Internal Organs

Silent Treatment

Xander held open the door that had to be beeped open for them allowing Alexis to make her way in first. She seemed the coldest of the two. Xander followed as the therapist greeted the both of them, her face nice and cheery like she felt genuinely excited to see them. Xander wasn't really listening to what she had to say, he was looking at Ryan surrounded by her friends like she had known them her whole life. There was a guy with scars that was holding her around the waist, keeping her comforted it seemed. He looked like he was in his mid-thirties. He was attractive Xander decided. The man had dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail. He had a nice skin color, a beautiful caramel that Ryan had herself and seemed strong and well built. He was wearing cargo shorts that were an army green with a black tshirt that hugged his chest.

Ryan looked to them before back at everyone that was around her with the man holding her tighter, burying his face into her neck. They all closed closer in a group hug of sorts. When everyone pulled away the man was still hugging her, Ryan giggled before her face stiffened and she walked to them with her backpack in her hand and the man around her waist. Her gaze ignored Xander and Alexis. "Vince... You have to let her go," started her therapist.

The man, Vince, pulled away from her and turned her before holding her in his arms tightly. "Stay safe," he muttered against her skin.

When he released her a little he cupped her face in his hand and studied her face. Ryan took his hand from her face and reached up on tippy toes, kissing his forehead before she turned from him and began to walk away, finally letting go of his fingertips. She fully pulled on her backpack and grabbed up a box, walking to Xander's Charger. Xander popped the trunk and she loaded the box into the back before getting into the back, slamming the door closed. Alexis gave out a pitiful sob. There was this overwhelming sense of defeat that lingered in the air. Xander gathered the rest of the stuff before taking Alexis's hand. The therapist gave some supporting words but both of them ignored it. Xander and her both walked back into the cold hand-in-hand. Suddenly Ryan tore from the car, running toward the front a stuffed animal in her hands and tears on her cheeks.

Vince burst into the cold, bare feet in the snow. He took her in his arms and together they tumbled back into the snow holding eachother. The other patients were watching them from behind the doors and Xander could hear the awwhs from some of them. A few of them yelled things like, "Fuck her!" and "Kiss!". Soon they we're chanting "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!". A security officer was trying to push through the people but he struggled. Ryan must have decided to give the crowd inside what they wanted because she stopped talking to Vince and she leaned down and kissed him. Together they laid there, her laying on his chest and he held her while they kissed.

The officer made his way out after a minute of two of struggling. He grabbed Ryan's arm, right above the elbow and pulled her away from him. "Vince!" she cried out as she stumbled back, falling back into the snow. The officer pulled Vince back inside, a stuffed Cheshire Cat doll in his arms as he stumbled back inside. Ryan got up and ran to the door but it shut closed. She cried as she pressed her hand to the glass. Vince pressed her hand above hers and looked at her, holding the stuffed animal. He breathed on the glass and wrote I love you. Ryan just mumbled softly, "Me too.."

Xander coaxed Ryan back into the car but she wouldn't talk to her friends. She clentched a stuffed animal, a sloth, in her arms and a note in her hand, remaining silent the entire 45 minute car ride. She ignored all attempts of conversation which in return caused Alexis to cry silently against the window. She wanted nothing to do with either of them. She just wanted to see her "nephew" and go sleep for the rest of her life. She had no more place. No more happiness inanything but her art, her "nephew", and Vince. Vince was gone but he had her number. Her store's address. He just didn't have her.

 She felt a new hole being torn into her by the stingging bullet of depression, tearing through her chest into her heart where it had its final resting place.