotion she goes back to staring at her wall.
Sara hugs her. "I'll figure it out. I'll help you get better." Then after an hour she leaves.
While she is alone Leni sketches a small girl in the corner of a bedroom the bed is black and red the room is shaded dark and the little girl is in white all except her pants her pants are blood red. After a while Leni falls asleep with the pencil still in her hand.
The nurse comes in and gently wakes Leni. "You have another visitor."
Liam walks in he has a cardboard cup holder with two blizzards and two sodas. The nurse doesn't look very happy about what he's bringing in but she leaves the room without saying anything.
"How you doing?" Leni looks up and smiles.
"I get a discount since I work at Dairy Queen." Leni nods hearing this for the hundredth time.
"Are you going to talk to me today?"
Leni picks up her notebook: Maybe.
Liam hands her her blizzard. And sets her drink on her table he pulls up the one chair in front of the room to sit in front of her. He tells her about his day and his family.
Leni listens intently enjoying the break from seriousness and staring at her wall. Liam eventually stops and just looks at her for a minute.
"Why won't you tell me what's wrong?"
Leni looks down retreating from his eyes.
"Leni, why won't you tell me what happened?"
Leni picks up her notebook: He will kill you.
