Silent Words

Scene 7

Apparently I'm getting released today. Mrs. Philips said so. Doctor doesn't sound so right anymore. I found myself consumed in my curiosity as usual. It's been a few days since... apparently my body went into shock from a wave from my brain. Or something like that, I don't speak doctor. Two months. Two months to live.

Mrs. Philips also said I almost got blood on her couch. That's all she said about it. She's been avoiding the topic. I haven't spoken since the mishap. I guess this time my mouth almost got me killed in my mental mind. My imagination. If only I could have good thoughts on a daily basis. Or good parents, that would work too.

Soon enough, she walked in, alone. This was a perfect time. Her husband came in a moment later. He looked like he'd been to hell and back the last few days. Then again, so did I. "Hey, is it okay if you take a bus back, I have a few things to do. I guess I still do have a job." I nodded, so not perfect timing. I had two months, what was the hurry?

Lillian wheeled in a while later. I was dressed and ready to go by now. Dr. Lumena walked in. "Alright, all good to go. The bus is ready to take you back to the institution." I nodded, letting Lillian lead me there. It's time I speak yet again, first time since I almost died. Again. We were taking a walk about a blockline or two to get to the bus.

"Hey... So, I'm sorry about not seeing you for a few days. It's been crazy." All of a sudden, she stopped and turned. "Y-you talked." I nodded, "Yeah, might as well. Not like I have anything to hide anymore." She shook her head. "That isn't it. I can read right through you." I looked down. "Maybe you're right."

We didn't talk on the bus at all, or once we got back. She got off the bus and, once I got off, she was gone. Trailing the hallways, I found my shrink. "Hey, Dylan, you're here." She seemed breathless. "C-can we talk in my room or something?" Mrs. Philips just blankly nodded. Looking down for a moment, she finally met my stare.

"Yeah. Just give me a few minutes. I'm gonna get us some lunch and get myself some coffee." I nodded, leaving off for my room. I imagined I would talk to Lillian that night. I soon walked up to my room and sat down on my bed. I could have sworn I saw Lilly standing in there, dancing free. But then I blinked and, everything went dull again.

How would I be today if I hadn't taken that rage run of 3 miles? I kept asking myself that question. I was holding the colorful lamp in my hand, twisting it, looking for some sort of answer to any of my questions. I was buried in my own head just as a knock on the door saved me from crawling somewhere I couldn't climb out of.

I walked to the door and opened it, revealing Dr. Philips. She looked troubled, as if maybe she needed the therapy. She sat on Lillian's bed, I sat on mine. Across from eachother, she looked up with a fake smile, but only because something bigger than I was inside her mind. I couldn't blame her one bit for that, I understood completely.

"What did you-uh... need me for?" She asked, her voice partially flat. On the fence, as if she couldn't decide whether she was excited, shocked, or grief-stricken. That on the fence level, that was about as high as my roller coaster got as it took me through my life. Just as it would keep going until I either jumped off or the ride came to a stop.

"I-um, I'm not very good at.... conversing... I just..." I didn't know how to tell somebody that, on the fence like that, could either drop one way or the other. It was unpredictable. "Hey, Dylan, that's okay. You can say anything you want however you want. So long as you tell me what's going on, I'll give my best effort to help you."

Time to find out. "No, no, it's not that. I didn't ask you here to talk about me." She gave me an uncertain look. "Is it about me..." She wasn't sure where this was going. "Not exactly." We sat their for a moment of silence. Preparation for what was to be said. Nerve wracking thoughts of what would come up. Disbelief. Uncertainty of what was going on. Curiosity of the many topics that could come out of my mouth.

"Then who is it about?" She asked, seeming as if she was prepared for me to tell her the worst possible thing. The thing was, she didn't know this was possible. So, she definitely wasn't expecting something like this. And she most certainly was not ready for it. But I had to tell her anyways, I had made a promise. 

"It's more about.. Philips." I pasued, I had to take it slow. Once it got out of my mouth, it would be a rocket firing on it's own. I just had to release it. I opened my mouth. Release. "Karren Philips. Beautiful in every possible way I have come to seen. When I took my fall, I met her. Amazing. But her message wasn't on paper, it was put in a mailbox. Me."

I looked up, my mouth closing for a split moment. Tears were falling from her eyes. That's when I realized, her eyes. They had changed to a different color when she was crying. A brilliant blue, one adopted by Karren. "I'm one of the only links between both worlds. I-" I was trailing off, and I was on a roll. Tears were now shedding from both sets of eyes.

"She told me to tell you it wasn't your fault, it wasn't anybody's fault." She was sobbing now. Were either of us currently qualified therapists? I got up and hopped onto Lillian's bed. Wrapping my arms around her, I opened up a little. We both needed to open up a little to get through this. The truth, it's a silly thing. And it's definitely unexpected.

Suddenly, I felt hands clasp around my back, squeezing. Holding me as if I were the only thing helping you keep your balance on that fence. The only thing that kept you from falling. I squeezed back, I had that same feeling. I didn't know who needed the other more in that moment. Maybe the truth was needed, after all. "I don't wanna- I don't wanna die alone! I don't wanna d-die alone..."

A/N - Little lengthy. Not by much. Well. Suprise event in Scene 8 or 9. Sorry folks, I will get to it. I promise. Maybe it's better I keep it waiting. I don't know how it's gonna be reacted to. Hopefully it's in the next Scene. Stay safe.