I sat nervously in front of her desk as she scrambled around the room. "One moment Frankie, I've had so many patients today. I seemed to have lost your file."
"That's fine." I said swallowing the lump in my throat.
"How have you been?" She asked finally sitting down.
"Good." I said softly.
"How were you feeling before?" She asked.
"Before?"
"Before you got here."
"Angry." I said truthfully. "I was being sent to a mental hospital by my mother."
"Do you understand why you're here."
"Does anyone?" I muttered.
"Yes, we are still confused as to..."she said pausing.
"What's wrong with me?"
"In a way yes, but Frankie you tried to hurt yourself. And in this state if they believe you are a threat to yourself or someone else you've got to be watched."
"What about my bullies. They're off enjoying their summer vacation. Having fun with their booze and their parties. Why can't that be me. What makes me different?" I asked.
"Everything makes you different. And that's a good thing. Cause do you wanna be like the people who made your life hell?" She asked.
"No." I mumbled.
"Sometimes the best people in the world are the ones who are a little bruised and scarred." She said. "Anyone could end up in a mental hospital because no one was born flawless. Everyone, Frankie is a little bruised and scarred. Some just don't show it. Others just pretend they're perfect. When Lilly could come from a broken home. Kevin could have divorced parents who make his life hell. Shellie could be so shy it prevents her from doing anything. Those are issues normal people have." She air quoted normal. "I heard you like to write. Write me a definition of normal. I want it next week. I wanna know what you believe is normal." She stood up smiling indicating our session was over.
I nodded feeling too emotionally sore to speak. It was odd how simple words can make you feel every emotiom in the book. How simple words can change everything. I felt a sense of knowledge was given to me after hearing that speech. I was starting my day with a fresh outlook.
"I can't help you with your therapy assignment of the week." Chelsea said following me into the library.
"There. "Chelsea mumbled.
I looked across the room to see three huge computers. "That's not the Internet; that's a fucking dragon." I said walking towards them.
"Ah, you can't just get on it. It takes filling out papers and good reports to get on."
"Then why did I walk nearly 500 miles to get her."
"More like 3 feet. Plus you need a forum."
I rolled my eyes grabbing a forum from a basket on the many tables around the room.
She went on about how Ian formulated a plan as I ignored her mentally filling out the forum.
"How was your session?" She asked realizing I wasn't paying attention.
"Good mom." I muttered still reading over the forum.
"Damn, your literally like an average teen." She said taking the forum from my hands pressing the down button in the elevator.
"Sorry mom. Gosh what's your problem?"
"You're boring. You sit around constantly thinking or writting." She said as if that was bad.
"Next time I'll remember to stop thinking." I mumbled pressing the button for the third floor.
"We're going outside with Ian and Naomi." Chelsea muttered pressing the button for the lobby.
"Okay well I'm staying in the room." I said leaning against the metal walls.
"Look, I get it your quite. I swear to god I use to be like that, but this whole having PTSD makes thinking dangerous for me." She said messing with her fingers.
"Sorry." I said quietly. Sometimes being around such diverse people I forget how not everyone can be treated the same. With Derek he likes to do more listening, while Chealsea requires interactive conversation set for two. And Naomi and Ian both liked to ponder. They need a few days to think and finish a conversation. Callie kept it short and usually barely started.
The doors opened to the third floor and I couldn't bare to leave Chelsea in the elevator alone. I stayed in place without another word as the elevator doors shut.
We went the the second floor and Luke came in without Derek.
"Hey Luke." Chelsea said with a small smile.
"Going down?" He asked turning to face us both never giving eye contact.
"Outside yeah." I said more to myself.
"Where's Derek?" Chelsea asked.
"He and Ian went somewhere. I think Ian is giving him some talk."
"Is Ian some leader now?"
"He just cares about us." Chelsea said.
The doors opened and Chelsea and I found ourselves following Luke. We found a nurse to open the doors and Ian, Naomi, and Derek sat in the usual spot smoking.
"So this Basement run real or?" Chelsea asked taking Derek's cigarette putting it to her lips.
"Schizophrenic people don't play." Ian said making a perfect smoke ring.
"I need to see my file. So what day are we planning to do this?" I said the thought of seeing my file making me impatient.
"Why do you care?" Naomi asked me.
"About what?"
"The damn file." Ian said wanting an answer as well.
"I'm curious." I said.
"Curiosity killed the cat." Ian said.
"And satisfaction brought it back." Chelsea said.
"Who care about some dumb file. What's it matter anyways." Naomi said.
"Because everyone thinks I'm normal, but I've got everyone convinced I'm crazy. With that file I'll know what the hell is wrong with me."
"What if what you find out isn't what you want?" Ian asked.
"Then I'll shut up about being crazy." I said needing the truth.
"How will it change anything. It won't get you out."
"Well at least it will give my stay here meaning." I said staring at the sky above hopeful for the following days to come.
YOU ARE READING
Insanity
Teen Fiction"What is a normal person?" I asked thinking back to my therapy session. "An unreal idea." Ian said bluntly. "Not us." Chelsea laughed. "Something rational." Luke shrugged. "So that makes us...irrational realistic ideas." I said with a weak smile. Ia...
