Their Story: Audrey & Noah

.chapter 1.

I got up early that Sunday morning, 8:45 AM. It was foggy, like any Monetary morning. I walked to the kitchen where my mom was fixing some eggs.

"Good morning Noah." My mom said to me and kissed my cheek, the faint smell of eggs whisked off her blouse.

"Morning mom." She handed me a plate of eggs with ketchup smothered all over it, just the way I like it. I sat down at the little round table and ate my eggs, it was a normal day...almost. There is a hospital a few blocks and a few rights and lefts away from my house. Johnsville Hospital, a hospital for the mentally ill and mentally challenged. The stories of Johnsville that we were told when we were young chilled me to the bone, but this summer I decided to take up a job there. My mom, however, was worried, terrified actually. She has had her fair share with people in her life that had mental health issues, that's why dad isn't here.

"Noah." My mom called as I was about to walk back to my room. "Yeah?" She gestured me to sit next to her, I knew where this was going.

"Noah, dear. I know you want to work at that hospital...but I'm worried sweetheart. I don't want you to grow too attached to any of the people you meet in there, because sooner or later they will break." She cupped her hand on my face as memories of dad flooded in our heads.

My dad, Charles Roberts was a man with many traits and many talents. But unfortunately, he was always miserable, until one day when I was 7 years old. I remember that day when my dad snapped, just like his neck in the noose. I remembered that day, hearing my mom's scream and seeing something that no 7 year old should ever see. The sirens of ambulances surrounding my house, while I was still questioning why my father was dead.

"I understand mom." She smiled at me and I walked to my room. I put on my only button down shirt I own and slipped on some khakis. I brushed up my wet hair, which looks like mud brown after my shower. I looked at myself up and down, I was nervous. I walked back to where my mom was and she grinned, I can tell she was proud but nervous. I walked outside to my rickety old red bike and latched my little leather backpack to my bike. I began biking over, while some songs on the radio filled my head. Biking in Monterey is a privilege, the sights of the bay and the beautiful hills of sand; I always think, "wow."

I finally got to the hospital, all of a sudden my throat closed up in fear and nervousness. I walked to the big door with the sign, "Johnsville Hospital." I opened the heavy set door and saw nothing but mint green walls with dozens of hallways protruding out of the lobby. I looked right and left, I walked down deeper into the weirdly silent room. Every step passing another hallway. I walked to the receptionist's desk, the receptionist's name was Susan. Her hair was tightly knit into a bun atop her head and she wore a dress adorned with pretty little flowers and her glasses look like they almost slip off her nose.

"Hello, Ma'am I am here for the summer job." I stuttered nervously. She looked at me up and down and rose her eyebrow.

"Name?" Her voice was rough.

"Noah, Noah Roberts." She nodded and looked through some files, she pulled one out.

"Noah J. Roberts?" I nodded and she handed me my slip.

"You will work in the teen unit, ages 15-19." I looked around wondering where it was in all these hallways. She saw that I seemed lost and pointed to the hallway on my far left.

I thanked her and walked down the hallway. A big metal door with the numbers, 78 imprinted in it was my stop. I took a deep breath in and opened the door, and to my surprise, it was a lounge area. Bean bags, board games, couches, and a little T.V. I looked around more, there was a sign that said, "Girls" on one side of the room and another said, "Boys" on the other side. These were probably the room entrances. As soon as I thought I was alone a bell rang. It caught me off guard and before I knew it boys and girls walked out of the doors. As the teens began to walk around and looked at me, a little nurse came running in.