Cannabis

Chapter 6

Location : Well Being Rehabilitation Center

It was just another busy day at the building. There were doctors, nurses, attendants and relatives of the inmates admitted there. In front of the reception, there was a long queue of the visitors who only wanted to meet their loved ones.

After a prolonged wait at the queue, the girl dressed in blue, stood in front of the counter.

The receptionist asked in a busy tone, "Your name? Which patient?"

The girl replied,"Abigail Slater. Patient number 12606, cell number 23, Erose Miller."

The receptionist raised her eyebrows and said,"You aren't even from his family. What work do you possibly have with him?"

"For your kindest information, I'm a medical student who aspires to be a psychiatrist. I want to talk to him and study him. In fact, I've got permission."

"Hm, okay. You may go."

It was a very happy day for Abigail. She was going to meet her new friend. She got into the elevator and within a few seconds, she was in the third floor.

The attendants working there were astonished to see the girl as no one had ever walked towards the infamous room number 23 with a beaming face.

Entering the room, Abigail saw Erose sitting on his bed, looking abstractedly at the clouds. It was evident that he didn't notice her.

To draw his attention, she cooed,"Hey, Erose!"

The said lad's head snapped to her direction. There in front of the door, he saw Abigail. His face lit up and a warm smile adorned his striking features, but only for a fraction of second. He was again lost in deep thought. Abigail noticed this fluctuation.

She took a seat on the chair besides the bed. She asked,"How are you?"

"Better."

"Hm...I can see that already. Been a good boy?"

"Hn...."

Abigail noticed a lot of difference in his semblance before and after. His spiky hair was properly combed, his skin was less pale, his eye bags have lessened and he looked fresh.

She quoted excitedly,"You know what?! The assignment for which I came? It got top marks! It's all because of you, so thanks a billion times! Won't you congratulate me?"

Erose remained quiet.

"You think of me as your friend, right?", Abigail asked.

"Hn.....", Erose replied in a low voice.

"If I ask you something, will you answer me?"

"Hn....."

"Why are you here?"

"Because I smoke cannabis...."

"Why do you do that?"

Erose maintained a stony silence at this question. Abigail bit her lips, thinking that it was too much to ask. But before she could apologize, Erose spoke up.

"Because no one loves me....except Cannabis..."

Abigail was caught off guard by his sudden reply. Her eyes softened, making out something from his answer. But still, she insisted.

"Why do you say that? You too have a family. How come they don't love you?!"

Erose was abnormally silent.

"Wh-what is your plight?", she managed to say, a bit tensed.

Erose still remained silent and hesitant to share his distressed past with the girl he's recently fond of. Abigail sighed.

"It's okay, Erose. If you don't want to reveal then I won't force you." Stating this, she got up from the chair and walked towards the exit.

"Wait! Don't go....", Erose said with pleading eyes.

Abigail could not turn down his earnest entreaty to her. She turned around and walking towards him, again took a seat on the chair besides the bed.

But still, Abigail found Erose tight-lipped. Hoping to comfort him, she put her hand on his. He deeply sighed and spoke up finally.

"My father, Daniel Miller was an army officer and my mother, Rosalind Miller was a homemaker. My elder brother, Evan Miller is a professor. And I, Erose Miller, was a high school student when I was admitted here."

Erose paused a little after this whereas Abigail was looking fixedly at him. She noticed a slow but steady change in his behavior.

"I was actually an orphan. I was adopted by my foster parents when I was 4 months old."

Erose started shuddering. A frightened Abigail said," It's okay if you don't want to share this."

Erose held his head and took rapid yet shallow breaths.

"My....mother......came into the room.....pain....suicide....blood.......ahhh!!"

He shrieked and his breaths became even more rapid. Abigail cried for help.

"Oh my! He's hyperventilating! Bring the Novocaine!"

While there was a frenzy around the distressed Erose, Abigail stood with a blank, pale face.

Struggling vehemently with the helpers, he bellowed at the anxious girl standing near the door, tension evident on her face.

"GET OUT OF HERE! WHY SHOULD I TELL YOU?! YOU ARE NO ONE TO KNOW ABOUT ME! JUST GET LOST AND DON'T COME HERE AGAIN!"

Abigail shook at his bitter reaction, at a loss for words. She stood there, motionlessly.....