PHOTOGRAPH

Chapter 17

** I wrote this chapter on Friday while the ideas were still fresh in my mind. I was going to save this chapter until later but unfortunately, it was a very busy weekend for me and I wasn't able to get any writing done. So I hope you enjoy another chapter of "Photograph".

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Tim shakes his head as he puts his finger to his lips.

"I'M TELLING ON YOU, PHOTOGRAPH!! YOU BROKE THE RULES!!!" Mitch yells.

Tim shakes his head again, waving his hands at Mitch trying to get him to stop yelling.

"I'M TELLING MRS. TINA ON YOU!! YOU'RE GOING TO GET PUNISSSHHHED!!" Mitch continues to shout.

"MITCHELL!!" Tina says in a loud whisper as she hurries up the hall toward the two men.. "There are patients sleeping so lower your voice!!"

Tim jumps around and looks at Tina with fear in his eyes.

"Mrs. Tina? I just saw Photograph coming out that door right there." Mitch says as he points to the door leading to the apartments. "He's not supposed to go to anyone's apartment. It's against the rules."

Tina knew that for once Mitch was probably telling the truth. But how could she punish Tim when she, herself, gave him the key to the door. She knew where he would go. He was still wearing the clothes that he had on the night before when she gave him the keys.

She looks around at Tim meeting his frightened eyes.

Tim whimpers as he shakes his head and backs up against the wall. Tears filled his eyes, he knew he had broken the rules and would surely get punished. His dad always punished him when he broke the rules.

"There's no use lying about it. I saw you! Lying is just going to get you more punishment." Mitch sasses.

"Mitch stop!! Get to your room." Tina says, pointing down the hall.

"Me? What did I do??" Mitch asks.

"You're disrupting the other patients." Tina says, quickly thinking of an excuse.

"No fair." Mitch stomps his foot then turns and heads down the hall.

"Timmy." Tina says softly as she steps toward him. She knew that Tim had panic attacks very easily and was trying to keep that from happening by keeping her voice soft and calm. Tina was not a doctor or even a nurse, she only owned the hospital. She really had no idea what to do if he had a spell.

Tim sobs as he covers his head as if he was expecting to get hit.

"Tina? What's wrong?" Nate asks as he comes out the door leading to the apartments.

"Oh, thank God." She whispers to herself. "Mitch saw Tim coming from the apartments. Now he thinks he's going to get punished."

"You want me to go get Chance? He could probably calm him down better than anyone." Nate says.

"Yeah and hurry." Tina says.

Nate turns and runs back up the stairs.

"Timmy, Sweetheart." Tina says softly in another attempt to calm him down.

"Please, don't hit me." Tim whispers, barely loud enough to hear as he slides down the wall into a crouch position but Tina heard him. 

Her heart breaks as she could only stare down at him. Her eyes begin to burn with tears.

The door suddenly swings open as Chance and Nate run out into the hall.

She quickly wipes her eyes before any tears had time to escape. She and Nate stand and watch as Chance slowly squats down in front of Tim.