PHOTOGRAPH

Chapter 1

"Follow me, Adam, and I'll show you around." Tina Mattingly, the owner of the sanatorium says with a smile.

"Please, call me Chance." Chance says as he looks around the entrance hall. "How many patients are here?"

"One hundred and forty-five." Tina sighs. "Sad really. Some shouldn't even be here. Many parents put their children in here just because they were unruly teenagers and they didn't want to deal with them."

"Well, if nothing is wrong with them, why do you keep them?" Chance asks as they walk down a long corridor.

"Because a lot of them have nowhere to go. Their parents don't want them. And I don't have the heart to put them out on the streets." The owner shrugs. She opens a door that leads to a large room with tables and chairs and a few couches. "This is the recreation room."

There were several patients coloring, playing checkers, watching television or reading. Screams and yells were coming from some of the more mental patients.

As Chance looks around, his heart broke.

"We don't have any real aggressive patients here at Waverly Hills. Most all really sweet once you get to know them." She says as she leads Chance to some double glass patio door leading to a garden. "And here's the garden. Patients love to come out here and just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and get some exercise.

"It's beautiful." Chance says as he takes in the scenery. His eyes falls on a man with a camera taking a picture of a butterfly that was on one of the many flowers in the garden.

The man seemed quite normal. He was very handsome. His long brown hair hung down to his shoulders and he had a light beard. He was dressed in jeans and a tee shirt. Not like some of the patients who were dressed in pajamas.

"Who's that? Does he work here?" Chance asks as he motions toward the guy with the camera.

"No." Tina chuckles softly. "That's Tim. He's a patient here."

"Really? But he looks so normal. I mean .. well, you know what I mean." Chance chuckles.

"Yeah, I know and I agree. Tim doesn't talk. He can, he just won't. He's really withdrawn and stays pretty much to himself. All he ever does is takes pictures. Beautiful pictures too." The manager smiles. "You'll know that he likes you when he gives you one of his pictures. His room is covered with them. A lot of the patients here calls him Photograph. There is a couple that actually picks on him because he's so distant."

"How long has he been here?" Adam asks. He was very intrigued by the handsome man.

"Since he was about sixteen, I think. His father dropped him off and said he was very unruly and a problem child. He even went as far as to saying that Tim was possessed by a demon." Tina shakes her head. "Tim had bruises on his body where his father had beaten him. He's not crazy. He's just had a bad childhood and has withdrawn because of it."

"Where did he get the camera?" Chance asks.

"I bought it for him years ago for his birthday. It's one of those that spits the picture out. He loves it." She smiles as she sees Tim walking their way. "Getting some good pictures today, Tim?'

He nods slightly as he looks through the pictures he had taken. He picks one out and hands it to her.

The picture was one of an elderly male patient pushing one of the elderly female patients in a swing. Both were laughing as if they didn't have a care in the world.

"Oh, my God. Tim, this is beautiful. Are you giving it to me?" She asks.

Once again, he nods.

"Thank you, Sweetheart." She says as she hugs his neck. "Tim, this is Chance. He's going to be working here, helping us out."

Tim glances at Chance then lowers his eyes to the ground and nods.

"You know, I love photography too. Maybe I could stop by your room sometime and you can show me your pictures." Chance smiles. And his eyes seemed to light up.

Tim quickly raises his head meeting Chance's eyes and nods. Chance wasn't for certain but he thought he saw a small smile on the patient's face.

"Well, thank you so much for the beautiful picture, Tim. I have to finish showing Chance around." Tina says as she rubs Tim gently on the arm. "By the way, if you need more film just let me know, okay?"

Tim nods and Tina and Chance heads back inside the building. Chance glances over his shoulder to see Tim watching them as they go inside.

"So. he has never talked since he's been here?" Chance asks, once inside.

"Well, there was one patient that used to be here, his name was Matt. They became romantically involved. We believe he might have talked to him." Tina says. "Tim actually began to come out of his shell some and we thought he was getting better. But then Matt got well enough to be discharged in his parents' care and he's never been back. Tim, of course, was heartbroken and slipped back into his shell."

"Miss Tina? Look what I colored." A patient with long honey blond hair smiles proudly.

"Oh, let me see." she grins as she reaches for the picture.

Chance smiles at the manager. He loved how she seemed to care so much for each patient.

"Hi. What's your name? Are you a patient here?" The patient asks bringing Chance out of his thoughts. "Do you like to color. I do. I also like to draw. Some of my drawings Miss Tina hangs on that board in the hall. If you're not a patient here, then what are you doing here? Are you visiting someone? Who are you visiting? I'm sure I know them. I know everybody. That's why I think you must be new here or just visiting. Are you staying for lunch? The food here is really good. Mr. Rob makes sure we have good food."

Chance could only smile as the patient rambled on and on. Tim might not talk but this patient surely makes up for it.

"Adam. Honey. Slow down." Tina giggles. "Give him time to answer."

"Sorry. I like to talk. Do you like to talk? Do you have a hobby?" The blond asks.

"If I get a chance." Chance chuckles. "My name is Chance and no I'm not a patient. I haven't colored in a long time. And yes, I do like to draw. I'll be sure to check out your drawings. I'm not visiting but I am new here. I just started working here today so yes I'll be staying for lunch. And I'll be honored to meet Mr. Rob and thank you for doing a great job. I do have a hobby, photography."

"So you like taking pictures? You and Photograph should get along great. Okay, then, bye-bye." Adam waves as he hurries away.

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