Afton Family Scenarios

Psycho

**heavily edited**

William sat in the hospital room, and he was wearing the white shirt and pants that they provided. He was the on emergency watch for many reasons, which included suicide, panic attacks, self-harm, and hostile behavior. He sighed, they gave him very few things to do. There was a camera situated in the corner of the room, which was used to keep an eye on him. If he did anything the considered suspicious, a nurse was asked to intervene.

He got up off of the chair he was sitting in, and almost conveniently, he heard a knock on the room door.

"Hello!" The nurse said, wearing a bright smile. She always came in by herself, because she respected his space, even though he was unstable. She had told William she was a therapist, but worked with a lot of the nursed. She always tried to hold conversations with him, which she believed would help in the long term.

"Hi." William answered blankly.

"How are you doing today?" She asked quizzically. He had respect for the woman. She was kind, and wasn't uptight like most of the other nurses. She was very similar to Lea, who he realized he missed terribly. 

He didn't respond right away, but the nurse waited with a patient smile.

"I'm doing okay." He responded, more monotone than usual. She smiled at him again, which got on his nerves.

"Why would that be? It's okay if you don't want to answer." She reassured, the smile never leaving her face. 

"I've just been thinking too much, that's all."

"What about?" She asked, her voice calm. She was the only person he tolerated in the hospital, only because he knew that what was said between them wouldn't leave the room.

"Why does there have to be a camera in here?" 

"To make sure you're safe! I understand it makes you uncomfortable, but we need to make sure that you don't hurt yourself." The nurse said kindly. She never hesitated to tell him the truth

"Why do people always smile?" The question caught her attention and she made a mental note, but she smiled nonetheless.

"Because we're happy! People smile because they are happy for somebody else. Sometimes people smile to make others feel better." She started to explain in a way that he would understand, "Sometimes it's out of pity, or jealousy. I know you are a very bright man, and I know that you are very good at detecting emotions. But I know you have trouble understanding different gestures, that show kindness or comfort." She explained with a straight face, but at the end she smiled. She's doing that to comfort me?

"We will work on different types of contact, but nothing to personal because I understand that you are in a relationship. I want you to be able to hug your wife again." She said, sadness in her eyes, but quickly dismissing the emotion.

"...I understand." He replied hesitantly. She smiled, waiting for him to finish. 

"I want to ask about when you illness started. Things like who noticed first or when did you know something was wrong." She waited for him to start, wanting to know more. Not because she was a doctor, but because she cared about him. He hesitated before reluctantly starting.

"My dad noticed it first. I was young, around seven maybe. He realized I was more irritable, and was refusing things like hugs and certain foods, due to a fear of getting poisoned. He dismissed as me just being paranoid, which I guess was 'normal'" He sighed, he hated to remember these things, because he always had nightmares when he did. He chose to forget his past.

"He took me to a doctor, who diagnosed me with ADHD, due to the hyperactivity and aggression. I was given medication for that, which didn't help. I started having behavioral problems, and was having a hard time in school." He stopped. The nurse stood up, ready to get another nurse, but he gestured for her to sit back down. She smiled in acknowledgment.