A smiles secret

1-Decaline

Giselle stared out the frosted window as her parent's car pulled into the parking lot of Decaline Mental Health Facilities. It was her first time ever being to a mental facility, and to make matters worse it was just after Christmas. Guilt washed over Giselle as she remembered the last couple of days, just two days earlier Giselle was leaving the hospital after her suicide attempt on Christmas Eve. She felt awful for putting her parents through such a traumatic event, on Christmas. Christmas was usually a joyful time in the household of the Mendoza family, but this year it was a time of worry and confusion.

Tears burned in Giselle's eyes as this thought danced in her mind. Giselle blinked back her tears as her parents parked the car. Her mother let out a sigh, "Well, we're here." Her voice sounded shaky, like she was about to cry.

Giselle didn't budge, she just stared at her mother with tears filling her eyes. "Honey. We're here." Her father said, he sounded upset, but not as upset as her mother.

"I know." Giselle said letting a tear drip from her eye and carry its way down her cheek.

Giselle's father took the keys out of the car's ignition and opened the car door hesitantly.

"Are you sure about this?" He said with a tone of worry.

Giselle nodded and grabbed the pink and grey duffel bag beside her. Giselle's mother opened the passenger door and stepped out wiping her tears. Giselle climbed out from the back seat and joined her parents as they began to walk toward the entrance.

-

They walked through Decaline's doors and let the warmth of the facility wash over them. The day was cold and gloomy, like it was portraying how the Mendoza's felt. Giselle's father pulled her into a side hug as they walked toward the front desk. At the front desk, a middle aged woman with her honey colored hair greeted them with a smile. "Oh, you must be Giselle." The woman said as a sweet smile crept over her lips. Giselle nodded.

"I'm Beth, and you must be her parents."

"I'm Oscar and this this is my wife, Geniveve."

"Nice to meet you. So, I understand this is Giselle's first time in a mental health facility?"

"That is correct."

"Alright. So you are given the choice of staying with a roommate or by yourself. All the rooms are the same size so having a roommate might make things a little more cramped, but it is nice to have some company."

"Um I would like to be alone, please." Giselle said quietly.

"Alrighty, I'll let you say your goodbyes and then I'll take Giselle and show her to her room."

Giselle's parents both pulled her into a tight hug. After her father released he held her shoulders a little longer, "You have the same beautiful blue eyes as your mother." he said as he kissed her on the forehead.

Giselle said her 'I love you's' and waved to her parents as Beth began leading her down a long hallway. As she looked back she watched her father pull her mother into a hug and kiss her head as tears rolled down her face. Giselle choked back tears and looked back toward Beth as they turned a corner.