Stephen and Sharpies ~ Watty Awards 2012

Part Two: Chapter Three

“Good morning Stephen. How are you this morning?”

    “Okay.”

    “Well I have good news, I have a letter here for you. It’s from your sister. I was given it to look over and make sure you were up for what it said. I think it is good, so here.” She speaks in a sweet and soothing tone. She handed me a envelope and I immediately saw Abigail’s handwriting.

    I open up the envelope and begin to read.

Stephen,

    I miss you. I need my sister back. I need to be here. I love you so much. Mom is being nicer to me than usual, but she is still drinking a bunch. I wish you were here so that I wouldn’t have to leave the house. I’ve been going to Taylor’s a lot, that’s Alec’s little sister’s name. I like her. When Mom gets drunk Taylor sneaks me into her house and I sleep under her bed. She is my best friend. When are you coming back?

    Abigail

    “How do you feel about this letter?” I look up to see the gray haired lady that is my psycho doctor. She has a pointy nose and beady eyes, she is fairly scary I just realize.

    “How do I feel about my little sister being alone? Hmmm… I would have to say that me being here is the stupidest thing in the world. Why in the world is it that I am stuck in a psych hospital?”

    “You were raped, twice.” I flinch. “So yes there is a reason you are here. If you were just kidnapped and you could handle being in a normal situation without freaking out you wouldn’t be here. You can’t though and so that is why you’re here.”

    I stare at her and listen as she asks me more questions. I answer them in an almost inaudible voice. Monotone and without any sort of emotion I go through the entire hour without freaking out. I wait through all the note taking Dr. Monel does and through the looks she gives me. I wait for each question and answer it, every time. Near the end of the session she asks me a question that involves my opinion and I am caught off guard.

    “Do you want to get out of here in the next month?”

    “What? Are you serious?”

    She nods.

    “Yes, of course I would. Why are you thinking?”

    Dr. Monel looks at me and smiles. “Well first you need to start seeing the other counselor, Dr. Cobb. He is a good psychiatrist and you will need to start seeing him if you want to be out of here.”

    “Dr. Cobb is a guy?”

    She nods.

    I breathe in deeply and hold my breath for a moment and then let it out with a whoosh. “Okay what else?”

    “You are going to have to have lunch in the common area and at least spend two days downstairs during your free time. The nurses will observe and then report to Dr. Cobb and me. Until we see that you are making progress you will have to attend two sessions with Dr. Cobb a day. Are you up for this?”

    “Yes.”

    “Starting tomorrow Nurse Colton will show you around your new schedule until you get the hang of it.” I smiled at this and nodded.

    “Okay, hopefully we will only see each other at group sessions.”

    “Thank you.”

    I walk into the room where my first group session is held. I sit down in a chair and stare at the ground. We each are supposed to take turns telling why we were sent here to the psychiatric hospital and then how we have progressed so far. I am supposed to go first today. Everyone is looking at me and I begin.

    “I am here because less than a week ago I was raped…twice. These two guys I knew and hung out with were going to give me a ride home. I only lived two house away but I thinking about going to my friend’s house so I let them take me. They didn’t, instead they took me to their house. Dragged me into their apartment and one by one raped me. It started out just with a kiss and then another and another. Before I knew it, one was holding me down while the other raped me. Then they switched positions.

    “I kept blacking out. It was bad but what was worse was that they didn’t just do it once. They kept taking turns, over and over. Finally they stopped when they realized that I was unconscious. I remember hearing them call someone but I didn’t know who, I was too out of it.

    “Later on I woke up in a hospital. I freak out whenever a guy gets near me. I have problems. So far I have figured out ways around the hospital to avoid any guys I can. I want to get out of here so I am going to get out of here some how.” I fall silent and the nurse who leads the group session begins to clap. We don’t ever clap, but everyone claps for me.

    “Thank you Stephen now who’s next?” The nurse questions. I stare off into space and try to listen to everyone else’s stories. I can’t believe that I just said that.

    The session ends. I head to my room for lunch, the last day. I go sit on my bed and soon Annie walks in with my lunch. It looks halfway edible and there is also another envelope sitting with it.

    “Thank you.” She nods and walks outside.

    I can’t wait I open the envelope and begin to read.

Stephen,

    Don’t have anything to write to you , but I promised. So I guess I will send you your pink Sharpie and tell you that I think you’re beautiful. I miss you, come back soon.

    Alec

    His letter isn’t enough, but I still treasure it. I look at the Sharpie and set both letter and Sharpie into the envelope and stuff the letter under my mattress with the other three. I eat my lunch in silence and then go out my door to my second group session.